Let's Talk About Faith

Since I'm still trying to play catch up from being SOO behind, I decided to do a little post about Faith's 2 and a half year old status. Life with Faith is never dull, that's for sure.

Faith loves to play dress up. Thank-goodness for sisters and sisters-in-law who donate all their dressup clothes. Faith is in heaven! And look at her outfit-pairing style!

When Levi was about Faith's age, I deluded myself into thinking that I was an excellent parent--with superb parenting skills. I remember hearing horror stories about other people's two year olds and I would always shake my head with sympathy and quickly pat myself on the back. "It's too bad they don't know how to do things the right way", I'd think to myself. Ah... if only everyone could be as perfect as I was. It's been so fun... and SURPRISING for me to see how different my two children are. And I don't just mean because they're opposite sexes.
I never remember Levi getting into ANYTHING. People kept telling me I would have to put things up when he got older, but I never did. I never had to. Remember THIS POST about Faith climbing my shelves? I should have known that would only be the beginning. And speaking of that post, the scar that Faith has been left with (which, by the way, is a lot more noticeable than I ever would have DREAMED and actually forms a crease-like dimple on her face) is so... 'her'. It really represents her personality. And yet...I debate whether to have it fixed by a plastic surgeon. Her pediatrician said I may need to when she gets a bit older. Opinions?

But back to Faith and her 2 and a half year old update...
Back in late November, early December, Faith started giving up naps. And not just naps, but sleep in general. She boycotted her crib and REFUSED to sleep in it. I mean, the trantrums on that kid were record-breaking. Each day she became more and more sleep deprived than the last. This was all during the busiest time of the year and I really and truly thought I was going to lose my mind. Or have a mental breakdown. Or... something. I'm sure John at least thought so when I never gave him a second to breathe after he got home from work before I berated him about my terrible day. Usually with tears...and a plead for ice cream after the kids went to bed never hurt either.
John and I had HAD it. If we were lucky enough to get her to sleep in her crib, she would wake up at all hours of the night throwing things out and kicking and screaming. We KNEW the answer was an actual BED instead of a crib and yet we didn't have one yet. So.... we did what ANY parent would do in the same situation We CAVED. We let her sleep in her... GASP!.... recliner for nearly a week. And hey, before you judge US, remember that SHE chose it. We actually were able to get her to agree to GO TO SLEEP because of the recliner in her room. And thank goodness it's the kind that stays in the reclined position because otherwise we would have been stuck in there with her and we all know how fun that can be.

So, we finally got a bed. Hallelujiah!! And after I tried my 'Supernanny' technique of refusing eye contact and putting her back in her bed after she got out, we had SUCCESS! Ah, blissful, peaceful, restful night's SUCCESS.
Faith is still adjusting now and then to her lack of napping, but for the most part we're all used to it and she goes to bed A LOT easier without a nap. But if she happens to fall asleep in strange places, no one is stupid enough to wake her up.
Here's a few pics of her sleeping when she simply couldn't take it anymore:

On our bed...


On her bed. Please notice the green lipgloss. We'll discuss it in a minute.


And on the couch, of course. Please notice the crumbs to her left. She is MESSY.


Recently I've learned that nothing of mine is sacred anymore. And poor Levi has learned it as well. If you have it, she WANTS it.

Here she is pictured in Levi's backpack, shoes and hat. Luckily, she got a princess backpack from Grandma and Grandpa R. Now she can be obsessed with that.


Faith can single-handedly destroy the bathroom (and entire house, for that matter) simply while I'm taking a five minute shower. Forget organization in the bathroom drawers. And nice creams and lotions that you have called your own. And the toothpaste nozzle staying clean? Whatever. Oh, and our toothbrushes have all been sucked on, chewed and slimed by HER.

The real kicker lately?? The lipgloss. You KNOW HOW I FEEL about my lipgloss.
Here is a closeup of Faith wearing some of my lipgloss. And really, the picture doesn't do it justice. It was about an inch deep on her lips.



And here she is pictured with my FAVORITE lipgloss I can no longer find. It was in my pocket. I went to the bathroom. It fell out. It got swiped. And that was the end.
Here it is. SLATHERED. Such a waste!

I have bought her packs and packs of Bonne Bell lipsmackers and also girly lipgloss from the store so she could have some to call her OWN rather than stealing mine. It hasn't helped. She still wants MINE. If you have a solution, I'd love to hear it.



Besides being an extremely stubborn thief, Faith has her good qualities too. She is so so bright. It's so fun to see how much her brain can take in. She's a human sponge. If John and I are talking to each other, she interrupts and asks us what we're talking about. She talks really well and you never have to play the guessing game with what she wants ot needs because she's usually screaming it at you... or talking in a REALLY LOUD little girl voice.

She's obsessed with John. So obsessed. And did I mention she's obsessed with him?
I have grown to really love that obsession at the end of a very long day when John gets home.

Lately she's been stuck on the phrase, 'For no reason'.
Some examples of how she has used the phrase:

"I don't want it for no reason"

"I want to be a princess without no reason"

"I need to go downstairs for no reason"

"It's time to get dressed for no reason"

"I want a tubby for no reason"

"IT'S NO REASON!!!"

Yesterday she said to me, "YOU RUIN MY LIFE!!" And so it begins. At two. She learned that little phrase from a Barbie movie. Shame on you, Barbie! You're a bad influence.

Faith. Is. Messy. Here she is pictured after being in time out for a total of three minutes. When I sent her in there, her room was clean and she was dressed. Although, Faith not being dressed is nothing new these days. She changes her clothes 15-20 times a day. Oh, and that reminds me. I really need to buy some more baby powder.



There's a little bit of this going on lately.

BUT...

It's hit and miss and I really don't want to be the one who is 'potty trained' so I'm letting her take it at her own pace. Most of the time I'm fine with it. Until I have to buy more diapers. Or worse... change one of her three poopy diapers during the day. Please tell me why the poop of a two and a half year old is two or three times worse than the poop of say... an 18 month old? They turn two and a half and suddenly the gag reflex is back in full force.

Overall we find Faith pretty dang irresistable over here. She's full of personality and she's ALL. GIRL. Yes, two is a hard age, but I seriously think it might be one of my favorite ages anyway. There's just so much cuteness packed into one tiny little package.



And really...
Don't you find her a bit irresistable too?