A little over a week ago Grace and Lydia turned two!  In some ways I feel like the time went fast, but in other ways it feels like decades ago that they were little babies in their matching swings.  This last year has really moved them from infanthood to toddlerhood. They are now little people with clear preferences (Grace: "No birthday!"-in reference to us singing happy birthday to her. Lydia, from her bed: "Pac, Sneetch!" demanding her pacifier and her ratty stuffed sneetch) and personalities. At this point Grace is a talker and quick with a laugh. She repeats everything and loves saying the words of objects (especially body parts) nearby.  Lydia is more pensive and loves figuring out any type of puzzle, buckle or clasp. She's the first to figure out child proofing devices and master them. For example, when the girls got some bristle blocks as a gift, within a few minutes Lydia was deftly making tall stacks and the instant Grace saw them she brightened up and promptly started coming her hair with them. She still can't be convinced they aren't hair brushes of all shapes and sizes.  It is so much fun to watch them learn more and more every day.  I think watching their language develop has been really fun. You can't get much better than when they run to the door and yell "mommy home!" when you walk through the door.  It's hard to imagine that we ever had a life without them!

 Grace enjoying the first few minutes of her first day as a 2 year old






 Birthday Breakfast as a Family









I don't know why but I just love this pic. So not posed but so great.













 Getting better at blowing out the candles. 








 Lydia did much better with her cake this year as she is now a well seasoned eater. She would like to thank Costco pizza for really helping her progress. 









Grace