2.5

Today, Katherine is two and a half years old!  There are moments when I want her to stay exactly like this because having a toddler is more fun than I ever could have imagined.  I love the giggles, the imagination, the hilarious comments, the playful energy, the sweet concern for her baby brother, the fierce hugs, and the joy of watching her learn new things.  As expected, there are also moments when I groan at her stubbornness, tantrums, whiny voice, and boundary pushing behavior. Halfway into two though, I would describe this age as delightful.

Kate holds up two fingers when asked her age

Yesterday Kate discovered she could reach all the light switches in our house.  Matt asked her, "When did you get so tall!?" to which our funny girl responded, "Three minutes ago."  Her sense of humor is as cute as her face.

Favorite Books: Steam Train Dream Train, BOB Books- especially the ones about patterns, Hello Ninja, Where is Spot?, Pooh's Honey Trouble, But Not the Hippopotamus, Good Night Good Night Construction Site, The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon

Watching the penguins underwater at the zoo yesterday, her favorite spot

Favorite Songs: Songs with motions especially get her going like "Hokey Pokey," "Itsy-bitsy Spider," "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Wheels on the Bus."  She also often sings to herself favorites like "Twinkle Twinkle" "ABC's" and "Ring Around the Roses"

Favorite Foods: Goldfish, raisins, yogurt, oatmeal, cookies, and sweet potato fries

Quirks: Girl is particular.  She knows where things go and will get upset if anything is out of place or has been moved.  Similarly, if she is used to a certain parent doing something or routine and it is changed she comments on it, often angry that it isn't going exactly as expected.  She hates when things get dirty and is actually a huge help in letting us know when Luke spits up or crumbs are on the floor.

Favorite animal: Monkey

Favorite Color: Blue and White

Favorite Person: This is a tie... between Matt and Luke.  She ADORES both of them.

Super helpful big sister washing Luke's hair

Favorite hobbies: reading books, playing in our neighbor Colton's backyard, hiding from us and giggling hysterically the whole time giving away her position, rearranging things, bike rides with Daddy, going to church, asking "What's that?" and singing

Milestones: Kate can count to 10 (if she's in the mood), can sing the ABC's, recognizes shapes and colors, knows her left and right (and gives directions home from the backseat everyday), brushes her own teeth, can dress and undress herself (um, including removing her own diaper), and has learned that the only way to get anything around here is to finish a request by saying please.

Still waiting for her: to show even a tiny bit of interest in the potty, to pedal correctly on her tricycle, and for her to sleep past six a.m.

This little girl has made our home and my heart happier than ever.  Life with a toddler is never boring, and I'm grateful for the wild ride we're on with our precious girl.  Happy half birthday!