Brisk Me Away

6.13.2016

Birthday/Mother's Day 2016

 May began with 2 celebrations for me! My bday is the 5th and Mother's Day was the 8th, so Steven had his work cut out for him-ha! My little family was so sweet making me feel special for these 2 events!

Mother's day started a little early-a friend and I went to a Mother's day paint night out-so fun!

Then the next day my mom came in to watch the kids while I went to an OB appointment. We gave her her Mother's day gift while she was in town!

On my actual bday my class was so sweet to treat me to a little celebration. We had lunch in the library and they brought food in from a restaurant for me, we had cake, and I got a nice gift, too!

Me with my sweet little class of 11. I have had such a great year this year with them!!

Henry and Annie were beside themselves when I brought leftover balloons and cake home from my class celebration. You'd think a balloon were a million dollar gift!

Since my bday is on Cinco de Mayo, we always go get Mexican. It was actually chilly/windy that evening, so we ate quickly on El Olmeca's patio (after quite a wait!), then came home for some dessert and gifts. These were pics before heading to dinner.



Henry is quite the gift giver. He and Steven went to shop for me, and he was SO excited about everything-Steven said he is so animated and sweet while they are out shopping for me. He "hid" my gifts for me to find in my bedroom after helping wrap them, then we opened them in there!:) I got lots of  goodies!

On actual Mother's day, the kids were with Grandpa and Peggy, so I got some relax time which was the most awesome Mother's day gift I could ask for! They spend the night Saturday night, and we picked them up on Sunday afternoon. Sunday evening we popped up our new (used) camper (you can kind of see it in the background there) to check it out in the driveway, and I got more gifts!:) A rose bush and plant for the yard, and a new set of dishes that I had been eyeing...what a fun celebration!

 I asked Steven to do this questionnaire with Henry, and I love hearing his answers!!
My Mom's name is Kelly
She is 20 years old
Mom and I like to clean
Mom likes to say, "I love you!"
My Mom really loves me
She likes to eat broccoli
She likes to drink Coke
My Mom's job is to take care of the baby
If she had time, she would like to play with me
Mom is really good at cleaning
If I could go anywhere in the world with her, we'd go to China
I love my Mom because she loves me

6.09.2016

Annie is **TWO**

On May 26, 2016 our sweet girl turned TWO!! This is hard for me to believe. In some ways, she seems every bit of two, but in others, it seems like she was just born! And the way she has just grown up in the last six months is pretty amazing-she wasn't walking til 18 months, and her communication seems so fleshed out at two, that her babyhood seems like forever ago!

We had lots of fun celebrating Annie, and I'll do my best to post all that soon, but for  now I want to give a quick monthly update about her like I've done leading up to this one. Although writing what she is saying these days seems pointless, because she can basically say whatever she wants. She is extremely verbal like her brother was, speaks in full sentences, and expresses herself very well for a 2 year old. She can let us know what she wants or needs in no uncertain terms!

