Weight: 25 pounds
Height: 34 inches
Our sweet Caroline insists on growing and growing. She is bursting with personality and keeps us laughing and pulling our hair out simultaneously. She's stubborn, loving, funny and passionate. We love her to the moon.
A few things to remember about this girl at 2 years of age:
• Caroline loves, loves, loves the iPad. I have to keep it out of sight when it isn't her turn to use it. Right now she's into Daniel Tiger, Little Einsteins (she totally does all the actions and it's adorable) and especially Snow White. She sings a pretty sweet version of the "Heigh-ho!" chorus--complete with putting her hand to her mouth while calling out the initial "Heigh-ho!" as well as the song at the wishing well.
• She's a good sleeper and a mostly good napper. She has just started occasionally not wanting to actually sleep during nap time. I'm not so thrilled about that.
• She eats pretty much everything when she's hungry. Some of her favorites are strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, pbjs, mac n cheese, croutons, fruit snacks and ice cream.
• She starting to string sentences together and say more and more words each day. Such a fun phase!
• Her cutest words are "Thanks, mom!" "No, thank you" (especially when she's upset) "Caroline" "No laugh!" "I don't know."
• Her least cute words are "Mine" "No!" (with her pointer finger), "Ow!" or "Ouchie, Mom!" (when getting her hair done) and "Why?" (didn't remember that starting so young!).
• She loves singing songs--If You're Happy, Wheels on the Bus, Old McDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider, 3 Little Ducks, etc. She loves them all. She will also immediately let you know if she no longer wants that particular song. She also sings the chorus of "Sweet Caroline" and it is the cutest thing ever. Especially her "Bom, bom, bom."
• She likes to read the same book at least 3 times in a row.
• She is a big fan of playing outdoors and at the park. She loves swinging "up high!"
• She is kind of obsessed with playing in the van. She tries her hardest to get past her car seat and into the front or back of the van any time we get in or out.
• She really likes to play hide-and-seek, and she's actually pretty good at it! We've been impressed with some of her hiding places and at how well she can find people.
• She loves bubbles and baby dolls. So sweet to watch her take care of them.
• She is constantly covered in bruises and goose eggs and recently survived our family's first broken bone! She broke her clavicle in early April and was back to her wild self within a couple of weeks
• She let's us know she's awake by screaming "MOMMY!" at the top of lungs from her crib. This usually happens about 6:15 a.m.
• She both loves and tortures her big brother. They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies. She makes him cry more than he makes her cry.
• She is getting to know all of her extended family by name and enjoys face-timing with grandparents and Mia (my parents' dog).
• She likes to do things "all myself" which is sometimes cute (ie--prayers) and sometimes frustrating (everything else).
We got to spend her actual birthday at Marbles Museum in Raleigh with some friends. She had a fabulous time and could have played all day had she not so desperately needed a nap. Her official birthday celebration happened the next day. We had a family dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Schmutz, Margaret, Vaughn and "Lu-Lu" (Lucy) and then headed to Westover Park where some other friends joined us for cake and ice cream. Caroline loved the cake and kept poking the icing dots and then licking her finger. She was thrilled when everyone sang to her and called out "Again!" afterwards. I'm so sad that I pushed the wrong button and didn't catch her sweet facial expressions on video! She expertly blew out her two candles and enjoyed digging into her strawberry cake. It was also delightful to watch her open her presents. Such excitement! We pulled out the bubble machine to add to her 2-year-old wonder. It was such a lovely and fun evening; a perfect way to celebrate our Sweet Caroline.
