Cate is 2

The busiest of our blessings (as my Dad likes to call them) turned two this week. We had such a great time celebrating her big day. She slept in until 8:30 am, which was a happy birthday gift for all of us. She is my kind of girl. Once she made her way to the playroom, she found her gifts and was eager to start opening them. She received a lot of fun things but Cate's favorite gift has been the mini trampoline that we bought her. It is also a favorite of Jane's, so there has been a lot of refereeing around here the past two days. After eating a pancake breakfast, we played with play dough and all of the other fun gifts she received.  Jane made sure to dress for the occasion and also made sure that all of the girls had party hats. That is what big sisters are for, right?

Lizzie is a big fan of birthday season, she was all smiles.

Santa Cruz t-shirt from Grandma and Grandpa

Once Trever was home we ate pizza, one of Cate's favorite meals and had ice cream cones. I was thinking of getting a special cupcake for Cate or even making cupcakes but that felt a little ambitious. So, I put a candle in her ice cream cone and called it good. She was perfectly happy and the ice cream was a hit.

Now, a little more on Cate. She is hilarious and so full of life. She is constantly making all of us laugh and seems to understand humor even though she is only 2. She is a tease and especially knows how to push Jane's buttons. The other night she kept telling Jane that it was her turn to jump on the trampoline and then as soon as Jane would make her way to the trampoline, Cate would hop on. They replayed that scenario about four times before Jane was totally frustrated. It was hard not to laugh. 

Cate is definitely into the do-it-all-by-myself stage, which can be exciting and frustrating for all involved. Getting into the car can be a little crazy and if I don't watch her, she is quickly climbing into the back seat or drivers seat to play around. This girl is quick. In fact, last weekend she climbed into the front seat after we arrived home and turned on all of the interior lights. I wish we would have noticed before we tried starting the car the next morning and found out we had a dead battery. 

This little girl is quick and is our little monkey. She climbs on everything and has no fear at the park. Her favorite thing to do is ride on the swings and do underdogs. Trever introduced her to the underdog and now there is no turning back. I thought he was crazy to push her so high, but she loves it and she hangs on pretty tight. I tried telling her that I don't do underdogs but I eventually caved. Here's to hoping that we don't have any major accidents. 

When Cate falls down, she doesn't really want comfort. A quick hug will do and then she is on her way. She has things to do. She recently started riding her scooter and has become quite proficient. She rode it to and from a nearby park last weekend, which amounted to almost 2 miles. I asked her if she wanted to ride in the stroller but she quickly turned me down. When we got home she was excited to tell our neighbor that she rode the whole way all-by-herself!

If Cate had her way, she would walk around in a t-shirt and diaper. When we go to the park, she immediately takes off her shoes and socks and often tries to pull of her pants if you aren't watching. She will walk across tanbark and rocks without bating an eye. Whenever we get in the car, she immediately pulls off her socks and shoes. It is already crazy enough to get everyone in and out of the car, so this extra step can make me crazy. A few weeks ago she pulled of her poopy diaper in the middle of the room but thankfully she hasn't done that since. 

Cate has shown a lot of interest in using the potty but hasn't really done her business in the potty just yet. Trever mentioned that we may want to start potty training her but I don't think I can manage that just yet. I think for now she is happy to climb on the potty, read a magazine, stuff the bowl with gobs of toilet paper and get down. Maybe we will tackle the whole potty training thing in a few months.

Cate is very independent and can often keep herself entertained. When we go outside or to a park, she is perfectly content to do her own thing. She is often that way around the house as well. I love walking into a room and finding her "reading" books or playing with blocks on her own. While she doesn't mind being alone, she does enjoy the companionship of her hippo. She drags her hippo all over the house and even tries bringing it to breakfast. 

Cate we love your spunk and energy and all of the joy you bring to our family. All who know you, can't help but love you. We look forward to watching you learn and grow in the next year and look forward to sharing many more laughs with you. Happy Birthday sweet girl!