Arrena says: "I two!"

(That's her trying to hold up two fingers.)

We survived a second year!

We can now stop counting months (who says their kid is 25 months? Come on, fess up!) Arrena is now two years old, and will continue to be for the next year. At which point she will be 12.

She has grown up so much in just the last few months, making really great strides towards being her own person. A few of the random milestones from recent weeks:

• Arrena can count to 20! Sometimes 14 and 15 are not included, but she says 20 with such flair.

• She will wear you down with a game of “How are you?” This is where you say “How are you, Arrena?” and she responds “I’m fine, how are you?” If you respond with “I’m fine, how are you?” you will be trapped for the next 20 minutes or so in an endless loop of cordial greetings.



• She will now smile on demand for the camera. She will even say “cheese” when prompted. Enjoy it now; it could go away any minute.


• Her song repertoire has expanded to include such favorites as “Happy Birthday”, “Old MacDonald”, and the “Clean up” song. That last one we’re especially happy about, as it includes actual cleaning up.

There are so many more really cool things that she does now, but it is the whole package that thrills us. Her personality is coming through strong and clear – and she is not evil! Perhaps she will grow to be a benevolent ruler. Yes, she still has monster-size tantrums when she doesn’t get her way. But those are brief. (The key seems to be finding the right thing to distract her with.)

Over the last week, she had two birthday parties. There was one at her daycare that had a Winnie the Pooh theme. Actually, it had a “honey” theme. We won’t get into that. As usual, the Teacher went all out with decorations and organization. Arrena got to practice her candle-blowing skills... but only after another eager kid had to be put in his place with a stare. Arrena is very good and generous with other kids, but she is not afraid to show her displeasure.

Then on the weekend there was the family & friends party. There was a wild animal theme, and the monkeys were out in full force. Never let it be said that Arrena was not loved as a child! (Many thanks to all who showed up!)

Arrena took it all in stride. I can’t tell if she didn’t realize it was all about her, or if she is just so used to having it be all about her that it didn’t faze her. But she was a perfect angel, even with all the cameras in her face and people poking and prodding her, even as morning’s events sailed past her nap time.

Filled with cake and juice and presents, she never once had the expected meltdown. Not that I’m crazy enough to think the meltdowns are a thing of the past, but Arrena is definitely growing up.

And as her mom said to me at the end of that long day, she is very cool.