Almost two …

As I wrote about Glen Lake turning one just shy of a year ago, I had some sadness in seeing it pass, wondering how it could get any better.

While it has gone by as quickly as the first year – faster, even – it has been every bit as magical. Here are some highlights:

- Glen Lake has gone from a cautious,  straight-legged waddle at eleven months, to running and galloping and almost jumping a year later.

- Her hair has gone from being fairly short to long, golden curls that are often in piggies or a ponytail. For some reason, I still do her hair before leaving the house despite knowing that I may have to redo it once we arrive at our destination. These days she leaves them in more often than not … and sometimes even asks for piggies.

- Glen Lake had a lot of words at one, but they have evolved over time. Just this week milk, which has been “gok” for the longest time, became “molk” … and sometimes “moooowwwlk”. It’s fun to see the development, and also a bit sad to think you probably won’t ever hear the old way again. We rarely hear “duggy tow” anymore, which was the former version of “love you too!” Although that’s one that has stuck with us …

- There are full and sometimes not quite full sentences, too. One recent favourite is “no Daddy clothes on!” if she sees Greg changing his shirt after work. And on that topic, the other day at the shops she said loudly “no pants on!” pointing at a man. She was right … he was wearing shorts. She has never been a fan of nudity like some babies, and it seems now she is policing it.

- If I can see that Glen Lake needs help with something I will say “do you want Mummy to help you?” Now, if she needs help with something she says to me “Mummy help you?”

- Meals are so much fun (particularly when wearing the long-sleeved bib). Glen Lake loves food and so does Oscar. In the mornings Glen Lake says to me “Gaga eatin’?” When I say yes, she says “Wawa comin’?” If he is still in bed when we have breakfast, she gets a piece of his food from the cupboard, puts it in his bowl and calls him. She has always loved him, but in a year Oscar has warmed up to Glen Lake, too.

- Other than chippies, her favourite foods include lasagne, shepherd’s pie with Elmo peas (which are actually just peas), curry, risotto, “bok bok chicken” (which is her name for both chicken and, specifically, apricot chicken, and actually sounds more like “bokbeeyicken”), “baby yoghurt” (because there is a baby on the container), strawberries, eggs, Vegemite, toast and probably in prime position, “apple apple” – otherwise known as pineapple. Oh, and tomato sauce (ketchup). There is nothing that can’t be improved by adding tomato sauce … and, sometimes, if given a little cup of it at a restaurant, it will do just fine on its own.

- Glen Lake loves playing inside. We spend hours drawing pictures, playing with our “babies” (often Elmo, Ernie and some dolls), playing fetch with Oscar, going shopping in the house, making play food which goes in our very space efficient play oven (under the rocking horse), reading, dancing, hiding and all kinds of things I could never have imagined … and I actually enjoy every minute, even if I’m exhausted by nap time.

- A year ago I was fully responsible for remembering everything we needed to bring when we went anywhere … now when Glen Lake knows we are leaving the house, she runs around the room gathering toys and books she wants to come, and sits them on my bag. Not everything makes the cut, but we tend to carry more than we need.

- Sometimes backup toys get promoted from backup status … Glen Lake sleeps with two piggies, two ducks and for a while it was two pigeons, until original pigeon was benched for preservation. She also sleeps with a chicken called bokok.

- Elmo, ducks, crayons, “Elmo gooks” (colouring books), balloons and stickers are still the coolest things around.

- Glen Lake knows most of her colours and, thanks in part to Crayola’s collection, is particularly fond of mauve, peach and aqua.

- No matter how tired she is, Glen Lake still won’t sleep in her stroller or the car. Some things never change …

Every day we are so grateful for this incredible little person who is our daughter. Happy second birthday Glen Lake xx

23 months!

Oscar hugs

… and more hugs

Elmo bubbles

Glen Lake gives Oscar friends to sleep with

Just a year ago …

Tutu … almost two

All the curls …

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