Claira turns 2!!!

Question: What can be sweet and loving one minute and whiny and mean the next? Answer: a two year old!

This sure describes our little Claira. One minute she is giving everybody in the room little kisses or cuddling up on our laps, and the next she is hitting Jacob and biting the baby. She can be a handful but we absolutely adore her. She especially has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. Here is Claira at 2 days old.

Here is Claira at 2 years old. Doesn't she look like a little model?!

Claira turned 2 on Nov. 10. It was a Tuesday so we just celebrated at home. I made a cake and let the kids decorate some cupcakes. She loved blowing out her candles and made me re-light them so she could try again. Of course I did, anything for my baby girl. Then Claire opened up her shopping cart and cash register and she and Jacob played store most of the evening.

Blowing out the candles.

Messy face after some cupcake eating. Not nearly as bad as I expected.

We celebrated with family over the weekend. We invited both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles (including brand new Aunt Cammy). We thought it might be fun to have her little party at Eastborough Park. The weather had been nice and the kids could run around. Unfortunately it was very cold that day and we rushed through the celebration so we could all go home where it was warm.

Claira'a Hello Kitty cake. Have a mentioned how much I love the Cool Whip icing!

Greg pushing Claire, Grandpa Steve pushing Jacob, and Uncle Matt pushing Cousin Liam. The kids had no idea it was cold. The parents did a brave job of playing at the park.

Claire had a great time at the party. She loved seeing her family and playing with her cousins. She still doesn't quite understand birthday presents but she had fun with everything once we got home. She got some new clothes, the cute coat and hat from her model picture, adorable pink cowboy boots, play makeup and hair stuff (even a flat iron), puzzles, a Hello Kitty bubble maker (Monica didn't even know the theme but of course gets the perfect present :) ), and a baby that cries which she now carries around everywhere.

We love our little Claira Rose and I can't believe she is already two years old! It is so fun to watch her grow up, especially now that she is talking. Most of the time she is very helpful and sweet. She absolutely adores Jacob and follows him around everywhere imitating everything he does. She is quite the little mother to Luke. She likes to feed him, and wipe up his drool, and would happily change his diaper if I let her. She loves Mommy to read Goodnight Moon to her at naptime and Daddy to play Superman with her before bed. We love you Claire! Happy Birthday!