Happy Birthday Harper!!!

Today was Harper's 2nd birthday!  I decided she shouldn't have to go through our regular crying when she enters the nursery at church on her birthday, so we opted to stay at home and just have some fun family time.  We took a long walk on the Silver Comet Trail and made a stop at the river to let the girls collect and toss in some rocks.  It's one of their favorite past-times and from the rock throwing we moved into digging in the mud.  Let me just tell you that was a big step for me in the direction of getting ready for a little boy.  We've NEVER done anything like that, but the girls loved it and stayed cleaner than I thought they might.

Unfortunately, Harper didn't nap today and that combined with a busy weekend did not set us up for a very happy afternoon.  Thankfully we had Harper's birthday buddy (and next-door neighbor) Calvin's 2nd birthday party to attend, so that kept her happy for a while.  It was a Curious George themed party so the girls picked out their monkey dresses to wear.

After the party it was major melt-down time at our house...what an appropriate way to ring in the 2's. :-)  I overheard Handley telling Harper at one point, "See, this is why you need to take a nap.  You are just too grouchy if you don't." Ha!

We sure do love our little two year old and can't get enough of her though!  I believe I've said this about her before, but the saying about little girls... sugar and spice and everything nice; that's what little girls are made of could not describe her more perfectly.  She's definitely got equal parts of sugar and spice.  

Here she is showing me how old she is - 2!!! (And notice that Ra-Ra is right there with her.) 

At 2 years old Harper:

• is still very attached to her Ra-Ra (giraffe lovey blanket) and it goes along with us almost everywhere we go
• loves her big sister and wants to do anything to be near her
• has inherited Handley's love of band-aides to heal any minor ailment 
• creates small sentences using 2-5 words and has an ever growing vocabulary
• loves taking care of her baby dolls
• is quite the negotiator when it comes to asking for "one more minute" to play or "one more candy treat" after she uses the potty
• has a very outgoing and fun personality, but in new situations and around new people she can become very shy and reserved
• runs instead of walking everywhere she can
• can count every other number to 10 (I say one, she says two, I say three, she says four, etc.)
• is stubborn, stubborn, stubborn and stubborn some more
• likes to tease Handley and taunt her with toys when she is pretending to share
• has a very tender heart and is super sensitive 
• loves to dance and be silly
• can create giant crocodile tears at the drop of a hat
• is strong-willed, testy, and antagonistic
• is still really attached to Mommy but is becoming more and more comfortable with other people
• sucks her thumb to calm herself and when she is sleepy
• almost always has a bag on her arm, a phone to hear ear
• is such a cuddle bug and always wants to be held
• loves life and everyone she comes in contact with

Happy 2nd Birthday, Harper!!!