For Amelia

I had an epiphany this week. I decided that I needed to lower some expectations. That here I am, expecting Amelia to behave like a little adult. I was getting upset when she got emotional and expected her to say, Yes Mom or No Thanks. And what do you know, now that my expectations have been lowered, her behavior has been MUCH better. Maybe she was playing off of my stress level? I think so.

And now I want to focus on the really great things about Amelia. She is my little side kick, my best friend. Here are a few things I love about her.

1. She loves this video as much as I do. We watched it 3 times before her nap today. She just stares at it with a huge smile on her face the whole time.

2. She knows the colors pink, yellow, and green. My 3 favorites!

3. She likes to pick out which shoes and jacket she wears before we go outside.

A mess she made one night.

4. She yells, "Juan" just like I do when calling him in for prayers or asking him to do something. She also says, "daddy stop" when he is teasing her.

5. When we are out shopping, she will lift clothes off the rack, hold them out, say "cute" or "pretty", and then place them back on the rack! Ha ha.

6. She hates having sticky or dirty hands/face. She doesn't touch anything and just comes to me with her hands out in front of her, waiting for me to wipe them clean.

7. She has always been good with her hair bows, but lately she really loves to let me put them in because I say, do you want a bow like Minnie?

8. She is obedient. It takes a few times, but she will not touch things that we ask her not to. Our current project, the swing, especially while Maya is in it. Amelia loves to give Maya a big, extra push. Yikes!

9. She has started to sing along to songs. It is so cute to hear her little voice.

10. She says I Love You by saying "Duh". She says it in response like that every time. She doesn't say L's yet, and only says 1 syllable for every word she says. So Duh is what she has come up with for I Love You.

My most favorite picture of Maya, thus far.