Orelia at Two and a Half

 We have a classic Golden Book called "Busy Timmy" that Orelia loves to read.  The book essentially describes the day of a toddler named Timmy and all the things he can do "by himself" because he is a "big boy."

Orelia is very much a "big girl" these days and amazes us with her "I can do it myself" attitude.

I thought for her two and a half year recap I might take a page from "Busy Timmy" and recount Orelia's abilities.

Orelia is a big girl.  She wakes up in her big girl bed and stays in bed waiting for Daddy to come get her for breakfast.

Orelia can choose her clothes all by herself.  Orelia can thrown tantrums about her mother's opinions about such choices.

 Orelia can take thirty minutes to get ready to leave the house.

 Orelia can chat with Mommy in the car and eat snacks and drink bottled water like a big girl.

When listening to the radio in the car, she can say "No want this song.  No want this song.  No want this song." over and over until reminded to say "Please change it."  (Taylor Swift is dead to her.  Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 are preferred.)

 Orelia can walk through parking lots safely and generally show just the right amount of caution around cars.

 She can open every baby gate in the entire house and can now even unlock the back door and open it to escape to the back yard.  Yikes.

She can find Bennett's pacifiers, sneak them in, and calm him like an expert big sister.

She can help Daddy with the dishes (washing one plastic cup the entire time).

 She can brush her teeth ten times each day and somehow manage to do almost no brushing and only toothpaste eating.

 She can drink out of glass cups and eat off ceramic plates like a big girl.

She can put her laundry away in the correct drawers.

 She can take almost any item of clothing or footwear off, and can get pants, socks, and shoes on.

 She can climb up ladders and down ladders.  She can sit safely on big kid swings for pushing, though baby swings can be more fun if they allow for faster riding.

She can make sand castles and promptly destroy them.

 She can lounge on the couch flipping through novels or also flip through her favorite books recounting some of the highlights of the story.

 She can sing her ABCs.

She can recognize lots of letters.

 She can comfort those who are hurt and offer hugs and apologies when necessary.

She can take turns and ask for her turn when someone is done.

She can make spontaneous friends at a park.

She can reenact Cinderella.

She can tell you her best friend is the snow monster from Frozen.

She can jump

She can gallop.

She can summersault.

She is a big girl.  Our big girl.