Sunny-Side Up: 23 Months and She Has SO Much to Say!

Well, it's a good thing I am getting around to writing all about Kaki-pants at 23 months, because it won't be long before we'll be celebrating the big 2! And don't you know that she is already fired up about that. She sings Happy Birthday to herself at least five times a day... she loves her a Happy Birthday song, mainly because it's closely related to the cake and she learned at Justin's birthday "party" that cake is what good birthdays are made of! In fact, I asked her just yesterday, "Kaki...what do you want to have to eat at your party?" She emphatically replied, "CAKE!" Done!

Kaki-Lou is a ball of energy, spunk... sweetness and charm, wrapped up in a big bundles of chub topped off my a head full of curls! FULL OF CURLS! I am not trying to be brag-a-docious whatsoever, but it is AMAZING to me how many people stop us when we are out and about to talk about her hair... or her eyes, or her silly little lopsided toothy smile... people just can't get enough of Kaki! She has got her charm down to a science and there isn't anyone who can stand a chance against it... even Caden falls for it. We laugh at Kaki more than anyone else in our house. And she did just win the award at Cousin Camp (more on this later) for the "Funniest Camper!" And that she is!

Kaki has a full range of octaves in her voice... she can talk in a SUPER high pitched, sweet sunshiny voice, like when she is talking to her babies. But then she can drop about 50 octaves below that and sound like a grown man. It really is hilarious. And the ways in which she picks and chooses her octaves is truly unpredictable... which makes it all the funnier to the rest of us!

She is a parrot these days... repeating EVERYTHING and using words I didn't ever imagine I'd hear my almost 2 year old say. Big bro has quite the vocab these days which helps her a ton. She hears it, she tries to say it... so watch out Mama and Daddy, here comes Kaki. There have thankfully been but just a few of those humbling moments when your child repeats what you have just said... BUT it's only because we've learned by fire with Caden. What you say and how you say it... WILL come back at you ten-fold... so watch those words! :)

Kaki loves to sing and has recently started singing songs on her own. Her favorites include, the Bubble song, Jesus Loves Me which she calls (Bible Says So), and Happy Birthday. She tried singing 10,000 Reasons this morning with Caden, but mainly got the Oh and the Soul... but she's trying! :) Sweet, sweet songs...

Kaki, while independent definitely takes her cues from big brother. She loves what he loves... High School Musical, Baylor, Pirates, Batman and the like. But she does also like things all on her own... her babies are still her passion but lately she has been quite the puzzle girl. She will sit forever and play with her puzzles... LOVES them and is surprisingly good at them. Maybe it's because Caden never sat and played like she does, but I think she has mastered puzzles at least two years earlier than Caden did! :) I might be exaggerating but probably not by much. She also still loves to sit in her room and read her books. If it's gotten quiet that's where I know to find her. It's her place she goes to recharge... we all need that place, don't we?

She is still NOT into TV. She does like High School Musical which has made car trips more manageable, but she is definitely not one to sit and watch anything on TV, but it took Caden and while too and now he'd watch TV all day long if I let him! :)

Kaki is a picky, picky eater and a lot of this is because we've let her get away with it. I do believe that if I made her eat certain things and avoided the snacking we may be surprised by what she would eat, but to be honest it hasn't been something I've set my mind to conquering. It's a battle I haven't picked, but I'm thinking it is probably one I should consider picking pretty soon...

Speaking of battles... discipline... boo! Kaki is learning by example. A few weeks ago Caden had a really rough few days... lots of swats, lots of time outs and Kaki learned very quickly that that didn't look like much fun so she was really ship-shape... but of course we do still have our issues with her. BUT, now that she understand what it means to get into trouble we are having more success with our "threats!" :) It seems like I'm talking about military warfare... but it kind of feels like that sometimes, doesn't it? Strategy and out-witting the "bad" guy... oy!

We love that Kaki girl with all of our hearts... she fill our lives with so much excitement, energy and LAUGHTER... oh my! She makes us smile every morning with her greetings... Hi Mama, Hi Daddy, Hi Caden! She loves us all and we are so thankful to have earned that love because it feels OH SO GOOD!

She and Caden have formed quite the relationship lately... it builds every day. They play so well together most of the time and then there are times when it is just trouble... plain old-fashioned trouble! I love watching them laugh at each other, play and pretend alongside one another and do their very best to LOVE their roles and big bro and little sis... ones that will always be!

Kaki has really taken a HUGE liking to church... she had a few months where it was not her favorite thing and in fact, she'd cry if we mentioned going, but now she is SO excited and talks about the snacks and the playground and her friends... and the TOYS! Last night we were taking a bath and said we had to get all clean for church tomorrow and she said, "Church? Kaki go to church? Yay, yay, yay!" While she jumped up and down! We are so happy she loves it... and her teachers are too!! HA! :)

As Kaki's birthday approaches, we are becoming increasingly excited about making her day so special, knowing that every detail will be appreciated and loved well by our birthday girl! We praise God for the way that He made our sweet Lou-Lou... she is exactly what we needed! We love you Kaki-Lou... and can't wait to celebrate you at two!

Some random Kaki pics from the month...

Cinnamon toast on the couch...