Claire Bear is 2!

Oh wow!  Where has the time gone?  Claire has grown into an independent, happy and busy toddler. The baby in her is GONE.  It has been so cool to watch her personality emerge.  We see pieces of Samantha's determination, a whole lot of Henry's energy and her own silly style emerging.  

Claire's uniform these days is either a Carolina t-shirt or a Gym Carolina leotard.  We run many an errand with her wearing her bright green leotard.  She is doing gymnastics at Gym Carolina on Wednesday mornings and she is absolutely obsessed.  Last Tuesday she asked about 50 times before 9:00am when she was going to see Miss Kathryn.  Tomorrow, sweetie, tomorrow.  When she asked in the afternoon, I asked her if she remembered.  "Oh, Pomorrow, Mommy!"  Miss Kathyrn has learned to keep an eye out when Claire comes in because she has almost knocked her down tackling her for a hug.  She loves to jump on the trampoline, go through the obstacle course and she can bust out a mean forward roll.  

This girl is talking in full on sentences.  "Mommy, I like this song."  "What Henry doing right now?"  "Mommy, can I have a 'moothie please?"  A phrase that I hear frequently these days is, "Hold you Mommy?!"

She loves music and reading.  Her current car obsession is listening to Read Along Finding Nemo.  She will also contently listen to children's songs while we walk around Lake Lynn and will happily sign along while I push her.  Her favorite books to read before sleep are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Llama Llama Misses Mama and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?  

Her eating...well, she loves just about any carb: pasta, crackers, cookies, bagels, toast.  She also loves yogurt, milk and cheese, she is not as wild about eggs as she used to be.  She is very hit or miss on fruits and will only eat veggies if you force her.  I know it is typical for a 2 year old, but the day to day struggle can be painful.  Honestly, Payson is a lot more patient that I am in getting veggies in her.  I usually hide them in a smoothie.  

She has no time for baby toys.  I am in the process of packing them up and given them away.  All she wants to do is what her siblings are doing: ride a bike, play Shopkins, color and write, swim without a float...you name it.  I recently gave her a big girl pillow for her crib and she just smiled from ear to ear.  Every time I put her down she says, "This is Claire Bear's big girl pillow."  She recently started calling for us at 5:30am, so early!  After a few repeat performances we decided to try getting her her own OK to Wake Light that turns green when it is ok to get up.  We have it set to a blissful 6:30.  At 6:30 on the dot she is literally hollering, "Mommy, light is GREEN!"  She is so excited to have one, just the big kids.  They had better watch out, before they know it she will bunking in their room with them...

Since the kids have been back in school she has been our daytime pal and it has been so great to have the one-on-one time with her.  There are scattered tantrums here and there but we mostly want to freeze her in the stage she is in right now forever.  If only...

Claire loves going on bike rides in the bike trailer with us.  She giggles all the way down the street as we are leaving home.  

Claire was so happy to be part of Samantha's field day activities at school.  She always has a backpack on when we are dropping the big kids off somewhere.  Just in the event that she can come along, too.  

Claire loves her Poppy, and pool time too

She is still very into animals, especially our cats.  She could have brushed this bunny all day.  

Working on her kicks at Master Chang's with Henry

Two year old tantrums are for real!

Kitty face paint!  

Dropping Henry off at camp

Doodling on the bench like the big kids

Ready to go!

Sweet night time snuggles (pre-pillow)

This picture about sums it up: crazy curls, Carolina gear, getting into her sister's beads while she is at school...

Playtime with her buddy Miles at Durham's Life+Science Museum

Reading Brown Bear together.  For about 2 weeks she said "Yeah!" in the sweetest little voice.  We all loved it.  Sadly, it has come and gone.  So glad to have gotten it in this video.  

Claire LOVES to celebrate birthdays.  This video is a few months old but the enthusiasm remains.