Pink Amber

Amber is talking more and more every day. This week Jeff and I agreed that she is in an adorable phase right now, with her sweet little voice and her running commentary. Of course there are plenty of two-year-old trials too, but the cuteness factor is proportional to the mayhem. She was mostly potty trained briefly before Christmas, but now refuses to use the toilet. Back to diapers it is. Everyone gets potty trained eventually...Amber just doesn't know that yet!

Sometimes when it gets quiet, I look around and find Amber sitting quietly in a chair, poring over books--either our photo books (Chatbooks) or story books from our overloaded kids' shelf in the family room. I could watch her sit and enjoy books all day.

Usually when it gets quiet, however, Amber is doing something less innocent than book-browsing. I have started calling out "Amber! Where are you?" every time I can't see or hear her. Then her little voice floats back to me "I here!" or "right here!" This checking-in helps keep her wide-ranging explorations in check a little. Amber is the master of getting into things. She is SUCH a force of nature. She climbs, she opens, she pulls, she rummages--she has the most agile little fingers for exploring forbidden drawers/closets that I have ever seen! She manages to wreak havoc and messes right under my nose daily--she'll grab a crayon and start scribbling on the wall as I'm dashing over to wrest it from her iron fist. She also likes to run away when she knows I want her to stick around. She loves her big brother and sister so much. She is such a human being these days--in spite of the two year old emotional roller coaster and the constant unloading/demolishing of our shelves, cabinets, and drawers, Amber is a sweet sweet girl and we love her.

Amber's fluffy wavy hair is still out of control, but last week I tamed it into pigtails for the first time in months. I took a bunch of pictures of it, because 1. the lighting was actually good (it's been a dark winter) and 2. she was reading and the only time she sits still is for books, beep-beeps (Magic Schoolbus cartoons), and beep-beep books.

"What are these things on my head?"

All "pinked up" and ready to go take the big kids to school.

She snuggled up with a snack and a stack of Beep-Beep books, and carefully looked through every page of all 6 or 7 books.

Those crossed ankles!

Cute nose-profile

Rody is this blue blow-up bouncy pony, and Amber loves to hop around the house on him. It is one of my favorite toys on the planet.

I drew a picture to commemorate the hopping-joy.

Eating raisins is serious business. Those EYES! I make a similar face right before doing a happy dance when someone comments on this blog--hahaha.

We are pretty happy spending the school days together.