The Second Year…

Dear Bear Cub,

You are 2. Whoa.

You have officially made the transition from little, I-need-you-to-do-everything-for-me Baby to I-want-to-do-it-on-my-own toddler. A lot can change in one year! The first year seemed to last forever, but the second year…went by super fast!

You are very opinionated. You are very, very smart. I’m convinced you could beat me at a game of chess. I don’t really even know how to play chess, so you definitely could. You are incredibly adventurous and didn’t come equipped with a sense of fear. You think you are just as big as your 5 year old friends. You think David and Addison hung the moon. You sleep with approximately 12 stuffed animals every night. We started out with Sock Monkey and somehow ended up with Elphie, Giraffe, Ducky, Big Baby, Little Baby, and Teddy in the bed, too. You somehow manage to have all of them in your arms when we go in to get you up every morning. Even in the dark when we are tucking you in, you can tell if one of your stuffed animals is missing. We best go find it if something is missing. Little Stinker.

You are not a big eater…Well, you are if it’s ice cream, popsicles, fruit pouches, and cheese. Oh, and dill pickles. Girl, you love you some dill pickles. You can live without the other stuff like veggies and meat. You have a palate that can detect even the smallest trace of veggie puree. You cannot be fooled. Future sommelier???

Alfalfa from the Little Rascals had your heart for a good while. Now, you cannot watch enough Frozen, Elmo or Bee Movie. My girl, you were destined to be a Jerry Seinfeld fan.

The outdoors bring you joy. You love to splash around and get dirty. Daddy is relieved that you are a blend of girlie/outdoorsy. The only thing truly “girlie” about you is that you like to play with my makeup. And have your little toesies painted. You pretty much despise hair bows and headbands. And ponytail holders. Your hair is beautiful just the way it is though! Free and fun, just like you!

No longer can we count your words. You have moved on to full sentences and will repeat everything you hear. Everything! Yikes! We are blown away by your vocabulary every day. You can count up to 15 and sometimes beyond. You know your alphabet. You know signs that I don’t even know thanks to your teachers at my work!

You are partial to your Unkies. You also love Cooper, Trooper, and Boone as long as they don’t get too close or hit you with their tails. You love little Iba. He is more your size. You and Ella make for a rambunctious team!

Let’s have a look back at your last year of life…

Rockin’ your patriotic shades and swimsuit at the splash pad by our house.

First trip to the dentist!

Biking on Riverside in the sunshine followed by live music and a picnic in the grass!

Beautiful beach on Cape Cod!

Sleepy girl at Plymouth!

Playing in the grass at Plymouth. Beautiful day!

Cape Cod

First day at work with Mommy! In Orange Class with Miss Stephanie!

We joined the Emmetts at the Pumpkin Patch!

You were a Little Pumpkin at the Church on the Move Fall Festival…

Thanksgiving 2013!

Visit to the Philbrook with Momma, Nana & Papa! The Philbrook used your photo on a FB post which, of course, was just awesome! I mean, how could they not??! 🙂