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Her Daddy had the week off on leave, and she loved every minute of it.  My two loves, my whole World. x

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Surrounded by a sea of wrapping papers and a pile of new toys, Madam sure was spoilt rotten by all - the paper crown a special surprise from her bestie.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.

Two

This picture makes me so happy - 2 years old today, surrounded by all those who love you most...a very lucky little lady indeed.

We kept it small and simple today - blueberry pancakes for breakfast, then a couple of laps around the block on your new Trike (a total hit) in your pyjamas...Grandparents joined us for a cuppa and cake mid morning, and a few more parcels were torn open excitedly.  Next a picnic by the Lake with some of our favourite people, where you ran yourself to exhaustion with one of your favourite little people.

I still can't quite believe you have been here with us for 2 whole years already - as the cliche goes, these first precious years have flown by in the blink of an eye...In the spirit of this post, I want to again get a few details down on paper of you at this moment in time - hilarious, complex, strong-willed little you, before you go ahead and change again on me!!

Things you like to do
You are in to music in a big way...you sing songs (some learnt, others made up) all day long - the car, the shower and the dinner table are your favourite venues to perform, your renditions often breaking out at the most unexpected and therefore hilarious of times (today you sang Happy Birthday to Me all the way to the picnic, while your Daddy and I tried to hold it together in the front seat).
As much as you love singing however, dancing most definitely tops the list - especially if Grandad and Irish music is involved. Joining your beloved Grandad in a good old jig has been something you have shared with gusto since you could walk - in fact, more often than not, the first thing you do whenever we visit their house is take Grandad by the hand, and lead him away to the lounge room, promptly requesting he put music on so the fun can begin (which we all know he secretly loves too).
Bubble baths, taking Mia for walks, having stories read to you, 'helping' me with daily tasks (hanging out the washing, cooking the dinner) and pretending to drive our car are among your other most enjoyed activities at present - the later made even more exciting if Daddy is washing the car at the same time.
On a side note, having your hair brushed, getting dressed and sleeping top the list of things you most like not to do these days.

Things you like to talk about
Everything and anything!! You are indeed a chatterbox, and your speech in the past few months has well and truly blown us away.  You speak in sentences freely, are able to recall details of your day with relative ease, and continue to surprise us with sweet greetings or responses at the most appropriate times - "good morning mummy" when you see me first thing, "its a lovely day" when we step outside to begin our day.  Your softly spoken manners are just about the sweetest sound I've ever heard, and make me so proud when we are out and about.
In very recent days however, we have realised even more so the influence our own conversations and reactions are having on you - the mimicking is both hilarious and at times a little confronting, as you demonstrate so innocently our own habits and flaws.  Just this week you were in the car with Daddy, stopped at a roundabout, waiting for the heavy traffic to allow you to continue on, and you suddenly chimed out from the back seat, "come on!!"..I get the blame for that one apparently, Daddy hearing only my voice shining through yours.

New tricks and triumphs
Just a few skills practised and perfected over the past couple of months...climbing out of your cot (which is now as a result, is a junior bed); eating more confidently with a fork or spoon, your fine motor skills improving every day; building impressive towers with your blocks, able to delicately balance them atop one another, your precision and slight of touch becoming more refined; and generally climbing up/over/along any dangerous surface available to you (we have had some scary discoveries lately - one morning we entered your room to find you sitting on your change table, another day you opened drawers to create a step ladder to reach the top of our sideboard!!!)

My darling girl, you are indeed a complex and fascinating little creature, who continues to steal are hearts away with each passing day.  We can't wait for more of your unique and quirky traits to be revealed over the coming months and years, as you move farther away from your Toddler self toward little-girldom...You are sweet and strong, stubborn and tender, and bring all of us around you more joy than we ever felt possible. 

Happy Birthday Matilda Rose, I hope you have enjoyed the spoilings as much as we have enjoyed spoiling you! x

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Two years old today, and more delicious than ever.  Happy Birthday darling daughter, you make each and every day sunny.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.

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She likes to sing this one - while she plays, in the shower, and most definitely as she walks.  This must have been the peak of her performance, as a brief pause on her journey was required.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.



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I love that this picture is focused on her hands - the way she is holding her teacup so delicately, that little pinky on the rise... She has well and truly refined her babycino experience now, looking such the lady.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series for 2013.