Happy 2nd Birthday, Sloane!

Sloane,

How the heck can you be 2 years old already?  I can still remember holding you for the first time like it was yesterday.  It doesn't seem that long ago and then I look at the kid in front of me and think of all we have experienced together.

You are the most amazing adventure - each and every day with you is so incredibly happy.   Not all day, every day - you are 2 after all.  Here's what is happening in your 2 year old world.

You are quite the chatterbox. You are starting to talk in some complete sentences but still like the throw 20 seconds of total gibberish our way when we least expect it to keep us on our toes. You know your ABCs well and can count to 15 though you often skip over 7 and 8 completely. You love to list off all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - it is not a short list.

You love Elmo.  A lot.  Though Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Abbie are starting to get some love as well.  You ask for "Elmo ipad" frequently and usually get it if it's time to feed your sister.  At least it's an educational app.

The Roomba vacuum cleaner can keep you entertained for hours.  You love to turn it on and off and chase it around the house.  You love to run up to it, tap it with your toe, and run away before it can catch you.  You think it's a new pet and treat it so.  Both Cooper and Roomba get a "goodbye" when we leave the house and a "hello" when we arrive home.  When you are doing something you are especially proud of, you often tell the vacuum cleaner to look at you.  "Yook, Roomba, I jump."

You love to jump and are actually starting to get some nice air.  You love to run and run into things so you are one giant bruise, scrape and scab. 

You watch and listen to everything we say and do, and you are quite the little parrot.  We have to be so careful now.  You spent one afternoon muttering, "what the hell" after your mother let that one slip. 

You are starting to have opinions on what you wear.  Usually this means refusing to take off your kitty or princess pajamas to put on clothes for the day.  You love to walk around in my shoes and are pretty good in heels.

You are an amazing helper.  You love to clean and you wipe down your chair after each meal.  You are constantly bringing blankets and animals to your sister.  Your dad taught you how to very gently give her the binky.  Now, whenever she starts to cry you yell, "I've got it", and run over to her.  You are more and more gentle with her each day.  You also love to show off for Hazel and want to be sure she is looking whenever you are doing something exciting.  I always turn her in your direction whenever you shout, "Hazel, yook at me."  You haven't yet picked up that she's sleeping 95% of the time.

You love stickers and would cover every surface in our house with them if we'd let you.  You are dying to cover your sister, the furniture and the windows with stickers.  To keep you from doing that I'm usually covered in stickers instead. 

When we aren't doing what you want or don't come to you fast enough you stop calling us "mom" and "dad" and instead shout, "John, Kelly".  It's weird.  When you want something you repeat the same phrase over and over putting emphasis on different words.  I want fruit snacks.  I WANT fruit snacks.  I want fruit SNACKS.  I want FRUIT snacks.  If you still haven't gotten what you wanted you say it one last time in a sing song voice.

You love your weekly swimming dates with your dad and ask me daily, "Sloane daddy swimming tonight?"  When I explain that it isn't a swimming night you reply with, "Sloane tubby night!"  You are definitely a water girl.

You are growing like a weed and we can't wait for your stats next week.  You are growing out of 3T and have moved into 4Ts.

You go to bed around 7:30 but will often "read" or talk to yourself for a while.  We love to turn up the volume on the monitor and listen to you - it's priceless.  You usually wake up happy around 7:30.

Some meals you eat like a mouse and other meals you clear everyone's plates.  When I ask what you want for breakfast in the morning you usually say "pancakes AND waffles" then wait a few seconds and ask for a popsicle with a super sweet smile.  I'm not sure if you really think there's a chance I'll give you a popsicle for breakfast or if you do it to make me laugh.  You will do just about anything for fruit snacks.

You love daycare and all of your friends there.  You talk about them often.  You rush into whatever activities are happening when we arrive then come back to give me a kiss and open the door to usher me out so you can go back to playing.

You are starting to get into the "why" stage, but your most popular question is "Whataya doin' mommy?"  I hear this about 300 times per day.

You are so sweet and polite when you want to be.  You are great with your "please" and "thank you's" and you always say "bless you" when someone sneezes.  But, you are also a super sassy little thing.  The terrible 2's could get interesting.  You have stopped hitting when you are mad (I was the only lucky recipient of that stage) but will often make the hitting motion and stop just before making contact.  You are majorly testing boundaries and have become quite familiar with time outs.

We love you so incredibly much and are so excited to celebrate your birthday.  The past two years with you have been the most amazing years of our lives.  We are very lucky parents.

1 hour:

1 month:

3 months:

6 months:

9 months:

1 year:

2 years: