Happy 23 Months, Little Love!!!

Happy 23 months, Little Love!!! Your mom and I can't believe you are almost 2 years old. For the last several months, you have been growing like a weed. You mainly wear 18-month-old clothes, but can fit into some 24-month-old tops. You weigh about 25 lbs and wear a 4.5 shoe. Your hair is getting so long. It easily falls into your eyes, so your mom is always trying to put a bow in your hair. Sometimes you let her, and sometimes you don't.

Our big girl

Your vocabulary is expanding daily. You know and can now say so many words, that we can't keep up with them all. You frequently will understand or say a word that we did not know that you knew. Your memory constantly impresses us. We typically only have to tell you the name of something once or twice, and you remember it. One of the words you understand is "smile," and the picture below is one of your attempts. You have a beautiful smile, but it doesn't always translate so well for pictures (you definitely got that from us!).

Cheeeeeeeeese!

 One of your favorite games is to chase us or have us chase you around the house with the toy in your hand below (you call it "pop-pop"). Sometimes I chase you so much with the pop-pop that my back hurts. Now, when you see that toy, you look at me, point to your back, and say "back" because you know it hurts my back. So funny. Even if we aren't chasing you, you still love to run. You will do lap after lap around the kitchen island and breakfast table. Maybe a cross-country scholarship is in your future!!!

I'm gonna get you!!!

You are such an active little girl. You always love to be outside playing. You really have fun drawings with chalk on the driveway, looking for mushrooms in the yard, and making Daddy climb in the tree and pretend to be a monkey. You and Mom get outside almost every day when the weather allows. It is so tough to go to work when I know how much fun you guys have each and every day.

Our little monkey on the playground

But, of course, I love coming home to see you and Mommy. You both are usually waiting at the door with a hug. I am not in the door for two seconds before you are dragging me off to play somewhere like we are making up for lost time.

Your mom and I love our family time. You are such a special little girl and it has been a pleasure to watch you grow up (even though I think you are doing that a little fast these days). Happy almost-two-years, Little Love!!!