2

Yes, our little girl turned two on October 27th (I am just a bit behind).  It is hard to remember our life without Gabrielle, yet at the same time, we can't believe she is already two years old and so independent.  She is an absolute sweetheart and we feel so blessed to have her in our family.

Some milestones Gabby has reached at age two:

• Weight: 31lbs 10oz (92nd percentile).  Height: 34 1/2 inches (65th percentile).  Predicted height as an adult: 5'9".  [Wouldn't you love it if someone posted your weight and percentile for your birthday every year?  Good thing she doesn't know that I am doing this yet.  Hehe.]
• Talking - really talking.  I am not sure if there is anything she can't communicate.  6-, 7-, 8-word sentences are not rare at all.  Most of her "r"s and some "l"s still sound like "w"s, but it is kind of cute that she calls Claire "Cwaire".  She has even mastered those confusing pronouns to use "I", "you", etc. and gets most prepositions right - "on", "in", "over"....
• She understands what I say in French, although she does not speak French very often anymore without encouragement, with the exception of some words that really stuck.  But she somehow knows the difference between French & English.
• She sings songs all day long.  She knows at least half a dozen songs by herself and sings others with me.  Here are videos of her singing the alphabet and "I am a Child of God" (taken the week of her birthday).

• She is completely potty-trained.  Hooray!!  Even at night.  She wears underwear 24/7.  Although, for a while she had us worried.  Remember how I posted about how she was totally constipated because she didn't want to go "caca" in the toilet?  Well, we found a reward that worked: fruit snacks.  She got a package of princess or Dora fruit snacks every time she went caca.  It began working so well that she literally would go caca every time she went pee, 7-8 times per day.  She is skillful like that.  I can't understand how, but voila.  She earned those fruit snacks!  We quickly had to downgrade to a Reeses Pieces chocolate each time she went before we made her sick.
• Gabby loves to draw and color.  Her favorite thing to do is use a real pen and make a bunch of connected w's to look like she is writing words.  Then she tells us what she wrote.  She also draws each member of her extended family.  The arms and legs are rarely in the right place, but apparently that's how we look to her.
• Physically, she loves to run and especially jump.  I am seriously hoping we don't have a future circus star in our home.  She jumps so high.  And everywhere we go.  We would get her a little trampoline, but that would be dangerous considering what she does without one.  She loves to slide, but hates to swing.  Stairs are not an obstacle for her at all, even without a railing.
• Gabby is very social.  Much more so than Jason or I ever were at her age.  She doesn't seem to notice that people are different ages and that a random adult may not want to play blocks with her or hear the details of her most recent experience on the toilet.  She invites all and tells all.  She counts down to playdates and other social events.
• Her characteristics include a bit of perfectionism and organization.  I certainly don't complain about these things, but Jason is convinced that she has OCD because she won't let him leave cupboard doors open or otherwise leave things out of place.  :)  She is very obedient and helpful.  She spends her day trying to help me sweep or getting things for me.
• She is also an amazing sister.  I am still in shock that she can be so good to Claire.  She calls Claire her "best friend" and everywhere we go she introduces Claire over and over to those we pass, "This is Cwaire.  This is Cwaire."  (Which can get a little old at the grocery store).  She is unselfish and so sincere with her sister.  They play and laugh together all day.  It warms our hearts.

Please excuse this long, boring entry.  Since I am a horrible journal writer, I am planning to have this blog printed once each year.  So this may be the closest Gabby gets to knowing what she was doing at age two.

We celebrated the day of her birthday by going to the park.

Then, when Daddy came home, Gabby got to open her presents.

Much better reactions this year than last.