Conversation

You're finally falling to sleep much easier for us. The big reason is that your daddy has figured out a good nighttime routine for you that includes watching a little slideshow of stars and moons and planets on your ceiling. You and your daddy had a sweet conversation while laying on your bed on your backs watching the projector before bed:

G: Happy
D: Yeah, the moon is smiling and happy.
G: No, daddy.
D: Oh, the stars. You're right, the stars are smiling and happy.
G: No, daddy, Georgia happy! (then leans in to kiss daddy)

Could you get any sweeter?

Daddy's Boy

Put 'Chur Head On My Shoulder

Aviation By Georgia

Like any young man should, your brother has a poster of WWII aircraft hanging in his new room. The first couple of days you would periodically shout "airpane" and "more airpane" while you pointed at the poster. Your analysis has since evolved into you titling each aircraft after a member of the family. See diagram above for specifics.

Barack The Vote

Conversations With Georgia

It's so weird that you have gone from this tiny helpless newborn to a little person that I have actual conversations with. It's so fun to finally know what you're thinking and to get a glimpse as to how the cogs in your mind turn. Here's a sample conversation from a walk we took today:

G: I want to color.
M: Do you want to color with sidewalk chalk?
G: No.
M: Do you want to color with markers?
G: No.
M: Do you want to color with crayons?
G: No.
M: What do you want to color with?
G: Yellow!
M: (laughter) Okay, we'll color with yellow.

2 Year Stats

Height: 36.5 inches - off the chart
Weight: 31 pounds - 90-95%
Cuteness: WAAAAAY off the chart

Your daddy was nice and took you to your two year check-up so I didn't have to hold you down for your shots. The nurse laid you down on the scale to measure you and found that you were longer than the scale. That had never happened to her before and it really took the nurse by surprise. She took you over to the area where they measure the three and four year olds. Turns out you are as tall as the average three year old. I've heard that by age two you are half your adult height. This would make you a 6'1" woman.

We recently transitioned you to a big girl bed, which has been significantly more traumatic than we hoped. You really like your new bed and room set up, but you don't want us to leave you at night night time. You don't seem to be scared. You just don't want to go to bed. We're also making you go cold turkey on your night night bottle, which is harder than the transition to a big girl bed. It's been really tough on all of us, so we're really looking forward to the time you go to bed without crying yourself to sleep.

Elmo

For your birthday this year we took you to see Sesame Street Live. It was hands down the most fun thing we've ever done with you. The show was fantastic, but watching you watch the show was absolutely incredible.

The whole experience was just how I dreamed it would be for you. You pointed at the characters, "oohed" and "ahhhed" at the lights, stomped your feet and danced to the music. You were really into the whole show. You wanted Elmo and Big Bird to be on stage at all times. When Elmo would leave the stage you would say "Elmo" and point to the stage. We had to reassure you that your red friend would be back.

They brought out about a zillion Elmo balloons at intermission so your daddy took you to get one. Unfortunately, by the time you got to the balloons they were broken (translation: your daddy told you they were broken because they were $10 each, which is absolutely ridiculous for a balloon, but half the audience bought them anyway. Plus, we'd already spent $25 on Elmo swag).

Afterward we headed to lunch at The Brick Oven. The whole day was so special. We let Palmer stay home with the sitter so it was just you, me and your daddy. I don't think I'll ever forget how wonderful it was. You're still talking about seeing Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster a week later.

Squeaky

Smother Brother

Valentine Girls

Our boys did well this Valentine's day. Your daddy got me roses and Palmer got you flowers, too. What gentlemen!

Attempted Group Photo

Frothy

Sneezy

Smiley

Chewy

Lengthy

First Haircut

You've begun to look as though you stuck your finger in a light socket, so we decided it was time to cut off the scraggly thin ends of your hair.

BEFORE: We had to wait a while for our turn, so I let you have a couple of suckers to keep you happy.

You wouldn't sit by yourself, so they let you sit on my lap. They even had this cool apron they put over both of us that had a hole for each of our heads to pop through. You were surprisingly good. I figured you would wiggle and cry and maybe even throw a fit. You just sat on my lap and watched your Elmo video.

AFTER: You still have quite a bit of baby hair that flies all over the place, but you don't look so much like a dirty 70s kid (your dad's analogy). Of course the barette they put in your hair stayed there for about ten seconds after this photo was taken.

Afterward you were nice and let me have a photo taken with you.

2nd Birthday Party

Last weekend was your second birthday party at Goin' Bananas, an indoor playground with tons of inflatable playscapes. This is one of your favorite places, so it seemed appropriate to have your party there. We all recovered from the flu in time for the big event.

You had fun playing with daddy and going down the slide with Jana.

Your little friends had fun, too. Zachary (or, as you call him, "bebe ack") took a turn down the slide with his daddy.

Don't worry little man. You'll be big enough to play here soon!

Everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to you, but you were so mesmerized by the Elmo cake that Jana made for you that you hardly noticed. You had a little trouble blowing out the candles, but you dove into the cake and had icing stains all over your shirt to prove it. You had such a fun time that you fell asleep on the way home and took a good, long nap.

We've been eating leftover cupcakes for dessert all week. Each time you make us sing "appy birtday." It's really cute.

Baptized

While in Kansas City Palmer was baptized at the church where we were married and where Georgia was also baptized. You looked quite handsome in your onesie with the tie. You were good during the baptism and didn't cry. Your daddy held you and I held your big sister, who was also well behaved. Afterward we went to nonny and papa's house for lunch.

Our little family.

Our little extended family.

You with your Godparents, Scott and Kara. They're so awesome!

One last picture with pastor before you both imploded. Food and naps were in order.

McPlaydate

During our trip to K.C. we got to spend an entire afternoon with our friends, the McTriplets. They have the world's coolest toy: a kid-sized Elmo costume. All four of you took turns wearing the costume.

The boys spent most of the day riding on their toy trucks.

You decided to give it a try. After realizing how fun it was, you spent most of the day riding on their toy trucks.

Spending an afternoon with the McTriplets is exhausting and a little over stimulating. You took a little personal time to clean up and take it all in.

Palmer needed a break, too.

After a catnap he was all smiles again!

Group photo! LtoR: Sullivan, Isaac, Lorne, Georgia, crying Palmer

Dos

It's really hard to believe you're two. Not because the past year has gone by so quickly (which it has), but because you're so tall and verbal that you seem more like a three-year-old.

What is hard to believe is that you were taking your first steps about this time last year. Now you run, jump, dance and occasionally walk. Your vocabulary has grown from just a few unrecognizable words to complete sentences. My two favorite sentences that you say now are "Don't do that, mommy" and "Bye, bye. I'll see you later." Make that three: you also say "Bless you, mommy" when I sneeze. Four: "I love you mommy." (NFD: Note From Dad: He loves that you say "Daddy's awesome")

Your love affair with books has only increased, but now instead of just chewing on books, you like to point out colors (every color to you is yellow) and count objects. The other night in the bath tub you make believe read to me for the first time. It was so sweet.

You LOVE music. You've started singing along a lot more when I sing to you. Current favorites are "ABCs" (you actually get most of the letters right) and "Happy Birthday." Of course, we can't just sing Happy Birthday once. We have to sing Happy Birthday to everyone you've ever met. Tonight at dinner we sang to Georgia (several times), daddy, Palmer, mommy, pops, nonny and Coco (even though Coco moved away, you're still obsessed). You're still a big dancer, too. You could be having the time of your life playing and you'll drop everything to dance to a silly credit card commercial. Then you look at us as if to say, "why aren't you dancing?" Because dancing to annoying commercials is totally normal, right?

We've noticed recently that you're starting to grasp the concept of first, second, last, etc. We think this is partially due to our "duck, wee" routine. There is a duck pond at the entrance to our neighborhood, so we stop and watch the ducks for a couple of minutes before heading home. Then we drive really fast around the traffic circle and say "weeeeeee." You ask to "see duck" and "go weee" everytime we're in the car, so we have ample opportunities to say "First we have to go to the store. Then we'll see the ducks. Then we'll go wee."

You've definitely become more affectionate, especially since your baby brother was born. You've always been so independent and not very cuddly. Now you LOVE to snuggle. You've become a little more gentle with Palmer...kind of. You don't hit him on the head everyday now. It's more like five times a week at this point. I noticed that the kids on Jon and Kate Plus 8 smack each other on the head constantly for no apparent reason, so I'm assuming this is pretty normal. However, I will ask about it at your 2-year check-up, and I will continue to put you in time out when you do it.

At two years old you are more fun than you've ever been. We do so much fun stuff together. We go to the park, take walks, color, read, sing. One of my favorite activities is simply watching you play amongst yourself. You've started playing make believe, talking to your babies and books. We're really looking forward to this summer, especially our trips to the pool. We're going to have so much fun!

Playing Papa Truck's Harmonica

It's funny how we end up with certain nicknames. When your daddy was little, he called his mom's dad "papa truck" because he drove a little green truck. He loved playing his harmonica, and you got to play it when you visited grammy and pops in January. You've recently become a harmonica fan. On your new Elmo video there is a harmonica song that you like to dance to. You also pretend to play the harmonica. It took us a while to realize why you were holding your hands up to your mouth, but now that we've figured it out we think it's adorable.

Schrader Dog

Sledding

All bundled up for your first time to play in the snow.

You took your first rides with your daddy...

...then hopped on for a ride with your grammy (how many little girls can say their grammy went sledding with them?)...

...before heading out on your first solo ride.

You topped off your big adventure by making a snow angel. Thanks to the McTriplets for letting you borrow their gloves, boots and snow pants.

Papa

Cousin Lovin'

I think your cousin, Maddie, enjoyed our visit most. She got to hold your baby brother and play with your hair. Very impressive since you don't let anyone play with your hair.

Georgia's First Snowman