Eliza at 27 Months

Eliza is such a fun, smart, sweet little lady.  We have so much fun talking with her.  I am constantly impressed by the things she understands, thinks, and expresses.  Eliza wants to be like Mom and Dad.  It's fun (and funny) to see all the ways that she tries to be like us.  Here are a few examples.

• When she is sitting at the computer or is interrupting our typing, she says, "I just need to get a recipe" or "I'm checking my email."
• When Eliza suggests activities she says "Should we read a book?" or "Should we have a snack?" which I though was funny until I realized that I always talk to her in a think-out-loud way.
• One day after telling Eliza "No" followed by an "Only Mommy and Daddy can do that" about a few different things (using the camera, getting things out of the oven, cutting bread, etc), Eliza did something she shouldn't have (like spit out her food or dump something) and I told her "No, Eliza.  We don't do that."  She added "No.  Only Mommy and Daddy can _____ (whatever the inappropriate action was)."
• Eliza has a CD player in her room that she turns on every night to listen to children's church music.  Caleb was trying to touch her CD player the other day and Eliza told him, "No, Caleb.  No pressing the buttons.  Only Eliza can press the buttons."
• After Mike had a success in the bathroom, Eliza told him "Good job Daddy!  You're being a good example!"
• She is always finding things she has in common with us.  "Daddy you have a bicycle like me!"  "I have a backpack and Daddy has a backpack.  We both have backpacks!"
• Whenever I have a sewing or craft project out, Eliza take a seat next to me and says "I need to do my projects."

Eliza is still a great big sister.  She loves to help feed Caleb.  She shares her snacks with him and always makes sure he has a toy to play with (though sometimes it's only after taking the toy he was already satisfied with).  In the car, she and Caleb look at each other and just giggle together (the sweetest sound ever).  She talks to him like she does any of her friends.  She tries to pick him up.  She like to steamroll over him and sit on him, which makes him laugh for a while (which makes it really hard to get her to stop).  She loves taking baths with him.  She has a really hard time when Caleb is crying in bed before falling asleep for his nap.  She expresses her concern for his well-being and goes in to rescue him when I'm not looking.

This is Eliza's first time licking the beater, a special privilege I remember from my childhood.

Eliza enjoying a cupcake at a friend's birthday party.  

When was the last time you enjoyed a cupcake so thoroughly?

Our little explorer can rarely be found without a stick or rock when she is outside.