-She got her first "real" haircut this month. I've trimmed it myself several times, but decided to take her in for her first real one, and she did great!! She was so proud sitting up there and thought the water being sprayed on her was funny. She gave me flashes of what teenage Annie will be like getting all primped in a salon!:) She was especially happy about the sucker and kept telling everyone she saw, "I got a haircut. I got a TREAT!"
-She also went for a photo session by herself this month, and the sassy 2 year old decided to show up. She started out throwing herself down and crying her eyes out because she wanted to be in the waiting area rather than in the photography area, but as soon as I mentioned that she could get a treat (sucker)  just like she did when she got a haircut, she straightened herself right up and started doing exactly what the lady asked her to do. Smart girl-such a stinker.
-She puts her hands on her hips while walking around and says, "Look, Mommy!! Like Mommy!!"
-She says, "Set, set, GO!" and then runs. Then she says, "I fast!"
-She responds with, "Yep!" to everything. And she follows up with, "Ok?" So it's something like this...(me) Do you want something to drink, Annie? (Annie) "Yep! You get it for me, OK?"
-No matter what we are talking about, especially if it is when Henry says something, she says she has it, too. (Henry) I have a booboo, Mommy. (Annie) I have a booboo, too!! And oftentimes she will add "at home" to the phrase which doesn't work half the time. "I have a booboo at home!" Then Henry has to correct her and tell her she doesn't have a booboo, so they fuss at each other for a while over whatever it is.
-She's a good counter. She will fill in for Henry (even though he knows it). So he was slowly counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...and she promptly fills in with 7...8...She also filled in when he was counting by tens. I don't know if this was a coincidence, but I was impressed! He was saying, ten, twenty, thirty...then he stopped for a minute to think, and she said, "forty!"
-The other phrases she's been saying are, "maybe" and "how bout..." and "didn't it?" I hear myself say these, so she comes by them honestly.
-My tummy hurts. I need medicine.
-I can't see!! She says this even though the book is right in front of her. She means, put it closer! Or, get Henry away so I can be in control! :)
-She's gotten very comfortable in the pool this month, and I am so pleased! She does great with her puddle jumper-she seems to have great control and kicks all over the pool with it on. She loves to jump off the side into the water, but she's also so good to just chill out and float in it. She likes to lie on her back and kick. She's also gotten great about wearing her hat while we are outside at out pool. She's pretty proud of her swim gear I think!
-Steven and I have been commenting on how she's been looking stout this month:) She fills out her 2T clothes and just looks like such a big girl. She's sturdy-not a whispy little girl, I'll say that! Steven has also switched from calling her sassy to calling her spunky, which is probably a better description these days. She's happy and confident in what she wants, and she's not afraid to tell you. She's ready and observant.
-I was trying to talk to her about whose bday is next, but she's not having it. "No, it's Annie's birthday" she says. Then sings happy birthday to you...
-I need lotion, Mommy. (I give her a tiny bit on her hand). Then she wants to put it on me and says, on your hands, on your arms, on your legs...as she proceeds to share it with me everywhere:)
-I got the paint-Mommy do it!! (when I painted her toes for the first time-it's always been other folks til now!)
-She shows bubble cheeks and says it-learned this from school
 -Hugs me/leans on me and says, "This is my Mommy."
-Mommy? Mouse went up a tree, mommy. Daddy? Mouse went up a tree, Daddy. Didn't it? Didn't it?...then Henry says-that stuck with her forever! I should explain this story. We had a mouse in Maggie's dog food bag in the garage one morning, and when Steven saw it he called the kids out to see. They released it by the swing and trees in the yard, and Annie must have though the mouse went UP the tree, so she wants to tell that story over and over, especially since she heard it being told several times that day to Henry's teachers, etc. We think she thinks squirrels are mice, so she sees them climbing up trees all the time all over the yard which just confirms her story:) It's just funny that she still wants to retell it to us as we are riding along in the car, etc. It really made an impression on her!
-Favorite things to do are chalk, bubbles, color, go on walks (helps Daddy get the trashcan and me get the mail happily!), and swing at the playground!! She loves to run around the house and race Bubba, dance to music, and she has loved playing with her new baby doll she got for her bday and the bubble mower she got as well. 

-Annie is a good eater and isn't too picky. She eats most fruit and more veggies than Henry did at this age, so I have a hard time critiquing her too much. She likes broccoli, but not green beans. She doesn't like sandwiches (like pbj) or sandwich meat, but she is a cheese eater and so that's her daily protein along with yogurt. I just don't worry too much about her food because generally she eats well. This was such a stressor for me with Henry, so it's nice to have a break!! If she doesn't eat great one mean, I know she will the next. Her 2 year check-up isn't til the end of summer, so we will see what her actual stats are then.
-Annie is also a good sleeper. She's very easy and sweet to get to sleep-noise maker, blankie, lovie and she is ready to go. We generally read a few books, sing a few songs, and pray before nighttime, but even on nights when we just have to "throw her in bed" she is happy to go and does not cry or fuss. She generally sleeps from about 7:30-6:30 or 7:00. I don't actually know when she wakes up, because she just hangs out in her bed til I come get her (which is usually whenever Henry wakes). She never cries or calls for me. I love watching her in the monitor arrange her blankets, roll around, relax, and talk to herself when she wakes up. We can't do this during the school year, so I'm glad she gets to in the summer! She also takes a nap from about 1-3:30. Sometimes she sleeps longer, but that's her basic schedule. She so happy when she wakes up, too, and I love to hear the first things she says when I get her out of bed. It's usually pretty entertaining!

There's so much  more about our sweet girl, but I must stop. We love you, sunshine! Thanks for brightening our lives with yours, Annie. You are loved!







Working to show me 2 fingers...

Oh well! She cheesed anyway!



6.07.2016

Baby #3!

This was written in several chunks. I just couldn't seem to get anything fully complete, so I just kept adding! The beginning was all kind of a blur anyway, so it's fitting I guess!


