two months {drew}

you at two

I started this post when you two turned two. I wanted to remember what you were like at this age. The funny things you said and did. But I never finished it and just ended up keeping a running list of things on my phone. So here we are a couple weeks after your third birthday and I decided to add the pictures taken just before you turned three to the ones taken just a few weeks after you turned two. A year of change documented so beautifully by some wonderful people. You went from my babies to my big girls in so many ways. From baby-talk and babble to full blown conversations about theology and science. You potty trained and un-potty trained and re-potty trained and learned letters and numbers and songs. You traveled and swam and won over hearts all over the south. You became more adventurous and more sympathetic and more defiant and more of everything you already were. And you became big sisters. A role that fits you both well and makes me proud.  So here are the things I want to remember you said and did when you were just two. 

You both pronounced spider 'pider' and pumpkins 'bubbles.'

When you eat something really delicious you literally dance. (Lo)

Your favorite song was Jingle Bells. {Until we took you to see Frozen.} 

When you say 'horsies' it sounds exactly like fishies. Very confusing to people when they are unaware of this fact. 

You also say 'moop it' (move it) to Howie (no idea where you would have heard someone say that. Really.) and 'moopie' is smoothie and movie. {We use context clues a lot when speaking with you guys.}

When something is sad on a show or in life, you always say, 'Don't worry, Mama. It be happy again.' (Lo)

You call your sister 'Sissy Minor' when she is doing something you don't like or you are trying to get her attention. (CG)

When someone asks you your name, you almost always say 'Charleigh and Logan'  or 'Sissy.'

Your favorite Bible stories for a long time were the 'big water' ones (Noah's ark and Elijah's fire)  and washing Jesus' feet. (CG)

You pronounced Jesus 'Jess-us' for a while there. (Lo)

You call the battle of Jericho 'the battle of cheek-o.' (Lo)

I once heard you whisper, 'I love you, Logan. True love.' (CG) 

After Drew was born, I once asked you who went potty while I was nursing her and you answered, 'Sissy Logan.' (CG)

You pronounced smile 'sa-mel' and Jasmine 'Jam-is.' (Lo)

One day, while you were eating cereal, I ran upstairs to do something and could here you yelling 'MOM' for more cereal exactly like Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers. (CG)

I hear you utter this sentence almost every day when you're supposed to be napping: 'Lolo, talk a me.' (CG)

When we do something that is just totally embarrassing or too silly for your two-year-old taste (like singing too loud or lifting weights in the garage) you always say, 'Daddy, daddy. Top it. What you doing??' (Lo)

Whenever you want to snuggle, you say, 'Mommy, I hold you now.' (Lo)

One of my favorite conversations with you this year: 'Mom, I need a mustache.' 'Oh you do?' 'Yes, on my face.' And then I looked over to see a sticker stuck under your nose. (CG)

Another favorite: "Mom! {shocked look...like how did this happen?!?} I ate your whole waffle!' {Yes...yes, you did.} (Lo)

Everything is a hairbrush...paint hairbrush, tooth hairbrush, etc.

You coined the phrase 'It's so dark I can't see my face!' (CG)Now used often by both of you. 

You pronounce elevator 'elligator.'

Your favorite Bible story is now the big fish one. 

You call your fingernails 'the handnails on my fingers.' (CG)

When you don't like a new food, which isn't very often, you say, 'I can't like that, Mama. I can't.' (Lo)

The only fast food you have ever had is Chic-fil-a which you pronounce 'Chic-a-flay.'

When people asked you when your birthday was, you would answer 'October 26th' (CG) and 'in a couple weeks' (Lo).

You sometimes call CG 'Sissy moose' since we call her Charleigh-moose. (Lo)

One day when I was cleaning the bathroom, you asked what I was doing and then said 'Lulu coming??' {I swear I clean more often than just when Lulu comes to stay.} (CG)

You walked into our bedroom one morning and said, 'Hey, folks!' (Lo)

You love to Facetime anyone. Especially aunts and uncles. 

You wear a princess dress literally everyday. All day if we are home for the day. (Lo)

One day your Grammy took you for a walk and got you ice cream from the ice cream truck. When yours was almost gone you tried to trade up to get the rest of Logan's and then did the same to Grammy. Smart.  (CG)

You both will still often slip and say 'me and Charleigh and Logan.' Because, to you, Charleigh and Logan have always gone together. 

You are fiercely protective of baby Drew. And sometimes love on her a little too much for her liking. 

People smile at me now and say, 'oh, you survived the twos.' But it didn't feel like something that needed to just be 'survived.' Yes, you learned to say no. And, yes, you learned to whine. But the good out-weighed the bad by far and I have loved every second seeing the little girls you are becoming. I've also heard I better watch out for the threes. But, you know what, bring it on. Because if it's even half as much fun and craziness and love as the twos, I'll take it.

Photo credits: Heather Fink Photography and The Beautiful Mess. 

40/52

'A portrait of our girls once a week, every week, in 2014.'

Charleigh Grace: Blurry, post-nap haze at its best. 

Lolly pop: Our little gymnast and sometimes monkey.

Baby Drew: Sometimes, there just really aren't words for her.