"I Two"

So, actually 2 years and 1 month . . . it's been a busy, busy month. After Danny greeted Kaylee with a special 4th of July balloon, Kaylee's birthday started out with a hike on Tiger Mountain with Dad, Danny, & Grandpa Couch. They had so much fun that Matt decided he wanted to make this a daddy daughter birthday tradition.
When they returned, we played a few games and Kaylee enjoyed opening her presents. Grandma Couch had just had shoulder replacement surgery, so we kept it low key. The day before her birthday, our new neighbor gave us the little kitchen that her grandchildren had outgrown. Kaylee LOVES it. For now it's remained outside and she has prepared many mudpies and rock stews.

I prepared a slightly more appetizing feast for the birthday festivities though. Disney's Family Fun had a ton of 4th of July food ideas. I loved, and prepared, them all.
Kaylee liked the rocket dogs, mini cupcakes, and ice cream sandwiches best. She didn't even mind when big brother helped her blow out the candles.

I noticed that in almost every picture from Kaylee's celebration, she is too busy to look up at the camera. That about sums up our 2-year-old girl. Busy, busy, busy.

Kaylee at age 2 . . .

• Climbs out of her high chair & crib.
• Talks very little, but sings and sings and sings.
  
• Loves looking at books & playing pretend.
• Is very particular about things like which hat each of her 'babies' wears and which pair of shoes to wear (prefers her sparkly ones) and which toothbrush to use.
• Independent and confident, always insisting when I try to help her, "No, I do."
• Loves to do whatever her big brother is doing, whether it's swinging light sabers, putting away silverware, or climbing trees.
• Tolerates me fixing her hair, but prefers to add her own embellishments like peanut butter & toothpaste.
• Sweet & generous with her hugs and kisses.
• Snuggly when sleepy (otherwise going at a mile a minute). She still cuddles right up at bedtime.
• Comforted by "Mama" and her 2 "lovies," little blankets that often carry the same embellishments as her hair.
  
• Likes to sit on her little potty (like big brother) & has had a few (very few) successes.
• Eats almost everything, unless it's leafy & green (though this can sometimes be remedied with sugary bribes).
• LOVES nursery and runs into class every Sunday.
  
• Has a smile that makes us melt. Sometimes, when I'm lucky, I even catch it on camera.

And, in case you didn't know (because I certainly didn't), two-years-old is the legal age for peeling your own orange.