We got a big surprise at our house in early November! On November 4, 2015 we found out we were going to be a family of FIVE. I had felt suspicious for a few days that I might be pregnant, but thought surely not. After one night of heartburn (which I NEVER have except with my other 2 pregnancies) combined with total exhaustion that had me falling asleep on the couch at 7:30 (which I NEVER do except with my other 2 pregnancies), I decided to take a test I already had-just to rule it out. When the test showed positive, I could NOT believe it. Honestly, I was in shock. I showed Steven, and he felt the same way! I specifically remember him saying, "I feel so old and tired!" and I said, "Me, too!!" We let it sink in for several days before talking much about it. (Sorry, baby, but I know you will totally understand when you become a parent yourself!).

12/9/15-First ultrasound with Dr. Murray


It was kind of weird timing with my OB anyway. My beloved Dr. Light, who was my doc for both of the other kids, was retiring! I had already scheduled to try out another OB for my regular yearly visit, but when I found out I was pregnant, I called his office right away. The  main reason was that I had no idea how far along I was, and it was driving me crazy! I just had not kept up with all that. They said I could come in for a blood test to see how far along I was. So, I went back to the UAB clinic the next week on 11/10. They called with results saying that Dr. Light wanted to see me himself-I read between the lines and realized that it was because I was not very far along yet. SO, the whole family went for and ultrasound and doctor's visit on Dr. Light's LAST day-Tuesday 11/17/15. Basically, I was about 6 weeks along and everything looked good. I got to sit down with Dr. Light for a few minutes and tell him how much I appreciated his care during my other 2 pregnancies. I told him I was so happy for him, but so sad for me!! He was able to give me a few names of other OB's he recommended, and I went with Dr. Murray who he spoke highly of and who had studied/trained under him directly. So far she has been good, but she is just not "My Delight" as Henry called Dr. Light during my whole pregnancy with Annie. I'm sure she will be good, and I feel more at ease with all of this pregnancy stuff in general than I did my first time around, so it's all good. I'm happy he got me through the first 2!:)





2/19/16, 20 weeks
I had a very hard first several weeks with this pregnancy. I am not going to sugar coat it! I felt yucky and I was having a hard time processing it all. This is the first time in my life that I have ever dealt with feelings of anxiety/depression. I knew all my feelings were rooted in selfishness, but I just couldn't help it! I love having kids who sleep through the night and who we can leave overnight with family and who eat real food and who are on a schedule......just stuff like that that allow me to feel not SO depended on.  I always knew if I were to have kids, I would not want just one, so I think my brain was just settled on 2, but 3 was a shock! All 3 of my pregnancies have been unplanned, but this one just rocked my world in a different way. Plus I know of so many who are struggling with infertility, I felt bad being anything but thankful over this pregnancy, and that just made it all worse. I think it being the beginning of a long dreary winter did not help my mood either, and I was just SO tired, too! I would be able to cope OK at school, but as soon as I got home, I would put the kids down to nap, and I would nap the whole time they did. This would have been fine if then I woke up feeling rested, but I did not! I was still tired and just blah. I also struggled with God's timing on all of it. I had just gone back to work and was having a great year! Why in the world would this happen NOW! I didn't want to stop teaching, but wasn't sure it would make sense to do anything else. I finally got to sit down with my principal who was totally supportive of me wanting to continue teach half days next year, so I felt so much better once I got all that established. Anyway, luckily I made it through this phase and started feeling somewhat better once Christmas rolled around...well, probably January would be a more fair time to say I started feeling more like I did around this time with the other pregnancies. Maybe 18 weeks or so, whereas I felt better at 14 weeks with my others. I talked to my doc about it all and was monitoring my "emotional" stuff with her, so I was so thankful to make improvements. I continue to have "lack luster" days, but overall, I am much improved. Anyway, enough about that. Now at almost 24 weeks I have embraced all of this craziness and just realize that it is God reminding me yet again that he is in control; He knows best and not me. His plan is for us to be a family of 5, and I can embrace that!



2/24/16-20 week anatomy scan.

