Molly in action

We had Molly's 2-year appointment on Sunday. Here's how she measures up:

• 24 lbs (25th percentile)
• 33 1/2 inches (25th percentile)
• 15 BMI (10th percentile...new stat!)
• 47 head circumference (50th percentile)

My mom and I have both been trying (in vain apparently) to get a picture of Molly smiling, or at least looking, at the camera. I guess action shots will have to do! Here's a glimpse of our girl at 2:

Enjoying her dollhouse

Texting. If everyone else is doing it, why shouldn't Molly?

Making "ice cream"

Her new favorite spot -- the kitchen. Just like Daddy.

Wheee! Molly never gets sick of the slide

Happily clutching her new dolly. Thank you Aunt Suzie!

All worn out from a looong day (no nap today at daycare)

It's hard to show off her personality through pictures, so I will attempt to describe what Molly is like these days. 

• She still loves to sing -- ABCs, happy birthday to Mama, Dada, Baba, and Elmo, and most recently, the going to sleep song. 
• She can play, play, play at her kitchen or with her dollhouse for about as long as you let her. She likes it best if someone watches her, and if she doesn't have an audience, she'll grab your hand and pull you over to see what she's doing. 
• Ducky still goes everywhere Molly goes. In fact, you can see Ducky featured in many of the pictures in this blog post, even the one of her going down the slide. We have 2 ducks that we rotate in and out and I find myself doing laundry 3 or 4 times a week to make sure we have at least one "clean" (ie, not disgusting) duck.
• We get a lot of whining in the morning, around meals, naptime, and bedtime, but other than that, she's still a pretty good little girl. Tantrums are rare and we've only had to use the dreaded "time out" method a few times. 
• She loves going on walks, especially walks in the $15 stroller from Target. The expensive Bumbleride stroller has been gathering dust in the garage.
• She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to tell you. From what she eats (pasta, cereal, peas, and cookies, please!) to what she wears (anything with a character or graphic), she's a 2-year-old with an opinion.

Sigh. I love every little thing about her. It's amazing how much she's grown and changed in 2 years, how much I've probably grown and changed in 2 years, and how much more we still have to go!

On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Cali

Scotland good cheer met up with California cool last weekend, and I must say, I enjoyed every minute of it! My college friend Kirsten married her long-time boyfriend Craig, who is from Scotland, on Saturday. So of course Jason and I, and a handful of our Northwestern friends, made the trip out to CA to celebrate. In typical NU fashion, we fell back into our old antics, which included indulging too much, talking too much, staying up too late, and regretting none of it. Apparently that's how the Scots operate, as well, because we all got along just fine. That is, until one stomped on my foot during a rousing rendition of "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomand." Just kidding...I didn't care one bit until the next day when I realized it was blue and swollen and it hurt to walk.

Carmel, CA: more beautiful than I ever could have dreamed...colder than I ever could have imagined!

Clint Eastwood's new house (under construction). Quaint, isn't it?

Craig rocked the kilt almost as well as Kirsten rocked her wedding dress

Shivering on the beach!

While we were enjoying not-so-sunny California, my parents were having a blast with Molly at home. The best thing about her right now is that she's just so darn funny. Sometimes on purpose and sometimes not so much... For example, my mom snapped this picture of her using the potty in her new dollhouse. She took off her pants and everything, pretended to go, and then "flushed" the button that makes the washing machine sound. Ha! My mom said she was laughing so hard, she could hardly take the picture. Maybe this means she's ready for potty training?

Flush! Goes the potty

Hap-dee birt-day toooo you!

I know I'm a little late with Molly's birthday post. You'll have to forgive me...we've been busy! We flew back from Florida late Saturday night, and then just had a few hours on Sunday (Molly's official birthday) to shop for presents and groceries and then get ready for her party. Thank goodness for B, Sus, and Sean. They came early to help with the decorations and then also ran out to get extra supplies when we realized we didn't have nearly enough food or beer for our guests. Poor planning on our part. Whatever! I think everyone had fun. Even Molly :)

Susie brought out her best handwriting for Molly's birthday

Looking confident on her new bike! 

Even though she's been singing "Hap-dee birt-day, Mama" over and over in preparation for the big day, Molly's lip still quivered when everyone sang the song to her

Molly's ice cream cake proved to be a bigger hit than the duck cupcake from birthday #1

Although Monday was supposed to be the day everything went back to normal, Molly's daycare flooded, so I spent most of the afternoon figuring out the Evanston bus system in order to pick her up and get her home (we have GOT to get a second car). Poor kid had to go to a strange daycare today in Lincoln Park, but apparently she did just fine (except for the morning drop off). Just to add something else to the mix, Jason leaves early tomorrow morning for St. Louis, so Molly will be taking the Red Line with me Wednesday and Thursday like a real commuter. Hopefully she finds it "exciting" and not inconvenient and boring like the rest of us.

By Thursday, I have a feeling I am going to be extremely happy to see my parents, who are coming in town to watch Molly for the weekend, and then are staying on in Evanston for 6 glorious weeks to spend quality time with their girls and granddaughter. Jason and I will be off to Carmel, CA for a couple of days to go to my friend Kirsten's wedding. And then, after that, keep yer fingers crossed, things should finally, hopefully, get back to normal.

Show me your stars and stripes

Happy Fourth of July! To help celebrate the holiday, we made sure Molly was all decked out in red, white, and blue:

You're a grand old flag

Learning about pockets from Grandpa and Grandma

Keeping it casual

Wonder woman!

As good as it gets

Every time I blog from Florida, I want to title the post, "Greetings from paradise." It's just so nice to come down here and have nothing to do but play tennis, walk the beach, and relax with family. Molly is loving the attention she's getting from all her relatives. And Jason and I are loving the break we're getting from parenthood. We're still on for diaper changes, food duty, and nap time. But other than that, we've just been enjoying her good mood and antics. Apparently, there's no such thing as whining in Florida. Like I said, paradise.

Molly has to keep her audience entertained

Perfecting "The Fonz"