Happy Second Birthday, Jocelyn!

My baby girl is two!  TWO!  It's amazing how quickly this past year went.  Of course, I did have a whole baby in that time.  It's pretty funny, because we announced my pregnancy with Donovan during Jocelyn's birthday party, so everybody was asking what the big announcement would be this year :-P.  I'm happy to report that there are no announcements to make. 

Before I started writing this, I reread my post from Jocelyn's first birthday. And it's amazing how much she has changed.  She only had a few words at her first birthday.  Nohttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=103478114587038880#editor/target=post;postID=2817864046925414552w she has a whole vocabulary!  There is pretty much nothing she can't say.  And she understands what every basic, everyday object is.  She can count to 3 with confidence and understanding of what the numbers mean.  She can count to 5 and get the numbers right in order, but I suspect she is just reciting.  And she knows her numbers through 11, but sometimes she messes up the order.  They are just words to her at this point.

But she gets language so well.  She understands about plural - one book, two books.  She understands pronouns - I, me, you, etc.   She knows what everything in our house is called.  She really understands possession - especially when things are hers, but also when things belong to somebody else.  When we tell her that something belongs to somebody else, she complies with not trying to take it.  She even brings Donovan his toys, and points out that they are his - Donovan's Snoopy, Donovan's blanket, Donovan's giraffe.  That being said, she will still often prefer his toys over hers, even when she has her own Snoopy, giraffe, etc.  There was a day that she had a tea party with all Donovan's animals.  It was hillarious.

In biggest news, she is using the potty quite a bit.  She is far from potty trained.  But today, at her birthday party, she had her first poop in the potty!  She started peeing in it about a week ago (I really need to update this more!).  Again, it's not even every day, and there are lots of false alarms, and we have her in diapers all the time, but she uses the potty sometimes and that's awesome.  

Jocelyn is growing into such an amazing person.  She is getting to where she could have a conversation with you.  She very clearly tells you what she needs, wants, doesn't want, etc.  She can tell you if something hurts.  She can tell you if she is hungry and what she wants to eat - which is often candy (which we answer with 'no').  She is sweet and loving and likes to give Donovan hugs when he cries.  She is also far too charming - doing cute things when she is in 'trouble.'  She is the funniest person I know.  Sometimes it's on purpose - she will do something silly, like climb up me.  Other times it is not on purpose at all - like requesting candy for dinner, or asking for her crud back after Mike takes junk from her hands. 

She is still a dare-devil.  She isn't afraid of anything.  She will climb right up the slide, hang from the bar and swing, slide all by herself.  She wants to swim by herself - even though she can't swim!  She loves splash day and gymnastics day at daycare.  But she is also a care-giver, often putting her stuffed animals to bed and making sure that Donovan has what he needs.  She has a great imagination, playing tea party with her little friends (stuffed animals) and also coloring with them.  She has, in the past, 'ridden' her Clifford stuffed animal, the same way Emily Elizabeth does it in the books. 

She is also a creature of habit.  Since Mike typically gets her in the mornings, she wants him to get her in the mornings.  If I go, she sends me away.  She sleeps in her big girl bed, but still asks for her crib.  If I pick just her up from daycare (like if we are going to the doctor, or Donovan is already home with Mike), she is concerned that I don't have him with me.  I need to help her brush her teeth and read her bedtime stories.  Then Mike needs to do a post-lights-out diaper change. 

I know I have said this before, but every day my love for my children grows and grows.  Being a parent has taught me the vastness of my patience and the depth of my love.  Having a second child did not diminish any of the love for my first.  The heart just grows and allows for more love to form.  It's pretty amazing how that works.

Jocelyn, thank you for teaching me so much about myself, and for choosing me to be your mommy.  I love you more and more with each passing day, and I am always fascinated to learn more about you.  You are becoming such a lovely person, and I enjoy your company immensely.