Happy Second Birthday, Sarah Elinor!

May 6, 2007.

May 6, 2009.

I say it every time but I can't believe Sarah is already two years old! She is changing so much all of the time I can barely keep up with her. Sarah is very excited to turn two years old and all week has been asking "Is it my birthday?" Well, Sarah, today it finally is your birthday!

Sarah can count to ten (she sometimes skips nine) and then does a random selection of numbers after that in an attempt to count to twenty. She sings the alphabet song (and usually skips over four or five letters in the middle). She sings a lot of songs, actually, and loves to dance, too. She has some pretty funky dance moves that I would love to capture on video sometime but, as you know, as soon as the video camera is out all charming things stop. Sarah's speech is very clear and can speak in long sentences—I think even the doctor in Colorado was impressed!

Sarah is so much more physical than Anna ever was (or still is) but she also likes to read books and solve puzzles, play with the dollhouse, and play dress-up. Sarah loves to swing on the swings at the playground and I think I push her just as high as her big sister: she has no fear!

Sarah is not a rule-follower and is not compliant like Anna. I have a hard time with this because I think I tend to be more of a rule-follower myself so I can't figure out where Sarah is coming from a lot of the time. She throws bigger and longer fits than Anna did at this age which is also new territory for me. The big tantrums she had while we were in Colorado have not re-appeared though so they were, I guess, travel-stress-related.

Sarah is also super sweet and loves to give and receive hugs and kisses. She doesn't like it when Anna is upset and talks to the cats in reassuring tones. She likes to check out my bellybutton and ask where Baby Brother is and has started talking to him in my tummy. I am sure she doesn't fully grasp the changes he will bring to her life but she is interested in this kid we keep talking about and have set aside an entire room for!

We are so proud of Sarah and we are so excited to watch her grow over the next year. We love you, Sarah Elinor!