Kara {21 months}

I feel like each month that passes, the current month seems like it went by even faster than the previous one. Which is what eventually prodded me to write this post. 
Kara is 21 months old today! She is quickly entering the 2 year old stage, where everything is curiosity, everything is an adventure, and hearing the word "no" is very familiar to her ears.
June was a fun month for Kara and a rough month all in one. We got to go to California for 2 weeks and she had a lot of fun there. Enjoyed spending time with Grandparents, extended family and friends... but I think all the traveling and crazy, mixed up schedules really got to her. It took the rest of the month of June to sort of balance her back to "normal". She came home not wanting to take afternoon naps {which are a must in my book for her age} and struggling with bedtime; getting up multiple times in the night, for no apparent reason. We had a few nights mingled in there, where she was up literally all night long, bouncing around, acting like she had energy to take on a new day. Jason and I would take turns getting up with her and trying to get her to go back to sleep. Not a fun way to spend the night. After talking to my Mom and telling her what was going on, she suggested that it might be dietary, so I quickly started thinking about anything new Kara had been eating/drinking. I realized that she had been drinking juice for the first time, to help with potty training. I bought apple juice and she was suddenly have 1-2 cups a day of that. Even though it was watered down, I think the sugar content must have been way too high, because once I cut the juice out of her diet, the old Kara came back and we've been enjoying getting back into our old routine again. I love easy fixes! 
Thanks Mom!! 
Mixed in with all the trials of having an almost-two-year-old {yikes!} we're enjoying so much of her little girl personality. Kara's energy level isn't the only thing that keeps us on our toes, her personality is pretty much the same way. 
she is sweet and she is head strong
she's is outgoing and bold
she's determined {feels like such an understatement}. 
she's kind
she loves babies
loves her dolls
loves dress-ups
but .... 
she also loves to be outside 
in the dirt
tearing around the yard till the sun goes down. 
She loves to sing - her favorite past time in the bathtub and car. 
We're amazed at how well she remembers and carries a tune, along with lyrics and all! 
Ethan and Rachel are learning the names of the US states and we've been working on the Southern border of the US. They walk around the house singing the state names {we have a tape with it all put to music} and the other day I heard Kara in the backyard singing "Ca-forna, Amizona, A-Mexico!" Her favorite one to say is "Imsissippi" {Mississippi} she says it with a very deep, exaggerated tone, just like on the tape.
She's using the potty pretty well, but not trained quite yet. I'm being very casual about the whole thing, letting her go at her own pace. I've decided its much harder and takes over your life more when the child in training is younger than the age of 2. I'm sure some kids just get it, but so far our 3 seem to need that clear, understandable communication. So I don't think we'll become aggressive with it; throwing out diapers and getting the training done until she's closer to the age of 2. She goes poo-poo on the potty really well, which is the exact opposite of E&R - they were more afraid to do that and did the pee part quite well. 


most memorable phrase in June:
"happy Fubber's Day, Daddy"