two!

violet is so sweet right now, so huggy and kissy and "i yuh yoo" with the monkey neck squeeze. when she half-nelsons the dogs and exclaims, "i miss you why i was at schoo too-day," my heart melts faster than the ice cream at her birthday party in 100-degree valley heat. it's not that i didn't enjoy her unchubby baby days, and it's not that i'm not looking forward to the sassy 3s. well, i'm not entirely looking forward to those. when she was picking her nose a few days ago, i said, "i see your nose is dirty. let's get a tissue." she said, "no! it's not dirty. it's very clean. i pick my boogers. i eat them!" she laughed at the hilarity as she ate a booger. i said, "boogers aren't food. we don't eat boogers. it's yucky. it's not funny." she erupted in giggles: "no! it's funny! it's very funny! it's yummy!" she licked her finger and guffawed. i mean what with the sassiness already? but, well, she has a point. it is funny, isn't it? if i had only one thing to say about violet on the occasion of her second birthday, it would be that she has such a sense of humor already. she laughs all the time. she loves to laugh. the baby giggle attacks were amazing of course, but there's a knowing glint in her eye that wasn't there before and that just makes her laughter all the more contagious. i know that all parents wonder what their favorite age will be. will mine be the "terrible" twos? we're having so much fun already.

a year ago, violet couldn't walk or talk, but even more amazing is watching her grow into the parts of herself that have been there all along. we called her "tigs" as a newborn because she was born in the year of the tiger with all of the trademark ferocity, and the same traits we identified in the early days - her energy, her intensity, her strength - are becoming ever more defined, and are ever more defining her. even in the toddler room, the teachers tell me there are leaders and followers, and they say violet is a natural born leader. not being one myself, i marvel. i spend a lot of time considering how we're shaping our child - hopefully to be generous and compassionate (and to have her heart spark when a christmas tree alights) - but how we only want to mold her to the point that she can look at that piece of clay and see enough of her image to take over the sculpting herself. but even if we wished it, i know tigs will never be a little stevin jr., running around in a black t-shirt and long cardigan. she's violet, and she prefers the fashionable layering of her cherry print "babing suit" over her clothes. she's 2 now, and she knows what she wants... and what she doesn't. "I DOHN WANT CAHNDUHS ON MY BURFDAY CAKE. IT'S TOO HOT. I COULD GET BURNED." that cute little green "2" candle was removed before we sang.

we held her birthday party at the park. a modest event with cake, ice cream, bubbles and water guns. it was probably the second hottest day of the year. we took shelter in what little shade was available, and we were touched that people waded through the heat-haze to celebrate with us. we realized we took almost no pictures, so also many thanks to those who sent us these.