Clare is now a sassy, verbal toddler. We never know what phrase is going to come out of her mouth, or what she is going to be playing with, acting out, pretending, etc. It’s so fun to watch but it’s keeping us on our toes.
Unfortunately we’re without a camera, so I’ve borrowed pictures from Clare’s new preschool and Grandma T’s last visit. The school is the two mornings a week when she’s not with Adam. The idea is that it will give her more experience in a group/classroom setting. It’s a pretty low-key environment with less than ten kids and two teachers but it’s the beginning of a more structured setting. So far she seems to like it, especially the outdoor play where they encourage lots of messy exploration. She’s occasionally quiet when we drop her off, but always happy and boisterous when we pick her up. 
We’re seeing lots of imagination play these days. It’s gone beyond just imitating what she sees adults do, she’s taking it to the next level of imagination. Crackers in her hand will become a camera and she’ll tell us “smile for the camera!” She’ll put a couple of blocks together, a little stuffed animal on top of it and proclaim it “looks like a robot!” Then she’ll make little beeps and robot noises. As you can see above, she set up her baby doll to read a book to Elmo.
One of her favorites activities lately (besides caring for her dolls and stuffed animals) is playing with Legos. We’ve tried them in the past but Clare’s fine motor skills and spatial abilities weren’t quite up to fun play. Now she can put the blocks together and is beginning to use her imagination with the structures. So far we’ve made cars, houses, and “a flag!”
We’ve been having some fun conversations these days. A few weeks ago I asked Clare if she wanted to go to the playground. She told me “that a good idea Mama. Maybe we go for a hike. A hike to a lake!” I was shocked by her suggestion. Tonight I hid the bath toys she kept throwing out of the bath tub (after the third throw) and when she asked where they were I told her they were hiding. Clare looked at me indignantly and said “I go find them Mama!” She’s also started to identify some of her emotions. Today she threw a fit when we were leaving the Children’s Museum. In the car ride home, after she calmed down, had a drink and a snack, she told me “I cried Mama. I mad.” I told her that I knew she was mad. She sighed and said “It OK. I happy now.”
Other activities these days include beginning potty training. Yes, we’re getting on the potty train and it’s been slow going. It started off well and Clare was very into it, but now we’ve hit some delays. Plan B is that we’re starting some diaper-free time, mostly outside, hoping that it helps move things along. I would really LOVE to have Clare out of diapers by the time the new baby arrives but Adam has cautioned me not to set unrealistic expectations. We’re on Clare’s schedule with this. 
At Clare’s two-year pediatrician appointment a few weeks ago she was pronounced very physically and verbally active and very healthy. So healthy that she’s 35 inches tall (one inch shorter than three feet!) and in the 90% percentile for height. She weighs 28 pounds and is in the 70% for weight. She’s wearing a 3T in clothes and a size 8 in shoes. If the old wives’ tale is true that you can predict a person’s adult height by doubling their height at 2 years old then Clare will be approaching six feet as a grown woman. J is already investigating college basketball scholarships 
