HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!

Two years! Here are some facts about you at the terrific age of two:

You are a WILD CHILD. You have zero fear of anything that could possibly harm you, yet are unrealistically afraid of things that could not. Loud noises scare you to pieces (lawnmowers, trash truck, vacuum, hair dryer), yet when we are listening to music in sissy's room you relentlessly turn the volume ALL the way up over and over and over again, smiling all the while. You have an innate fear of men, and I'm hoping you keep that for the next 30 years.

You literally run everywhere you go, I think I have seen you walk less than 10 times your entire life.

You love to do anything and everything that sissy does. While Kaitlin would get "trapped" at your age at the top of the Tubes or any other large climbing structure (playplace at McDonald's, etc), you go up and come down the biggest slide with a huge grin on your face. We went to BounceU the other day and I did the obstacle course with you which has a huge slide at the end and you fought me the very first time, screaming "WANNA DO IT MYSELF," rather than ride down with me. Zero fear.

"Anything you can do, I can do better..."

If it is quiet in the house I know to find you one of several places:

1. Standing on one of the bathroom counters "washing your hands" (ie pumping all of the soap out), "putting water in it" ("it" being some sort of container you have found that you want to drink out of), brushing your teeth, or applying some lotion or ointment you have found.

2. Standing on top of sissy's toybox playing with the CD player, desperately trying to play the Wiggles CD.

3. Going potty by yourself (which generally ends poorly as you haven't quite learned all the tricks of the trade, namely closing your legs)

In all of these activities there is a 95% chance you will be completely naked. You LOVE to be naked and try to get that way as often as you can. And as soon as you do obtain the ideal state of nakedness, you will usually run around the house screaming "NAKED!!!!"

You talk a ton now, full sentences and you are the peanut gallery in our family. If Kaitlin is having a tantrum, you usually are quietly saying over and over "Sissy need pow-pow." Never fails to draw a chuckle from me.

You stand up for yourself and don't take any flack from your big sis. As a matter of fact, you're the one that is usually in time-out for hitting, biting or generally just being mean to sissy (and Bud). She is very patient with you but you still have the 2yo temper so not quite there yet.

Some of your fave games include:

Jumping off the couch upstairs onto all the pillows

Hide and seek

Running and screaming and chasing after sissy and vice versa

Playing with baby dolls, especially feeding them

Making us "agua soup" in your play kitchen

Doing the hot dog dance

Jumping on the bed for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

You are generally a very happy girl and quick with a smile and a laugh. The only times you are really cranky are if you get up too early or right when you wake up from your nap. You sleep about 8-6ish and usually take 1 -2 hour nap. I think you need more sleep than that but you beg to differ. You don't want to miss out on anything good.

Demonstrating and yelling "CUP HAT!!!" One of your favorite things to do is put random objects on your head, name them and scream "HAT" after that.

You are definitely more of a snacker than a full meal eater. I tend to leave your meals out for an hour or more b/c you often get distracted but will come back in 20 min and want more food. You will try pretty much anything, and if it is on my plate it is guaranteed that you want a bite. Your favorite food is still meat - any and all kinds, the more the better.

If we could sum it all up in one word, it would be "crazy." Crazy Claire - she's wild and fun and such a joy to have in our lives. Happy birthday sweet girl, we love you!