We Blog (sometimes): Phoebe at Two Years

I can't believe my little baby girl is two years old today! The time has gone by so fast. Everyone talks about how much change happens from birth to year one, but I think it might be even more pronounced in the second year. The first year is consumed with new abilities, learning to sleep, eat solids, crawl, walk, communicate, etc. But in the second year I feel like we've really come to see our little girls personality blossom. In keeping with our one-year tradition, here's a list of a few things Phoebe has been doing these days:

Phoebe at Two Years:

Loves to "'nuggle" mommy, daddy, and any item with a face (dogs, stuffed animals, and even a certain hooded bath towel known as "owl towel towel"
Waves her arm at the sky when it's raining and sings, "rain, rain, goo 'way!"
Has mastered the art of the no-no finger waggle. Especially when another child tries to sit on her daddy's lap. "Dis, no," she says, "Dis, NO," while scooting her booty onto daddy's lap and winnowing the other kid out.
Loves to play good night. She'll pretend to sleep in every bed at Ikea.
Seems to have no sense that when she makes a mess, she IS a mess. Seems to be upset by things being yucky.
When she cries she'll wipe her eyes and say, "yucky eyes! yucky eyes"
Calls herself "Phoebe-boo"
Is a big fan of jumping (even though she can't get both feet of the ground yet) and making a bridge or swinging her lower body (swing-swong) between the couch and coffee table.
Seems to be confused by the tunnel tank at the aquarium. She keeps telling me that goldfish (AKA Gulpies) are in the sky.
Loves animal videos. Favorites include dogs on slides and animals riding turtles.
Favorite places include: the highest slide at the park, the "gulpie" slide at the pool, the board book section of the library, any friend's house, and mama or dada's lap.
Sings goodnight to everyone in the family when she's alone in her crib at night (to the tune of Goodnight Ladies from The Music Man). Sometimes she'll sing goodnight to all her toys and even diapers or her cup of juice.
Loves to play Peek-a-Boo, or the more accurately named version, Peek-n-Shriek
Loves Hukuna Matata and seems to think "Lets go" is her cue to sing "Let it Go"
Turns requests like "all-gone-down" and "all-gone-down-hold-hands" very quickly into "RUNNING LEGS! RUNNING LEGS!" especially in the store.
Loves cake and singing "Happy bird-day you YOU" for the happy birthday song
Always wants to climb in boxes. Loves the box fort and box house her daddy built her.
Can't get enough of balloons
Very sensitive to people being sad and needing hugs or kisses. She'll make "owies" on herself sometimes just to get the extra kisses. She doesn't seem to have quite as much empathy when it comes to games like "Jumping Daddy" or "Jumping Mama"
Likes it when I spray her hair with water and make her "Curly Phoebe"
Wants to wear mommies necklaces and have her toes painted
Loves to act like a tiger or a dinosaur (crawling and growing), usually in the most inconvenient places (like the middle of Home Depot)
Wants to give everyone her toys and cover them with stickers
She's our sweet, loving monster-princess and we wouldn't want her any other way. We are so lucky to get to be her parents!

All of the pictures with the pink hat were taken while visiting my family in Virginia. The lucky girl got two birthday parties!

This sand table was Phoebe's birthday present from Mom and Dad. Colin built the frame and I supplied the "innards." We still need to stain it, but I think it turned out pretty well. We've been wanting to put a few more things in the yard that might be of little kid interest.

Phoebs might like sand just a little bit

Bama T. and Papa Jeff (AKA my parents) sent Phoebe this folding slide which has been a huge hit. Not just for her, rocks, balls, bits of mulch, everything slides at our house.

This was from Phoebe's Grandma and Grandpa Ricks

Of course, the number one rule of toddler birthdays is that all gifts containing pants must be worn on one's head.

These are from our little home celebration

Baby-girl wanted this cake SO BAD, every time we passed the fridge she would cry "Happy Birdday YOU YOU!!!!"

Getting better at blowing out candles. Only a modest amount of drool.

Here's just a few more pictures of some of the things Phoebe is up to at 2 years