Two 2-year olds

Parks and Marlee turned 2 today.  I can't look at them without seeing babies, and at the same time I see them and can't believe how big they are.  They are actual KIDS.  I can talk to them and they understand.  They follow directions and LOVE to follow the leader/play simon-says and show off all the things they know.

Marlee is talking so much these days.  She will repeat anything and everything, and it is the cutest thing in the world...especially when she tries big words like spaghetti and refrigerator.  She identifies everything she sees and will point it out and repeat it until you acknowledge that you see it too.  I think I mentioned it in the past, but she loves greeting strangers too.  It's hilarious how she does it, because she waits until it is past the normal point of greeting someone, and just as they begin to walk past and ignore her, she says (extremely loud and clear) "HI!!!!"  They have no choice but to respond.  I love it when it is a tough guy or a coooool teenager.  She counts to ten in English, Spanish and is pretty good in German, and can get into the alphabet through about "K" on a good day.  Her favorite songs are "Bayou (Bayou Bayou Baby)," ""Bitsy-Bitsy (Itsy Bitsy Spider)" and "Pay Cake (Patty Cake, Patty Cake)."

Parks is such a boy.  He would rather jump back and forth from the ottoman and sofa for an hour than talk or count or sing.  He really enjoys follow the leader, but isn't really very into practicing his speech. He loves milk, running, outside, hammering things and his mommy and daddy.  Every single time I go into his room to get him up from sleep, he looks at me with huge eyes and says "HI!" in a really high pitched and excited sound.  I stinkin' love it.  It's the sweetest sound in the world and makes me excited to go get him each time.  His teachers at Children's Morning Out say he is a good leader and loves to do all the hand motions to the songs they sing.  My favorite Parks-ism is how he loves to be held and will come up to me unprovoked and grab my head to give me a kiss.  Melts.My.Heart.

I'm no good with words, but I love these two kiddos with all my heart and am so thankful for them daily.  They mean the world to me!

Happy Birthday, Parks and Marlee!!