Claire Bear - 2 Years

Where do I even begin....

I guess with Claire's 2 year portraits. I always take Claire's photos, but I usually have the help of my Mom. This time, due to some circumstances I will blog about later, I had to do them solo.

It was such a nightmare! I couldn't even get her to look at the camera, let alone smile. I was

breaking a serious sweat taking these shots and I am so glad I got two,

absolutely adorable images to result. Thankfully, that's all you need.

Doesn't her body language make her look so grown up in these shots?

Where did the time go?! Claire Bear turned 2 years old last month

and she has officially transitioned into toddlerhood. Yikes!

• at her 2 year check up she was 34.5 inches tall (68%) and 26 pounds (41%) - based on a personal method of predicting height, her pediatrician estimates that she will be 5'6" tall as an adult
• she is officially no longer a baby and is wearing toddler clothes
• when asked what her name is she'll reply "Care Bear"...this is so funny because we have never told her that is her name
• she is obsessed with taking pictures and will hold almost anything up to the sky and say "cheese" (in the picture to the right she is holding up the TV remote) - she has even begun demanding that I take pictures of her...she'll find my camera or phone and say "picture of care bear" and then of course, she always has to see the result
• went through a phase of wanting to take her diaper off
• says everything is tight - her diaper, the seat belt, you name it...and she won't let up until you pretend to loosen it
• wearing Mommy's "suckas" (necklaces) - she says 99% of her words correctly, but for some reason necklaces and sunglasses are both pronounced "suckas"...her favorite is Mommy's yellow one and she gets very upset when you make her take them off
• has become very OCD - everything has to be exactly how she likes it...you have to dry her water bottle before giving it to her, you must cool her food down by putting it in the freezer and the fridge won't cut it, her baby monitor that plays music has to be placed in the right direction on the floor...it goes on and on and on (AND DRIVES ME CRAZY!)
• is learning the names/locations of states - her favorites are California (b/c that's Crew's house), Nevada (Ashlyn and Avery's house), Zona (Arizona - Brooklyn's house), Washington, Oregon, Texas, Alaska, and Hawaii...as you can see we've yet to venture out of the western United States
• her latest obsession is to "open up bankie" - she demands that you lay her blankie out on any surface she chooses...Khloe's bed, the couch, the chair, over her stuffed animals...and she insists that she can't do it herself
• she thoroughly enjoyed having a huge snake wrapped around her neck at Draper Library - she's scared of flies, but apparently not snakes
• is obsessed with ants - she points them out everywhere and one of the ways I have gotten her to wear shoes outside most of the time is by telling her she is going to step on an ant :)
• can count to ten all by herself
• always wants to watch a show - and the only show she will watch is "Signing Time"
• is constantly testing Mommy's patience and by late afternoon I have usually lost it
• but then she'll say "wuv you Mommy" and make up for it...momentarily
• has grown to like copying what someone does or says - in this picture she is copying my Dad...he was holding up his hand to block the sun so he could see a bird in the tree above him
• knows a lot of colors and will say something is a "blank one" - blue one, purple one, pink one, etc.
• loves hanging out with her cousins and will usually give them hugs and kisses upon first site
• she likes to close doors behind her and if she leaves a room she will always say "bye" and usually add "see ya"
• insists on getting in the car and her car seat by herself - which drives me crazy because it takes her like an hour to do it
• loves getting stickers or stamps wherever they are given (stamps at the library and stickers at Target)
• one of her favorite snacks is "boobies and cheese" (blueberries and cheese) - she is even particular about what kind of cheese it is (white is string cheese and yellow is a cheese stick)
• is very into saying "thank you" and sometimes adds "you're welcome" too
• she is obsessed with phones and our phones aren't even fancy iPhones so they really do nothing - they are always locked so the most she can do is push a button and make the light come on
• finally getting the hang of using a fork and spoon although it usually results in an even bigger mess than if she uses her fingers
• constantly is requesting "capes" (crepes) for breakfast - I had to start telling her we didn't have them to which she'll give in and say "eggs", toast", or "ogurt" (yogurt)

This little one is such a joy and a nightmare rolled into one. Everyday I am in awe of a new thing she has picked up or the fact that she'll sit and watch her show (Signing Time) and repeat words back to the TV. Her personality has definitely developed and I am so excited for the future. Some days, she seems to dictate every little aspect of our day and it really irritates me and on others, she is a totally delight and says "okay Mommy" after I tell her to do something.  I am so grateful to have her in my life and hope we can continue to learn from each other everyday. We love you so much Claire Bear!

2 Year Bear Picture

(all bear pictures are here)

(this is evidence to the fact of her "particularness" if that's a word....she would not allow me to put the

bear on the other side of the chair where it has been in every single picture to date...so frustrating!)