Two and a Half

Some Clara randomness in honor of your two and a half years with us.

~ You have the loveliest big blue eyes that I love to stare into, when you're still enough to allow for a little staring.

~ You want to be just like Mommy. If I have on pants, you want pants. If I'm wearing a dress, you want one, too. Ponytails, bracelets, purses, lotion, deodorant, you name it. If Mommy's doing it, you want to as well. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

~ You can dress yourself completely now (except for buttoning) down to your shoes, which you rarely get on the wrong feet anymore. And oh, how you love to dress yourself and change your shoes.

~ Shopping with you has become a real chore. You don't want in the cart anymore but can't be trusted to walk beside the cart. While I was picking out bananas the other day, you grabbed a mango and took off running through produce. I had to abandon the cart to chase you down.

~ You can go potty all by yourself now on the big potty. We've caught you emptying your little potty all by yourself several times, which is a little nerve-wracking to watch.

~ You love to raid the refrigerator for baby carrots, especially when watching Bugs Bunny. Mommy wishes Dora loved to munch on brocolli or something.

~ You still wake up happy, wide-eyed and ready to start the new day every morning around 7:15 or so. You usually take about a two hour nap around 1:30 and get to bed around 8:30. Your bedtime routine consists of brushing teeth, going potty, a book, song, drink of water and a prayer. You then come out once or twice with some excuse, your current favorites being "Owie knee" and "Need help". A kiss on the knee and/or help getting back under your covers and you're all set.

~ You've never met a stranger. You wave and say hi to random people, and in the process make a lot of people smile, including me.

~ You are incredibly loving and empathetic. Though you're two and are oblivious to a lot of things, you immediately stop what you're doing and render aid if someone is sad or hurt. One of your new friends in your dance class was crying during the middle of class. You stopped dancing to go to her. You squatted down, patted her back and I'm sure asked "Ok?" like you do anytime you see someone hurting. It warmed my heart.

~ You make me want to be more like you.