TWO!

This year we celebrated Lola's second birthday with a family pizza party, complete with the three things that Lola requested: cupcakes, balloons, and presents.  All of Lola's grandparents were there to celebrate with her, as well as Aunt Julie, Uncle Craig, Sam, and Jacob.  She had a wonderful weekend, loved seeing family, and (let's be honest) enjoyed receiving a host of new toys and clothes.  Since I quit keeping up with her baby book when she was about 4 months old (shame), here are a few notable and not-so-notable hallmarks of our sweet two year old.

Her favorite foods are pizza, macaroni, black beans, and pumpkin bread.  She will not eat anything green, with the exception of peas and pickles.

Lola loves to sing and dance. She sings Skidamarink, Twinkle-Twinkle, 5 Little Monkeys, and a host of other nursery rhymes.  She loves to hold both of your hands and dance with you. 
She loves books.  Her favorites are Giraffes Can't Dance, Brown Bear Brown Bear, More More More, Bear Snores On, and Where Do Kisses Come From.  She loves to "read" with you - where you read a line and she finishes it out. 

They say that kids are either strong in motor skills or verbal skills - we definitely have the later. Lola talks in full sentences and expresses herself beautifully - but she still struggles to get up and down stairs. (Given her mother's athletic ability, we can't say that we are surprised). 

The zoo is one of her favorite places.  She loves the reptile house and is scared of the elephants, the goats, and the pot-belly pig.  We tell her it's ok to be scared, and she knows that Daddy is scared of snakes and mommy is scared of "the mouses."
She's generally VERY amiable.  She has a kind and sweet disposition, often asking us if we want a taste of her dinner or a bite of her snack.  When she does get upset, she sticks her lower lip out and does a pouty half-cry-half-whine.  We typically tell her she can go fuss in the other room if she needs some time - and she will walk herself to the dining room and pull herself together. 

She is absolutely enamoured (that's actually not a strong enough word) with her daddy.  She asks for him first thing in the morning and gets upset that he is already at work.  She talks about him all day, and drops whatever she is doing when she hears the garage to "check it out."  Once he gets home from work, they are attached at the hip.  She follows him upstairs to change out of his scrubs, wants to sit with him in his office, eat dinner with him, and do anything that he does.  She wants him to put her in the bath, read to her, sing to her, and put her to bed.  Basically, once he walks in the door I am chopped liver (and to be honest, it's ok with me.  It's such a heartwarming relationship to watch.)  She knows that daddy works at the "ahspatal" and that he "makes people feel better" and "fixes bones". 

She loves motrin.  Asks for it daily.  Don't worry - we are not medicating her at her request.

There are a million more hallmarks and adorable quotes . . . I have to be better about posting them as they happen.  We are so enjoying our little two year old and can't wait to see all the exciting things that the next year brings.