She's a big girl now

Allie is starting to assert her independence, especially when it comes to eating. Meal times can get difficult depending on the menu. Some foods are easier for her to feed herself than others. Sometimes she uses the spoon. Sometimes she uses her fingers. This morning I gave her the yogurt container and she was so proud of herself.

When she wants to feed herself, she won't let Mama or Dada touch the bowl or plate. I would sometimes hold the plate so it would stay on the table. She would have none of that. She'll remove our hands from the bowl or plate and eat. It is easier in the sense that we don't have to feed her, but harder because it takes longer and she makes a bigger mess!

We're proud of our baby though. I suppose I really shouldn't still be calling her a baby. She's a big girl, a toddler. She's talking more every day and she can point out her body parts. She says her name (Ayyie), and that she's "happy girl." She will repeat almost everything. She'll untie her shoes in the car and act like she's trying to re-tie them. This week we've been walking out to the mail box together and she doesn't want to hold Mama's hand. We're dealing with temper tantrums, particularly when she doesn't want to hold Mama's hand! She likes to run and she LOVES going outside. There's so much that she's doing now, too much to list everything. Perhaps my favorite is when she gives kisses and hugs. And the other night she repeated "I love you" after I said it to her.