Two!!

There is a completely different mentality when your second (and probably last) child is growing up.  With Maya, we were so excited as she moved forward with each milestone and even pushed her along to reach them a little faster.  With Laurel, I find myself trying to keep her a baby as long as possible.  I am losing though... she doesn't want to be a baby anymore and she is making that perfectly clear.  Watching her relationship with Maya become one of equals has been incredible, yet at the same time makes me a bit sad to be losing my "Baby Laurel".

She is a healthy growing girl.  Still petite and is almost the exact same size Maya was at this age... same height and only .8lbs bigger.  Although her head is still huge :-)

- Her nickname, Lo-Lo, has stuck.  When she started to say her own name she wasn't able to say Laurel and called herself Lo-Lo.  Now we all do it.  Although, Maya says that since she is now a big 2 year old we should start calling her Laurel instead of Lo-Lo. 

- Her language skills have truly exploded in the last few weeks.  She shocks me every day with new words and phrases.  And it cracks me up how she casually adds it in as if she has always said it.  One of the girls' favorite games in the car is for Maya to say a new word and ask Laurel to repeat it...  "Laurel can you say [x]?"  Giggles, giggles, giggles.  They will do this for ages.  I think it has also made it a lot more fun for Maya when they play together.  They play these elaborate make believe games and now Laurel can partipate instead of just follow Maya.

- She wants to be just like her big sister.  She repeats phrases and expressions that Maya says.  She wants to wear a "pretty dress" every time Maya wears a dress.  If Maya is doing it, she wants to be doing it too... no matter what it is.

- Her new favorite phrase is "I do", which can mean everything from Laurel will do it, Laurel wants to and Me too. 

- Her personality is a big mix between Rey and I.  She is shy like me and takes time to warm up to situations.  But, at home (or once she is comfortable somewhere) she is a crazy, goofy, spitfire of a kid.  She wears her emotions on her sleeve and will let you know exactly how she is feeling.  She loves to laugh and she loves to make other people laugh.  I can't wait until she is older because I think her sense of humor is going to be a whole lot of fun. 

- Although she loves to color and read books, she is not as interested in sitting still and learning as Maya is.  She would rather run around, dance and play outside.  Which is probably why, if asked, she still says all colors are blue and the only number she says when counting is two.  These things just aren't her priority... which is perfectly fine with me.

- She is the type of kid that throws a complete fit because I won't let her shine the flashlight in her eyes, the type of kid that jumps off a high play structure without fear or caution and the type of kid that colors on the walls.  I will not be shocked if we end up at the Dr one day because she has shoved something up her nose just to see what would happen.  She keeps us guessing and we love her for it!