2.5 Years Old

I used to do these "birthday" posts every month.  When Emma turned 2 years old, that approach seemed a little silly to me.  Plus, at that point, I lost count of how old Emma was in months.  Seeing as how today is her half birthday and birthdays (even half birthdays) are very important to me (thanks mom & dad!), I thought a post about Emma being 2.5 was in order.  Happy half birthday my sweet baby girl!  And, if you are reading, happy birthday Grandpa Soos!!!!

Looking like a wise 2.5 year old with her backpack on.

Here are some fun facts about Emma, the 2.5 year old:

• Favorite foods include pizza (she'll ask for pizza all day long), birthday cake, cookies, frozen peas (but not cooked), anything Mexican, and yogurt.
• Despite her favorite foods being unhealthy we can usually get her to eat just about anything with some negotiation, except zucchini, she really hates zucchini.
• She is always listening and I'm amazed at how much she understands of conversations that don't even involve her.
• Her speech is much clearer than it used to be and I'm not having to translate as much.
• She insists on an ice pack for any bump or bruise.  Instead of placing ice pack on said injury, she'll suck on it.  
• She loves watching movies and some of her favorites include Mary Poppins (she will forever associate Peeka and Peppy's [Grandpa and Pepere's] house with this movie) and Monsters University.
• In recent months she has really come out of her shell so to speak.  It used to take a little while for her to warm up to new people or environments, but she is a lot more comfortable in those situations than she used to be.
• She is such a sweetheart.  Hearing things like "Mama, I missed you." or "Papa, I love you." are common in our house.  
• She is pretty obsessed with our cat, Lily; but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows along.  
• She doesn't play long with traditional toys, she would much prefer to interact with you, go outside, help you, or make art.  
• Dancing or singing are a couple of favorite activities.  And she has moves.  
• She loves rough housing with Papa and has recently learned to climb up his body (see photo below).
• She enjoys dressing up with simple accessories - for instance a blanket wrapped around her is her equivalent to a princess dress.
• She loves being read to and has recently started reading to Lily the cat, a stuffed animal, or to Mama's baby belly.  She refuses to read to Mama or Papa; she'd much prefer we read to her.
• You can explain things to her and she gets it or accepts it.  Either way, this new development has made parenting a toddler super easy lately.  
• She is obsessed with Mama's baby belly and talks to it every day.  Sometimes she actively engages with it by talking or pushing and prodding and then watching for the baby to move.  Other times she just wants the belly exposed so she can rest her head on it.  It is the sweetest thing to watch - as a result, I have a gazillion of videos of their interaction.

Papa and Emma have been practicing this move for a while.