Happy 2nd Birthday Kate!

**Warning: Long post with memories to remember**

Oh Kate, I can hardly believe it has been 2 years since you were born. 2 years ago, you came into this world at 12:26PM, 8lbs 13oz, 19 1/2 inches long. Alot has changed in those 2 years, but you are still the most precious little girl in the whole world! We can't imagine our lives without you! We never could have dreamed of all the blessings you would bring to us. We love you so much and can't wait to experience the years to come!

Here are many many things that I don't want to forget:

• You talking about EVERYTHING all the time. You are getting much easier to understand and having conversations with you is so much fun.
• You sing "do, do, do, do, DORA!" while placing your hands on your hips and dancing.
• You sing "shake, shake, shake . . . shake, shake, shake, . . . shake your booty" while placing your hands on your hips and dancing. (this is so funny to watch).
• You give doggie kisses by barking at someone's cheek.
• You love playing with and seeing anything and everything DORA.
• Reading books is a definite favorite. You even try to read to Tegan, but sometimes you get frustrated with she tries to grab the book.
• You love to "fly" up on Daddy's feet.
• Playing chase is one of your games of choice, but sometimes Daddy gets too tired and you have to kiss him to wake him up.
• You are very into giving BIG hugs and kisses (Brennan does not enjoy these big hugs, he thinks short and sweet is better).
• You can name all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and baby Jord?n (you also want to include all of these people in your bedtime prayer).
• You can count to 15 before you start getting confused about which something "teen" comes next.
• You are a very good swimmer with your life jacket on. You are no longer afraid to not be latched on to someone like a leech!
• You like to make your own jokes. Example: pretending to throw up on Momma, getting Momma to jump and hold her hands up, and then cracking up at your own funny joke. (Momma does not find this so funny).
• You absolutely love to color. You got in big trouble for coloring the old 32 inch TV screen with a green crayon. You have since learned that coloring is limited to paper and your art easel.
• You frequently request to visit Brennan or Rachel (or have them come visit).
• You are ALWAYS stealing Momma's glass of ice water. Normally, I let you have a drink, you say, "thank you, Mommy" and the next thing I know, it is gone.
• You like to hide (usually under covers) and then pop out and say "Boo!".
• Helping Tegan is a favorite past time. You let her watch Dora with you, you try to make her happy, you tell us when she is mad, or when she needs a bottle. You talk to her about if she wants to get out of her carseat and then say, "You do? Ok" and try to unbuckle her. You are so sweet with your little cousin!
• You still LOVE horses and almost all other animals.
• You do not like bugs at all. You are even bothered by flies. You also try to stomp on ants when you see them.
• You do not like being dirty, you always want your hands washed.
• Right now, everything is "I do it, Mommy" or "I do it, Daddy". You are wanting to be more independent.
• You don't like to have your hair put in ponytails, you grab the sides of your face and say "hurt, hurt".
• You LOVE to dress up in fancy or pretty dresses (and shoes). You twirl around and exclaim how pretty you are.
• Anytime Momma changes clothes (even into sweats), you touch my clothes and say, "Pretty clothes Mommy".
• If Momma sets something to the side, you walk up and say, "Oh, thank you, Mommy" and proceed to take the item.
• You love to go to the park, swinging and sliding are still your favorites.
• When you are sad or mad, you will tell us that you are "done crying/whining . . . nice". You are getting to be such a big girl.
• You like to choose who takes you to the bathroom when we are in public.
• At home, you can go potty all by yourself since we have the step stool.
• You still LOVE taking baths. I think you would stay in the bath playing and "swimming" all day long if we would let you.
• 2 of your all-time favorite foods are rice and grapes (not necessarily together).
• Whenever you get dressed (especially for church) you go in to show Daddy and have him tell you how pretty you look.
• You say sorry unprompted when you realize something wasn't nice. You are so sweet!
• You like to put on your jewelry and compare it to Momma's jewelry. "Look Mommy, ring, like yours. . . necklace, like yours too" (Her sentences are getting much better).
• You get bug bites so easily and they turn into big knots and sometimes bruises.
• You can do somersaults, push-ups, and you are very good at jumping. You jump up, stick your legs straight out, land on your bottom, and laugh histerically. (I have never seen anyone do this without a trampoline below them).
• You repeat words and we can see the little wheels turning in your head. You are processing everything and tucking it away for future use.
• Lately, you have been trying to use "potty" to get out of bed at night. When that stopped working, you starting telling me that you needed to "fro up" while placing both hands over your mouth. You are definitely a smart little girl! You have since learned that faking to get out of bed is not acceptable and it does not work. But, that doesn't stop you from trying.
• You like to take pictures of us (I wonder why). You walk around with your fake red camera saying, "Cheese!" or "Look Mommy/Daddy/Tegan/Shell" (whoever she is taking a picture of).
• One of my absolute favorites is how you randomly walk up to us, give hugs &/or kisses and say, "I love you".

You are the best, Kate! We love you so much! Happy 2nd Birthday!