Kate is TWO!

Sweet Kate! In the blink of an eye you have turned two years old! Oh how the time has flown by. It's hard to believe just how big you've gotten. Although I'm quickly reminded every time I bend over to pick you up. You are getting to be such a big girl!

Recently you've started climbing up on anything your little legs can reach - much to Mom's chagrin. The bench, the bed, even the table. I'm always pulling you back down in fear of you falling off. You no longer want to sit in your highchair but proudly climb onto the booth at the kitchen table where you eagerly wait for your snack. You are always trying to climb!

At the grand old age of two, you are officially a huge Youtube fan. Every time you see my phone, you ask for a "show" as you eagerly wait to get your hands on my device, scroll over to the page with the Youtube Kids app, tap it and then choose your video of choice.  Most early mornings, you'll be found sprawled out on the couch, watching Youtube Kids and sipping on your bottle.

You still love your bottle and I haven't had the heart to take it away. It's your comfort item much like your sister's Tutu or fingers. You no longer call it your "tete", but instead you now just request "milk" and we know exactly what you want - a bottle full milk.

You are a chatterbox! You love to talk and are learning new words every day. You're become quite the little parrot, repeating words and phrases you hear. You love pointing out parts of the face. Your favorite being the "nose". You will say "nose" and reach out your arm to tap everyone you see on the tip of their noses. And then it's usually a poke in the "eye" for the lucky person playing your game.

Your cutest mispronunciation is your pet name for your sister. You've added a syllable to her name and lovingly refer to her as "Ro-Rose". You love following "Ro-Rose" around, getting into all her stuff and copying exactly what she does. You two have been best of pals lately. It's heartwarming to see you interact and play together.

Outside is your favorite place to be. If you ask to go "outside?" and the answer is "yes", you shout with glee "yay-yay-yay!" If the answer is no, you are sure one sad little girl. You love throwing balls, blowing bubbles, riding with Rose in the jeep and playing on the swing set. You are always on the look out for a "duck" which to you is any kind of bird. You will squeal with delight "DUCK! DUCK!" every time you spot a bird.

Your other favorite animals are dogs. You take after Rose with your abundant love of these furry four-legged friends. Every time you see a dog, you start panting and running after it as I come dashing after you. You are dead set on petting every dog you see.

You are one messy eater! Often times every inch of you is literally covered in food. You happily rub yogurt, spaghetti sauce and any other messy item up and down your arms, over your face and throughout your hair as you smile and say "wash, wash". I guess you think wet foods are a way to get clean, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Luckily, bath time is one of your favorite activities. The mention of a bath lights up your face as you rush toward me with a big smile chanting "bath, bath, bath!" After which you look around for your sister and exclaim, "Rose - bath!" You and Rose love to share the bath tub while you splish and splash away.

Your favorite way to say goodnight lately is with a fist bump. You will go from one person to the next, asking for each of us by name and then getting your Goodnight Bump. Then off to bed you go. You no longer need to be rocked to sleep before being laid down. You are such a big girl (and most likely exhausted from the long day), that after a short time rocking, you lay down, clutching a stuffed animal or doll, roll over on your side and contently relax as I blow you kisses and close the door.

On your birthday, we spent most of the day outside so you could have fun doing all your favorite activities - playing on the swing set, riding in the jeep and tossing around a ball. You opened a few fun gifts too (although your big birthday bash would need to wait until Mom finds time to schedule it - between the busy FANA weekend and bringing Aria home, things are a bit crazy.)

That evening, we celebrated with a yummy chocolate cake! When I put the unlit birthday candles on it and placed it in front of you, you went a bit crazy and did not want that cake anywhere near you! So instead, I sliced up the cake and you happily took a piece and gobbled it up, followed by a few more slices. You sure loved your cake (although your sister Rose did help you out eating those 4 slices!)

Kate, you have grown from our little baby into a toddler before our very eyes. We are so blessed to be able to celebrate this special day with you. You are our smiley, happy, silly girl! A very happy 2nd birthday to you, Kate! We love you!

"I am TWO!"