My Sweet Catherine

It is so hard to believe that Catherine will be 2 years old in a couple of weeks. In honor of her second birthday, I would like to remember a few things about Catherine at this age: Catherine loves physical touch and affection. She gives the best hugs of anyone I know :) She is shy and reserved in unfamiliar settings, but not at home.... She is into everything. The minute you turn your back, she is into something else. Catherine sometimes has sensory overload and the only thing that calms her down is her pacifier. When we go certain places or if she is extremely upset, nothing else can calm her. After much debate, I have decided to let her have her "fu fu" for six more months. Catherine does not like to get anything messy on her feet or hands and is very disturbed if this happens; we are working on this :) Catherine is very intelligent. She talks as much as her big sister. She is putting 5 and 6 words together!! She can sing her alphabet and count to ten. Her favorite thing to do is sing in the car. If we sing the "wrong" song, she will scream until we start singing what she wants to hear, which is typically "Old McDonald". Her favorite TV shows are Barney and Clifford. Anytime anyone leaves or walks out of the room, she wants to know about there whereabouts and is constantly asking, "Where did .... go?" Catherine loves her big sister, she refers to her as "Sissy" or "Choe", she cannot pronounce her "l" sound. Catherine is a very picky eater. She likes oatmeal, bananas, smoothies, bread, chips, crackers, and her favorite snack is a "Go Go", an squeezable applesauce. Last week, I was terrified when I heard a scream and a knock inside Catherine's bedroom. She had climbed out of her crib and pulled all of the toys out in her room. I guess she got scared and began knocking on the door. She has since climbed out of her crib several times. Catherine does not like loud noises, especially "Cho-Cho Trains" and one of her favorite sayings is, "I scared of the .....". Catherine goes to Big Red School one day a week to be with friends and give Mommy a little break. Although she likes school, she loves to go to her babysitter's house. Even on days when we are home together, she will often say, "I go to Dawn's house Mommy". She has also started to say, "I like O'Pa", "I like Grammy", etc. Catherine loves books.... she would sit in your lap all day and read books. When I think back to two years ago and the trials we faced with me being on bedrest, I am assured that it was all worth it. I wouldn't trade a thing about my life. I love you sweet Catherine and I am so proud to be called your Mommy!!! Happy 2nd Birthday!! Catherine had a birthday party at home. Grammy, O'Pa, and Mindy were our only guests as the rest of the family was sick... tis the season. She had a great time!!