Little Miss is 2

Little Miss Victoria Jean is two years old!! We celebrated with a party over at Pops and Gigi's house with just the immediate family. It was a cluster celebration with my little bro's fiancee's birthday and Pops and Gigi's anniversary, but don't get me wrong, Victoria was definitely at the center of it all.

Playing with the bubble machine from Uncle Corey and soon to be Aunt Katie.

Very carefully opening each and every present.

Time for the blessing.

Some cookie with Pops. He is always good for it.

C'mon Riley, smile normal.

I believe she was all smiled out by this point.

At age two, Victoria is full of joy and life. She has a bit of drama throughout her day, but springs back from most things fairly quickly. She is blatantly defiant and does it most times with a bit of a grin, but responds well to a firm word from Mommy or Daddy. She knows the rules of the house, but still chooses to test them every so often. So different than Riley in that respect. She is definitely my shadow and mimics almost everything I do. One of her favorite things to do it pretend to put on make-up while I am putting on mine. She also pretends to put lotion on and put mousse in her hair. We went for her two year check-up (only one shot this time - YAY!, but she also has a sinus infection - BOO!), and she is in the 80% on height and 90% on weight. I new she was bigger than most two year old's because she has outgrown most of her 24 month and 2T clothes and because it absolutely kills me to hold her longer than about two minutes, but wow ... she's a big girl!

Her little voice at times sounds so much like Riley that I sometimes do a double take. I think that I can for the most part translate her little toddler-speak:

"shyer" - pacifier
"na-a" - banana
"byee" - Riley
"daee" - Daddy
"kay-i" - Caroline (this is a new one that just started this week, took me forever to figure it out)
"mock" - milk
"doa" - Dora
"coo-ee pees" - cookie please
"moe" - remote control
"meer" - come here
"peh-pain" - airplane
"choo-tray" - choo-choo train
"bap-ty" - bath time
"shuh-sheem" - ice cream
"bah-er" - water

I love that she says bye-bye to EVERYTHING - the cold weather when we get in the car "bye-bye code", the bathtub, the dog everytime we leave the house, her crib when she gets up from her nap, the TV, the couch, my bathroom ... kinda weird, but totally cute. Then there is the "tank you belcom" which is thank you and your welcome. She says this as one fluid word everytime she is supposed to just say thank you. She still plays with Riley's toys (tractors, cars and legos) but I did see her playing with her dolls this past week. Then later that day I caught her like this:

So, at age two here are some of Victoria's likes and dislikes:

Likes: Whatever Riley likes, bananas, shoes, star dolly, Dora, singing, dancing with Mommy and Riley, going bye-bye, brushing her teeth, picking out her own clothes - especially the old t-shirts that have the stains on them and are not allowed to be worn outside the house, books, putting anything in her stroller and pushing it around the house, oreos, her blanket and pillow, talking to Grandma and Grandpa on the webcam, trucks, riding in the buggy at Albertsons that looks like a car, grilled cheese sandwhiches, Gigi, pulling Riley's hair (have no idea where she learned ths from), and giving kisses.

Dislikes: Mommy fixing her hair, almost anything that is not her idea, Riley's door shut, getting her diaper changed, dinner, Daddy getting her out of her crib, vegetables, Riley being at school all day (me too), shopping, and wearing socks.

Dearest Victoria,

I am just so absolutely in love with you. You are so much fun to be around. I so enjoy our days together. You make me smile and laugh often. You definitely keep me on my toes. You are always so chatty when it is just you and me. I love that. Never stop doing that. You have a sweet yet sassy personality. You are beautiful. You are loving. You are decisive. You do not waiver. You are not easily persuaded. God gave you all the qualities for a reason. My prayer is that this will create in you a boldness and courage to share your faith and God's love to those around you and to be in this world and not of it. I hope you will learn this next year to trust me and Daddy, more. I'm telling you darlin', we know what is good for you ... especially when it comes to food.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. - Just a heads-up sweetheart ... I do believe that the pacifier will be making it's exit in the next month or so. It is time.

With all her new toys, here she is at the end of her big birthday
playing with a old van we got Riley years ago and some
Star Wars action figures. Whatever.