not too long ago, our big girl turned two.  it’s been a great year and she’s come a long way from that slobbery one year old from last year : )

your accomplishments are many, so in no particular order, here’s the run-down:

you can say or sing (if the mood strikes) your a, b, c’s

you can count from 1-10

knows some colors:  black, blue, purple, green, yellow, pink, and calls everything red until you ask her again

you can hop, run, and dance

your dance moves are pretty sweet.  mostly you swivel around, moving your arms counter-clockwise, while bending your knees up and down.  “i’m dan-cing.”  yes, you are.  go, white girl, go.

you steal my fork at dinner time, trading me the “baby” fork

potty training lasted about two days a couple of weeks ago.  i’m in no rush.  and neither are you.

there is a big girl bed in her room now.  she took one look at it in her room and refused to get back in the crib.

at your doctor’s visit this week, you’re up to a whopping 22 pounds.  that would be the 4th percentile for weight.  poor kid.

besides your obvious cuteness, the other people automatically mention is how well you talk.  you’ve got quite the speech skills from someone who lives in the “quiet” family.  i think you get it from your aunt stacy, but that’s just between us.  today at the store you told the cashier “hi” and said “thank you” when she took your sandals to scan.  she said that you were so polite and told me “good job.”  that was cool.

your favorites are curious george, clifford, nemo, open season (your father’s fault), and dora.  when you want to watch tv you start off with the top of your list and keep asking until we say yes to one of them.  usually i just tell you no, but you’ve managed to figure out that dad is a major marshmallow full of goo that you can wrap around your tiny finger.  we’ve got the whole good cop/bad cop thing down to a science.  you’ve started to not ask me for permission, you just go to dad if he’s home.  it’s funny to watch him tell you to ask me.  you don’t seem really interested in that.

you got a tricycle from grandma and grandpa for your birthday.  your feet can almost sit on the pedals all the way, but that doesn’t stop you from wanting to ride it around.  it comes with a nifty handle for me to push you around, so you at least get to look like the cool kid on the trike even if i’m doing all the work.

you’re still snuggly and lovey.  you love giving and receiving hugs.  as long it’s immediate family members, otherwise they should stay at arm’s length.  they can appreciate your cuteness from a distance, no?

last night i asked if you were my sugar bear.  you said, “i’m momma’s sugar bear”  then thought about it for a second, “no sugar bear.”
but you’re my sugar bear, momma’s ella, ella-belly, and pumpkin.

Two cute.