Officially Two

Today Julia is two.  At this time two years ago I was writhing in pain and saying something like something has to change and getting ready to push because I was tired of that damn "hot spot."  And then she was here and she was very sweet and cuddly.

The growth between then and now is insane.  You really can't believe it even when you witness it.  We are born unable to move, talk, eat, etc.  And in two years ... check, check, check.

She is talking and making sense most days.  Every once in a while she has what I'll call nonverbal days.  They usually coincide with bad moods, temper tantrums and fatigue.  Hers and mine.

Mama can you help?  Mama shoes please?  Mama show? Bear? Bear?

Bear used to mean Goldie and Bear, now it means Daniel Tiger.  She also likes Wild Kratts.  But it'd be hard for her to exist in this house and dislike Wild Kratts.

She likes cheese and yogurt and pizza.  Strawberries.  Vegetables.  She is off protein lately.  She is more likely to not eat what's on her plate and go after what's on mine.  Even if it's the same stuff.

She sleeps great.  She likes bedtime and nap time and blankets and quiet.  She will sleep in until about 8:30 if you let her.  She loves sleeping with her Joy doll (from Inside Out) and the talking dog toy someone got her her first Christmas.

When she finds me at the sink in my bathroom she says ... Mama, mama!  Me help!  up!  And she wants me to pick her up and sit her on the counter in front of me so she can go through my make-up bag.  The boys never had any interest in this.  I am not much for make-up on an average day but I have lots of chapstick and there's some all over the house.  The boys must have seen me use it thousands of times.  THey've never once asked what it was or if they could have some.  When we went skiing I put some on them and you'd think it was acid or something.

But J.  Well she wants some.  All the time.  She digs through my purse till she finds it and carries it around opening and closing it and putting on and licking it.  It's a new thing for me.  Her dad makes comments (because I do put chapstick on her) ... "isn't the next step make-up?" And I roll my eyes.  She won't wear make-up out of the house for many years yet.  But I can tell it will be a conversation that we will have to have before we are ready.  While she isn't prissy necessarily ... she is interested in this sort of thing.  Shoes.  Purses.  Make-up.  She likes those things.  She does not like dresses.  Tutus are okay but even those aren't asked for.  She likes shoes and hats and coats.  Accessories.

Coloring.  She loves paper and coloring.  Markers.  Stampers.  Stickers.

As the third she gets carted around a lot.  Pick ups, drops offs, soccer, cub scouts.  She doesn't get as much downtime as she would necessarily like.  There's not even many museums or zoos or aquariums for her because of the other two as well.  Hopefully this summer we get some other fun in.  Though we have been to the Perot a few times lately so it's not all car seats and stroller rides.

I had a bunch of stuff to say but it's all leaving me now.  We are very proud of the little miss.  May she keep growing so well and fast.  Happy Birthday Julia!