Violet at 22 Months

I've had a toddler in my life for quite some time - from my own younger siblings, to each of my three girls.  And I have to say, that when I don't have a toddler in my life, I watch the parents and caretakers of all of the other toddlers in the world and am overwhelmed by their energy, their constant need for attention, and their lack of inhibitions when it comes to safety.  Toddlers are exhausting.  And Violet may perhaps be one of the most exhausting toddlers around, what with her horrible sleeping patterns that don't seem to damper her daytime activities at all.  Here she is below peeking under the safety gate, calling for her Mama.

But here's the thing about toddlers.  They are so darn cute.  Toddlers hold a special place in my heart for their sweetness, their innocence, and their amazing excitement of the littlest things.  They also are experts at living in the moment.  I asked Will why toddlers are just so cute and he said, "Because they have to be."  Here Violet is below with a classic face she makes every time she is upset about something.

This adorable, funny and feisty girl thinks that every object in the house that Emma finds interest in is actually Violet's.  "MINE!" is screamed so many times throughout the day.  When I put on an outfit that is an upgrade from my usual yoga pants, Violet tells me "Nice, Mama!" while pointing to my clothes.  She also is quite bossy with us and chants, "Let's go Mama!" whenever I'm not moving fast enough for her, including waiting at a red light in the car.  She likes to remind Lucy to sit down at meal time by repeatedly saying, "Seat down Lucy!  Seat down Lucy!"  And once, when she reminded us to pray midway through a meal, Will was reluctantly setting down his burrito when she pointed at him and said forcefully, "Dada, put it down!!  Pray!"

Violet likes to yell, "DUMP!" when she makes a mess and loves to set up tea parties on the couch ottoman and then pull us by the hand while demanding us to "Seat!"  She is pretty good at singing, in our opinion and loves to sing along to the theme song of Reading Rainbow and one of her favorite songs is Best Day of My Life by American Authors and she sings along to the chorus, "Eh, eh, eh, eh,  eh, eh, eh, eh!"

We capitalized on a snow day Will had last week to take Violet to have her second round of blood taken.  I faint when I have my own blood taken if I don't lay down, and so I rely on Will to be with the kids when they need to have blood taken.  Lucy went back with Violet and Will, and Emma kept me company, a.k.a. my mind distracted, in the waiting room.  I thought for sure since Violet knew what was going to happen this time that she would cry, but I was mistaken.  She had no problem what so ever, and was as usual, just happy to be on an adventure with us.  I am so relieved that my issues with needles haven't been passed on to her and it occurred to me that just because I have an issue with something doesn't mean my kids will.  They are free to have their own unique issues!  How exciting is that!

This little girl is still sleeping so badly.  We are taking life one night at time right now and are trying not to lose hope that this will be a passing phase.

There is something about toddlers, and I will always have a soft spot for them.  I am so grateful to have my own toddler right now, despite my lack of sleep.  Her kissableness, her cuteness, her silliness, her squishiness... life is never dull with a toddler, but it is full of so much love.