Happy (somewhat belated) 2nd Birthday, Sophie Rose!

And on the heels of Ava's late birthday letter post, here I am only about 1/2 month late writing Sophie's.  #momenough 

Happiest of birthdays to a sweet little 2 year old.  It's hard to believe you are already TWO years old.  You still don't have much hair to show for it, but you've got a grin that reaches from ear to ear and a lot of spunk, that's for sure.  

 

You are truly a joy to be around.  You are a total ham and you know it.  You LOVE people, but you play shy when people get up in your grill first and don't allow you to make the first move.  If they hold back a little though, you are soon getting their attention, making them laugh, and playing peek-a-boo.  "Pee-boo!!"

    

Your love of babies is....gi-normous.  Since right around the time of Kolbe's birth, you have been pretty much constantly holding a baby doll (or 3).  Thus the reason why St. Gianna was the perfect fit for you for All Saints Day this year (see picture above).  You love your baby brother and you love holding your baby dolls and covering them in blankets.  You even steal the wipes sometimes and "change your baby's diaper". 

 

You love, love, love to smile.  And you have a great sense of humor.  You've understood for a long time that things can be "funny" and you know that when you goof around and dance and turn your head sideways, and play peek-a-boo, it's "funny" and everyone will laugh.  You love to have people laugh at you, or rather WITH you, because if someone else is laughing you like to join right in.  

 

(you dressed yourself.  I swear)

You love to dance and laugh....and dance.
And your dance moves are just fantastic. 

         

You are constantly putting on your sisters' ballet tights and leotards.  Or grunting for me to help you put them on.  You don't really wear clothes anymore at home-- just ballet leotards.  

You love snuggles too.  And not just with Mommy or Daddy.  You have some other random family and friend favorites whom you like to cuddle with as well.  Our neighbor, Clare, our friend, Peter, your grandparents at times, and some of your uncles....

You love reading.  Sometimes you read on your own.  Sometimes you "read" chapter books.  Sometimes you "read" pictures books.  You like the ones with textures especially.  Sometimes your sisters read or look at books with you.  Sometimes you like to sit off on your own.  

 

You are totally spunky and mischievous.  You love to get a reaction by doing the opposite of what we want.  Mostly when we say, "Sophie, come here." And you run the other direction...  But you are also the most willing to help of any of our kids currently.  I didn't say helpful because sometimes your abilities are not an equal match to your willingness to be of help and you actually make an even bigger mess.  But you sure WANT to be helpful, and there are many times where you are both willing to help AND helpful too.  You are great at putting crayons away (also at spilling them back out), and you are also great at getting your diaper and wipes (and Kolbe's).  

 

You love to tag along behind your sisters and scream when they leave you behind.  That includes when they finish dinner and rush off (without asking to be excused--Get back here, ladies!) and you are still strapped in your seat.  You screech loud and clear and let it be known that you, too, are done and would like to get up from the table.  You don't talk much yet (your older sisters do plenty of that already) but you understand EVERYTHING.  I can give you any directions and multiple step ones and you do exactly what I ask.  And you selectively "repeat" words when you feel like it and use a few words that you must especially like (such as tank-oo "thank you", Hey,boo!{I say this to you and Kolbe a lot}, hi dare "Hi there", bankie "blankie" and baby etc.)

Happy birthday, sweet, silly Sophs!  You are our So-be, our Sophie Rose, our Soph-sie, and we are so very lucky to have you in our lives to give us sweet snuggles, goofy grins, and belly laughs.  You truly are one-of-a-kind and we love waking up each day wondering what you will do to amuse us all. 

Hope you have a wonderful year being a big TWO year old.  We love you.