One of the sweetest things about expecting again is the sheer joy and excitement Henry shows toward his "new baby!" as he calls it. The look on his face when we told him at the appointment in December was totally precious and priceless. He was THRILLED and immediately went out into the waiting room to report to everyone, "We are having a new baby!!". He would tell total strangers at the grocery store the same-with so much joy and enthusiasm. He loves to tell people about the hierarchy in the family-"When the new baby gets here, I will be 4 and Annie will be 2! I will always be bigger than Annie and the new baby." He's come up with some interesting names like Duck, Chair, Isabella, Violet, Chuck. We weren't planning to tell him at the 9/10 week ultrasound, but the tech just started talking to the kids about being a "new big brother/sister", and we could see him trying to think it all through, so rather than leaving him confused, Steven gave him the news there. We told him we wanted to wait until Christmas to tell the family, so he would need to keep it a secret. He reported to every stranger, but surprisingly was pretty quiet about it to everyone else we knew.

2/24/16-20 week anatomy scan. The bottom pic says, "It's a girl!"


 I was really hoping to keep it under wraps until after Christmas break at school, and with the exception of his Tuesday teachers at school, he was able to do that. They came to me saying, "We don't know if this is true or not, but Henry said you guys were expecting a new baby?"....of course I could not lie, so I just asked them to keep it hush hush. For our family, I wanted to tell Steven's when we gathered at our house for our Christmas celebration. I had wrapped the ultrasound picture under the tree and put the 3 cousins names on it. They came in Friday, and Henry didn't say a word. He made it all Saturday morning until about 10 minutes before we were going to gather to open presents. As we all started to gather in the living room, he was running around and just blurted out, "We are having a new baby!!" People didn't know what to think I don't think...they kind of looked around and at us and said, "really?" Once we confirmed it, everyone was congratulatory of course!:) It was just a funny way to break the news. Then we let Henry call my mom and dad and Steven's grandparents in Iowa to share the news via his little voice. My folks were totally shocked! They were both so happy. Then I signed our Christmas card Love, Steven, Kelly, Henry, Annie, and Baby #3 (due this summer) and sent it out to friends and extended family to further share the news. Lots of people were surprised! We got many congrats notes and comments from our Christmas card.



Posed reveal to cousins/family the week before Christmas:)


Once back at school in January, I told my class after my doc appt. on 1/6. I think I just told them I had a Friday surprise for them (normally they get a treat of some sort on Friday mornings from me). Then I told them about the new baby and they were thrilled as were all of my co-workers and boss. I am blessed to work in such a family friendly environment. 


Another from 20 week ultrasound. These always amaze me. Such an awesome thing to see such detail at just 20 weeks!


I've had all the normal beginning pregnancy feelings I had with my other two (nausea, no appetite, etc.) at the beginning. No major cravings, but lots of diversions. SO many things sounded yucky to me-especially anything I cook myself, so we ate out way more than we should. But it got me through, so it was worth it. The cravings I do have are one time cravings...Chinese food, Rosie's enchiladas, fettucine...or for a few weeks I wanted Dr. Pepper (this one is so funny to me because I don't really want that or any soft drinks really under normal circumstances, but I craved it with Annie), or sour candy (also funny bc I'd never choose this over something like chocolate normally, but I craved it with Henry). Overall, though, I've wanted bland, blah food like chicken and rice or noodles or bread or CARBS like that, although I also crave a good salad I don't make myself. I also had the cold wind to contend with for several months-it would make me gag, gag, gag! I remember this with Annie's pregnancy, too, I guess because it was during similar winter months. It's just funny to walk outside and get a gust of wind and almost loose it! And of course changing her diapers has been gag city just like it was when I was changing Henry's 2 years ago wile pregnant with her! And I could barely hold it together while brushing my teeth...but overall I think I am luckier than many pregnant women who struggle with nausea. I also experienced such scatterbainedness just like with the other 2! I don't know how else to describe it, but I'm already forgetful, so for it to be worse is really bad! I did several crazy things to begin with-one of which was making out our mortgage check to our church and sending it in! Ha! And several other things that I won't go into!:)

I really didn't have a strong feeling one way or another on the gender. My brother AND Steven's sister both have boy and 2 girls in that order, so everyone in our families just assumed this was a girl. I could see it both ways, but was certainly ready to find out! Henry wanted a brother (he already has a sister, after all!). Other predictions? Boy: Sarah, Jessica, and 8 of my students Girl: Robin, Julie, Bush family, me/Steven, Annie, 3 of my students. I think I asked others, but that's all I wrote down! Anyway, at my 20 wk appt on 2/24 our whole family went to the ultrasound and saw pictures of a perfectly healthy baby....GIRL! We were excited to know! I love finding out. It just helps me bond with the baby and feel prepared. We called family and let Henry tell everyone. I made a math puzzle for my class, and they had to crack the code to read the secret message that I was having a girl. I brought pink butterfly little Debbies to give in celebration, too. When I texted out the news to several friends, it was so funny to get responses from all the friends who say having a sister is so wonderful, and they are so happy Annie gets to experience that. I agree-I know they will fight and all that, but I always wanted a sister, so I am excited they get to experience that, too. I think I would have been a little sad/happy either way. I would have loved another boy, too, but then I would have been sad about not having another girl since this is for sure our last, but it's not our decision and there is peace in that! Two daughters will be a wonderful blessing I know! 



