Two

Our baby had a birthday yesterday. Ask her, she’ll tell you, “I’m two years old!” in her little southern twang that we’re not really sure where she picked up. As all parents say, “time flies”. It "feels like only yesterday” when this picture was taken:

Ellis at two:

* She still LOVES her pacifier. When she goes to sleep she must have her "pa-pa", her burpcloth (with a tag), her "bankie-boo", Jingle Bear, Panda, and her most recent addition, Violet the talking dog. She wants to have Violet with her, but does NOT want her to talk when they're in bed. If a button accidentally gets pushed she says, "No want Violet on! Turn Violet off!" and presses the left foot which turns it off. When she wakes up, she hands these things to us one by one before we can pick her up because they must come downstairs with us too.

*She's a talker! This girl talks non-stop, in big, long sentences, like this morning when she said, "They two blueberries stuck together, see Mommy. I take they two apart with my teeth!" She still has trouble with a few beginning sounds. She says "w" for "f" so 'foot' becomes 'woot', and leaves "s" off the beginning of words, so "Santa" becomes "anta". But most things are pretty recognizable. She really doesn't ever stop talking. She may even rival her sister in this area, and we weren't sure that was possible! Needless to say, it's never quiet around here!

*She's learning lots of things! She knows all of her colors and shapes and can count to ten. She knows the words to lots and lots of songs and can point out all of our names on paper.

*She still won't really watch TV, but loves many characters - Cookie Monster, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Dora. She knows the princesses because we have old princess figurines of Hope's.

* She is very empathetic, always the first to say "You okay??" in her sweet little voice.

* She's a hugger. She gives great big wonderful neck squeezes and, half the time, follows with a kiss which have, thankfully, become closed mouth in the last few months.

*She LOVES her sister. Despite their age difference, these girls have so much fun together. Hope can make EJ laugh in a way that no one else can. They also know EXACTLY how to push each other's buttons, and do it regularly.

* She really likes to be in the kitchen. If I'm cooking or baking, especially baking, she says, "I want to 'tand by you" and pulls her stool right up to help. She also loves cooking us things in her play kitchen.

*She gets so excited when Daddy comes home. Anytime she hears the garage she yells, "Daddy home!"

*She's a dipper and a mixer.  While many kids can't stand if their food touch, Ellis likes to make a casserole out of every meal.  If she has yogurt, applesauce, or anything else dip-worthy, she will dip her entire meal.  Peanut butter sandwiches and cheese into applesauce seem to be her favorite.  Otherwise, she just mixes everything together into her bowl or one part of her plate.  It all goes to the same place anyway, I guess!

*She's getting very independent. She'll often say, "My do it!" but is still pretty open to help.

*She really likes for everything to be in it's place. Doors should be shut, lids should be on, and personal items should be with their owners.

*Two things she says that I love: "okay?" When she has told us something, she follows with this, as in "I'm going upstairs to get my baby, okay Hopie?" and "oh" She'll ask us a question and when we answer she'll simply respond, "oh".

*She rarely throws tantrums. Though she'll let us know when she's mad, we can usually calm her down and get her to talk through things.

*She's big - a two year-old! It's hard for me to believe. She provides us with so much love and joy every single day. We are so lucky to have her!

EJ on her First Birthday

EJ at Two!

Celebrating at Big Pappy and GTs

"Happy Birthday" Glasses from Big Pappy and GT

Birthday Cupcake at home - January 3rd, 2010