I have a Two Year Old!!

I really can't believe that my sweet baby girl is 2...even when she is asked how old she is and she awkwardly holds her fingers up and says "two"...I'm in serious denial.

But there is one thing that I am not in denial about. My baby girl is so sweet and so smart and so funny and so sassy. Don't believe me? Well I'll just prove it then. (Warning: I don't want to forget anything that has happened the last 6 months, so this list well be long and there will be a lot of bragging)

Mariah discovered her pockets awhile back and she is obsessed. Landing on her face and suffering some road rash from running with her hands in her pockets hasn't even dampened the obsession either. And I think it is pretty cute.

Mariah loves to wave and say hello to EVERYONE. The random people in the gym, grocery store, library, even the guy who was driving the big ol' tractor today. I love seeing how that little gesture from her can make someone so happy. Children are a blessing to everyone, not just their families. Mariah is a testament to that.

She has the most joyful belly laugh. You can't help but laugh yourself when you hear it. 

Mariah is such a great big sister. Most mornings when she wakes up, after she has requested her precious "nuk nuk" (milk), she asks to "lay by Chet". She brings him toys, reads him books, and shoves binkies in his mouth whether he wants them or not. When I give him his medicine, which he hates, she stands by his head and tells him, "otay, bubba, otay" and gives him kisses. Once I'm done she says "all done Chet!". Nothing makes me happier than seeing the love they have for each other.

Mariah is quite the talker. We like to call her our little parrot because she repeats everything we say.  She is starting to speak in longer sentences too which is exciting! We can understand her MOST of the time but when we can't we're in trouble... Her f's are said like p's so that can get entertaining. We especially love when she says "pood, pood" so excitedly.

Mariah thinks she wants to be potty trained. But she doesn't really get the whole going in a potty business yet. The very first time she sat on her little toilet she went potty. I was so excited, but my wise mother counseled me to not get my hopes up. Sure enough, the next time she sat on the potty we were there for over 30 minutes reading books. When she got up to get more books she ended up peeing all over the carpet and book shelf. So obviously things aren't quite clicking yet for her. I've postponed the potty training until we get to Utah because I didn't think a cross-country road trip would be ideal with a child in the process of being potty trained.

We do a lot of book reading around here thanks to Mariah. The house is usually cluttered with books in every room. But I love it. She has started memorizing some books and it is really fun to hear her "read" them.

Mariah is a tad bossy. If Chet gets a little too boisterous in his babbling she tells him, "too loud, Chet, too loud." (she hears that a lot from her mom, just directed at her and her high pitch screams) I even caught her trying to boss around another boy at Exercise Group: "Don't do dat, Be nice." I have no idea where she gets the bossiness, probably Tanner, he is quite the nagger. But I think it is a good trait for the oldest to have, even if the younger siblings disagree.

Her boss face

She's still a great sleeper. A usual nap for her is at least two hours but can run up to four...it makes me happy. She also goes to bed so great at night. Most nights after saying good night to daddy, she walks right in her room and waits for me to lift her up into the crib. Then I sing her a few primary songs, she says her prayers and I leave. After that she plays and talks for a while and then falls asleep. No crying...I didn't think it would be possible.

Mariah loves music and fills her day with singing. She know so many songs it would be too big of a list but it is really cute to hear her sing Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeep (Sunbeam). She also loves Going on a Lion Hunt and doesn't want any help from me. The other day she started singing I Am a Child of God and it made me all teary eyed.

Mariah loves Jesus, at times she just has a hard time identifying who is actually Jesus. The other day she mistook Abraham Lincoln for Him, and most men with dark beards are Jesus to her. But I love that she already has a love for our Savior. She always wants me to read the little books we have that are stories from the life of the Savior and the "Ten Commaments" (Commandments). She also has just started noticing the pictures of Temples we have in our house. And likes to point them out.

She has become quite the snuggler. She will ask me for "suggles" (snuggles). When she drinks her milk at night she asks, "mommy? couch?" which means she wants me to hold her on the couch. Just this morning she laid with Chet and I in bed and snuggled right up in my arms. It was perfection.

Snuggling with Saylor

We have loved watching Mariah learn and grow over the last two years. She brings so much laughter and joy to our lives. We are so grateful for the gift that is our Baby Love.