3/23/16-24 weeks
 I had to have another ultrasound at 24 weeks because my cervix and placenta were measuring too close at my 20 week appt. Luckily at this ultrasound, everything looked great and there was no need to further monitor it. I got to see the baby's details all again which was fun, although she wasn't cooperating enough to let us check her girl parts again, so the tech got good pics of her hands and feet instead...just trusted that 20 week appt was accurate and was thankful for no further issues and a healthy baby!

Now I am 28 weeks and feeling like I have finally hit the "good part" of my pregnancy! I don't have to take a nap everyday, and I generally feel pretty good. I am getting big fast, and I am feeling everything sooner than with the first 2. She is lower, and I am more achey/sore than I remember being at this point before. BUT, I have not had any back pain OR weird sciatic nerve pain like with Henry, and no pneumonia like with Annie, so I would say so far that part has been MUCH better! I have pretty consistent heartburn (things like peanut butter and bananas sound terrible due to the heartburn they cause). There for a while I was waking up in the night for an hour or two...just not able to sleep...and I remember this with the other 2. The first half of the pregnancy I had no desire for sweets, but now I want chocolate ice cream everyday!! Specifically chocolate milkshakes...I had a sore throat for about a week and a half, and that just sounded so good on  my throat. I guess I just got hooked! Oh well, it could be worse...or could it?:/

We are working on names...we are so bad at that! We both have a decently long list, but we are at a bit of a stale mate now. Steven's favorite is not mine and vice versa. We'd kind of like to decide so we can go ahead and start saying it to the kids, so maybe we can figure it out soon. Her middle name is decided at least! :) It will be Jane-Steven's grandmother's name.






More updates...I am now 34 weeks and continuing to do well. All my doc appointments have been uneventful. I am measuring right on and the baby's heart rate is good (ranging from 130s to 150s). The doc always comments that the baby is active/enjoying it in there/something along those lines. At my 34 week check up, she helped me figure out that the pain I have on my actual stomach (left above my belly button) is a pinched nerve. This explains a lot! This is new-I didn't have it with the other 2. It is like my skin is burning right there! It's bearable, just weird. I also talked about some swelling that had developed since my last visit...she said just to watch it...but it has already been better. The last week of school and leading up to Annie's bday party/family visiting for the weekend was crazy, and I was on  my feet nonstop. My body was telling me to take a break, yo!

More to come...next week I start weekly visits to the doc. Crazy how time is flying by with this pregnancy. 



6.04.2016

Annie-23 months!

We are getting dangerously near the 2 yr old mark with this post! I can hardly believe it. Annie has had a great month with lots of sweetness. Steven and I have both commented about her being so pleasant these past few weeks and so entertaining with all that she is saying and doing lately. She is pretty cute to watch and interact with! Here are a few things about her this month:

-Major change #1: Annie is now paci free!! I thought it would be a lot harder than it was to give it up. She only used it for nap/night sleep anyway, but she sure did love it, and honestly, we did, too! We only had 2 pacis anyway, and one of them she had chewed on so much that the base of it was separating from the rubber. We were out of town and only had that one. It pulled away so much that in the morning we showed her it was "broken" and she agreed to throw it away (night of 4/9). Then anytime it came up, we just said, "It's broken-remember? We had to throw it away. It's all gone!" She cried about it some, and it was sad, but we got through it. After about a week she didn't mention it again-except when we travel she still does, because it is harder for her to fall asleep without it there. She was also developing a cold during that time, so in one way she was needing the comfort of it, but her stuffy nose also made it more difficult to keep the paci in anyway, so it was probably good timing in that way, too. As soon as we got home from out of town, I ran in the house and grabbed her other paci and threw it away so she could not find it accidentally-I didn't want to have to take away a paci that wasn't "broken"!

