Happy Birthday "Meesh"

In case you are wondering about the name "Meesh," Lauren's middle name is Michelle and quite a while ago we started calling her Lauren Meeshelle, which James somehow picked up on and started calling her Meesh or Meeshy. It has just sort of stuck and I think it's rather endearing. I especially love hearing James refer to her that way!

Yes, it's true...our baby girl turned 2 on the 25th of November! I cannot believe it! It is going quickly and it seemed she literally grew up overnight especially once Graham was born! We had a fun tropical fish themed birthday party for her and believe it or not I have a lot of pictures, but none that are that great! It was tons of fun, but there were LOTS of people and kids and Lauren was never sitting still OR facing the camera! uggg! So, here are a few of my favorite shots taken in the last few weeks!

Her birthday breakfast....one of her favorites...pancakes and a side of apple ju-ju (apple juice)

We had a few days of sunshine and the kids got in a good hour of playing outside. One of her favorite things to do is push the stroller around outside. She's a happy girl!

Last but not least...one of her 2 year pictures that Darcy took. Most of you have already seen them, but this is one of my favorites. It shows her spunky little personality and also how much she is starting to look like a "young lady." Wow...just love this girl!

Here are some special things about Lauren at 2:

-she loves reading books by herself and being read to. She will often times crawl up on laps with a stack of books and sit through them all

-she loves food!!! This girl can pack away the food but you'd never know it by looking at her. She's a tiny one (in the 97% for height and 10% for weight) At this rate she could be a supermodel ;)

-she still hates veggies and can find them in anything and in any form. We've hid them well and she will be chewing, spit out everything in her mouth, pick out the veggie then put the rest back in her mouth. It's awful!!!

-she loves candy! We have to hide my tutoring basket which she has robbed many times and my purse because she will dig through it in search for gum!

-she loves to laugh and everything is a game (which has its pros and cons)

-she is a hairtrigger! She has been known to clear things off an entire table in a matter of seconds without a seconds notice. (we're working on that)

-she's very stubborn. She would rather miss out on something to stick it to us, than to give in and do what she needs to do to get it (like say please).

-she's been in time out more by the age of 2 than James has in almost 4 years :) Seriously...

-she loves her daddy....she will often times take her blanket to him and snuggle up on his lap for a long time!

-she loves to set up animals and play with James. That is until James doesn't think she is doing it right ;)

-she is very dramatic! This may just be a girl thing, but WOW she is so different than James as far as her emotions are concerned.

We just love her to pieces and will continue doing our best to mold her in to the young lady God wants her to be!