The Wilson Family Overseas: Youngest child turns two

Montana Jaxi is now two years old! Our little snuggle-bug is growing up so fast. She seems so much older judging by her comprehension and the words she uses. We’re working on colors right now—everything is purple. She really enjoys coloring for a few minutes at a time and playing with play dough alongside Loralynn.

Shortly after her birthday celebration at the end of August, her jumping finally propelled her feet off the floor. She’s been working hard at it and very enthusiastically using her arms as well.

She has been sleeping supremely from 8 p.m. to when I wake her up at 7:30 a.m. every morning. I wonder if she would sleep indefinitely because I always wake her up in the morning and after two hours of napping in the afternoon. For the last four months, Tana has really enjoyed sitting in her crib for 30-45 minutes after nap and looking through books on her own (and often completing a BM). Her favorite book by far is the musical hymn book that we found at a

thrift store in the U.S. a few years ago. It has about ten hymns each with its own picture layout and a symbol that corresponds with the music button. Loralynn loved the book, too. Tana also really likes anything to do with Elmo.

As for food, Tana adores yogurt of any kind, cheese, crackers, squeezy fruits, and my homemade butternut squash and carrot purees. She is pretty good about trying new things, but doesn't eat much more than a couple spoonfuls. Both girls eat oatmeal with sprinkles really well. Tana is still eating bananas and sometimes apples and oranges.

Dollies hold a special place in Tana’s heart. She loves putting them to bed and pushing them in strollers. Her favorite time with Loralynn involves dancing with tutus and bee and dog fasching costumes in the living room to music from “Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites.” This summer, when it has been hot outside, they spent a lot of time having tea parties with water on their miniature picnic table and playing in the sandbox. Tana has enjoyed doing chunky puzzles with Loralynn’s help, too.

Both of the girls have really enjoyed magnetic dress-up dollsthat Dan’s brother gave us as well as the Snap ‘n Style dolls given to us by Gwen E.

Onto Tana’s birthday party: it was small and fun. It took only a little preparation to pack an ice chest of drinks and order a Winnie the Pooh cake—that was our aim since it happened the weekend before school started. The walk from the parking lot to the playground beach was about 15 minutes, so we were limited on what we could tote out there since our wagon was full of the ice chest and the double stroller had the girls and other items. Our friends met us at the Baggersee lake in Schweinfurt Saturday at 4 p.m. We ate an early picnic dinner before setting the kids loose to play. Loralynn ventured out up to her neck (yikes!) in the lake while Tana sat on the merri-go-round and watched the activity on the playground for a good amount of time.

When it was time for cake, I brought the kids back to the group in lawn chairs and we passed out party hats and blowers (what are they called?). We sang and Tana poked her cake before we served it up. She loved it and went back for some more later. After cake, the girls played with the adult company and the tunnel given to us by Crystal and Mike C. It was a pleasant evening and the weather was perfect.