Hooray! A new Olive Us episode has arrived. The concept of this episode might be the simplest one we’ve ever conceived: Follow 2-year-old Flora June Blair around for a day and capture it on video.
Two year olds have a reputation for being terrible, and as a mother of six, I’m no stranger to flat-on-the-floor-of-the-grocery store meltdowns, or frankly, playground/grandma’s house/preschool/playdate/library/car/sidewalk meltdowns either. Here is a shot of June taken this last weekend during a 20-minute stand off at the hotel pool — she refused to get out:
At the same time, I know that 2 years old is also one of the sweetest ages. There is so much discovery. So much growth. Huge jumps in vocabulary and communication. Huge jumps in independence. Lots and lots of opinions. Lots and lots of giggles. Here’s another photo of June on the day we filmed Cider Farm:
And here’s another from last August (complete with drool bubbles):
And just one more where she’s wearing the same darling dress from the video. You may remember the dress from this post, too — it was made by the talented Katy of No Big Dill:
First time parents will see their 2 year old as all grown up. Second-time-around parents will see that their 2 year old is really still a baby. I think both are right.
I hope you enjoy the video! It’s a sweet one. (And there’s a happy little bit after the credits, too.)
P.S. — More Olive Us videos.
What a beautiful video! She is precious, and the animal noises were awesome. This will be a family treasure.
Thanks for sharing the video. My 3 year old son was memorized as he watched with me. It was a nice moment of peace and quiet, maybe I will have him watch it again.
Maybe my favorite – everything we need to be reminded of. Simple pleasures and the joy of learning, moving our bodies and playing, and feeling fed and loved. And don’t forgot the animal noises! What a beautiful, precious child.
Oh, this is truly precious.
Steph
This might be my favorite Olive Us video yet! So sweet and adorable! It makes me long for a schedule like this! :D
I love this. If someone took a video of me all day long they’d probably get a lot of footage of me doing boring things like sitting in front of the computer, driving, running on the treadmill… June inspires me to be more playful!
I think my just 2 year old Sylvie and your Flora would have quite a time of it. This video was all the sweeter as I recognized so much of my own girl in yours. I did learn something. I have very straight hair, and my daughter has my husband’s (previous- as in no more…lol) hair. Curly! The spray bottle! The scrunching! Of course.
How wonderful this was to watch! What a beautiful idea. It would be so lovely to do this one day each year with your children – so great to look back on.
I agree! I’m now craving a How To Be Six video, a How To Be Eight video, a How To Be Eleven video…
All of your videos are just precious (kids, picture perfect!)
Your words on two ring so perfectly with me — as well as our perceptions of 2 for our first born, vs a later born. We had our oldest practically dressed like… a lawyer, had impeccable table manner due to the 5 star dining with continued with him, spoke 3 languages by 3 and was enrolled in EVERYTHING by the time he was 3 —- our youngest: … held up to the moon, kissed… and twirled under the stars! Our perceptions of how old they are and birth order is just just astounding. I considered myself to to be such an aware Mom … but, life lessons are truly learned on the go. (Thankfully, if you toss in abundant love, patience and understanding both grow beautifully!) Great post.
Your comment resonates with me so much, Gina!
When I saw this video posted yesterday, it was shortly after I learned that my IVF cycle had failed. After 2 1/2 years in this process, I never know what is going to make me smile or cry. Baby June made me smile. Please know how lucky you are to have your sweet children.
I’m so sorry, Victoria.
Oh, Victoria, I am so so sorry.
I’d like to pass on to you what my GP, a good friend, told me while we struggled to conceive, that resonated with me. I hope it feels good to you to hear. She told me that she has never known anyone who wanted to be a parent that hasn’t ended up, through one means or another, being a parent. That insight helped me not worry about if I would be a parent, I right then and there knew I would be.
We adopted our daughter just a year later.
sweet! I miss that age.
What a sweetheart. I love her curls. A spray bottle w/ water and conditioner is one of the most important styling tools at our house!
I love those adorable little-kid feet!
By far one of the favorites in the Lattin household! June portrays two with honesty and dignity! Max and Olivia can’t get enough of it.
Thanks for sharing.
i just watched this (2x) with my 19 month old. and he is IN LOVE with june. “more! more! more? MORE.”
that was painfully sweet. what a beautiful little thing she is that flora june. 2 year olds are such a joy.
So beautiful! Many years ago my dad took pictures with his Hasseblad camera of me and my sister (I had the blonde curls then). Now a different medium is used. I loved watching June but this really brought back my dad too (he passed away in 2007). Many thanks. <3
I love your sentiment about two year olds. Both perspectives are exactly right. My first seemed so big at 2 and now my second seems like such a baby by comparison. It’s amazing how we love all our children immensely, and each of them differently.
What a sweet sweet video. I just love it — everything from that beautiful face to the music to the adorable animal graphics. May I ask: what editing system do you use?
Completely adorable and charming as usual. What a little sweetheart. It is also oh so comforting to hear you talk about the tantrums. I mean, I know your kids are like all kids, but it is good to hear about the normal challenges we all face from time to time. I was at Target the other day by myself (my 3 kids were at home with dad!) and I heard a young child screaming at the top of their lungs a few aisles down. I felt so bad for the poor parent but also so glad that I’m not the only one it has happened to. :)
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Cute!
This makes me so excited to watch my son grow up! He is 7 months now. So much fun to look forward to!
I loved this! My twin just turned three last week, and I will miss 2 . You did such a good job of capturing being two from your daughters perspective. Sometimes I get so busy trying to keep up with my little guys, I don’t pause and really look at how they are seeing the world.
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I loved this and it inspired me to write a little bit about my own two year old being caught between grown-up and babyhood. (http://www.halfheartedhousewife.com/2013/03/the-unbearable-lightness-of-two-year-old-arms/)
I agree that two is one of the best ages (so far, my oldest is almost 7, so my experience is limited) because of all the discovery and change. I love seeing how they really enter into our world with communication and exploration at this age.
loved this so much! and I really think that June will treasure this when she is older. My favorite part was the “hurry!” which is so true, our 4th is 2 and she runs everywhere! I need that energy and zeal for life to keep up with her ;-)
So sweet. I need someone to edit my collection of random iPhone videos into something worth watching.
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