-Major change #2: Annie is now facing forward in her car seat! She was getting too long for her rear facing Keyfit 30 (like by 3 inches it dawned on us), and with being just 1 month away from turning 2, we figured it was time. She is SO proud of her "new seat!" as she calls it every time she gets in it. She acted like it was a carnival ride for the first day or two, and would say stuff like, "Fun!! Whee!! Fast!!" She also says, "This is fun!" which is one of her new phrases this month. When I stop at at red light or at the entrance to our neighborhood at a stop sign, she also still holds her hand out and says, "Drive, Mommy!" I love her facing forward because I can see her better and watch all her expressions. She sees so much more and makes the cutest comments. She now sees the Space and Rocket Center rockets every morning and afternoon on our drive, and she says, "That rocket (wocket)-it's a big!" (her phrase instead of "it's so big") and she starts to count all the smaller ones she sees behind it. She also says, "321 blastoff!!" I also like to see her and Henry interact all the more with her facing this way. She's still obsessed with buckling the top buckle herself on the new car seat just like the old.

-She's been singing a bunch this month. She has picked up on Henry's go noodle, and it is HILARIOUS to hear her sing, "Bang, bang, choo choo train, Common Henry do your thing-I can't! Why not? I just can't! My back is ache (Henry's words), sun too bright, hips poppin left to right. Left, right, left, right. Peanut butter in a cup, we sing this song to pump us up!"....then she just repeats her favorite parts over and over. I gotta get it on video. She's also learned "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty" and gets so excited about it. She tries to do all the motions and it's so cute. She's been singing Mary Poppins, especially "Medicine go down!!" She asks for "Jesus" when we sing at night and when we ask what else she wants to sing she says, ummm....uh....how bout...ABC's!" She also loves itsy bitsy spider right now. She says, "new-sick" for music and asks for it all the time.

-Even with all her sassiness, Annie has always had good manners. She is so good to say please, and this month I've noticed her more and more saying, "You're welcome!" when we say thank you to her about something. Once I heard her and Henry fussing with each other in the car over a book, and she said, "I had it first, please!" Ha, ha.

-She loves to color or sidewalk chalk, and she especially loves to tell me what to draw. Her favorite thing is hearts. She asks over and over "coloring hearts". When she starts to draw she says stuff like, "I coloring hearts! Circles! Stars, Mom! I coloring stars!

-The cold she got while we were out of town developed into a sinus infection, so she had to take meds for 10 days. She got really good at giving them to herself (pushing the dropper in on her own and swallowing down the yucky chalky stuff), and was a trooper in general. It is so funny to compare the 2 kids and their sicknesses. Henry is pitiful when sick and just can hardly function (just like a man!) whereas Annie just pushes through and sucks it up (just like a woman!). I have to really watch her, though, because her symptoms are not as obvious as his are in general.

-She's ready to potty train, but I'm going to wait til it's officially summer first. She has sat on the potty quite a bit, which she's excited about, but she hasn't actually had any success yet. When she hops off, she says, "None came out!" Her time will come, though! She also sees pictures in books and thinks so many things are poop-and says, "poopoo, Mommy!" (charcoal in one book for instance and seeds flying through the air in another). It's funny!








-Some additional phrases/things this month :
I need a wipe. (why we ask) Cuz! I spilled!
Why can't? Cuz I dropped it! Let me have it back.
Daddy get it/Daddy do it (when I can't reach something in the car, etc.)
Love to act like a frog. Says, "Froggies!!" and boings all around
That's a boy, that's a girl (when looking through books or at pictures)
I tired, Mommy. I sleepy.
Mouse went up a tree!! (loves to tell us this story)
Ummm...Let me see...maybe...ummm, soo (these are phrases when she's trying to think of something to say to us-she wants to tell stories, but can't come up with one!)
No, no way!
I need this, I need you.
Bye, bye, Mommy. I'll close the door.
She loved monkeys at the zoo!! (bonobos) and loves any books about monkeys.
She started saying, "gosh", which I don't like one bit (learned from cousins I guess?), so we've transitioned her to saying, "oh my goodness" or just "goodness" which is  much cuter!:)
When opening the door to her room when she wakes up, she reports different things in a sing-songy voice-"I picked my nose" or "I poopooed in my diaper" or "I've got my lovie"
Pitch for chip, upside down, Mommy! I have the hiccups
When she's excited, she throws out phrases like, "super why!!" "paw patrol!" or "tiger!!" (for Daniel Tiger)

We love you, big girl!!