I can't believe she's TWO!!!

How did this happen? Where has the time gone? I can't believe Isabella is two! The baby in her is fading more each day and a sweet, spunky little girl is emerging. So sad and so fun all at the same time.

I can't help but remember two years ago. She's a girl who likes to take her time and do things her way. (Favorite saying right now, "I do it!") She was born 10 days late (with the help of some natural induction techniques) and didn't even show signs that she was ready to be born until three hours before she was finally out at 10am on a Saturday morning.

Isabella Margaret Carini is named after two amazing women. Isabella is her maternal great, great grandmother who has been deemed a saint in my family; must be where she got her sweetness from. Margaret is her paternal great grandmother who is a spitfire woman, full of life and vigor; must be where she gets her spunk from. ;)

Isabella has brought more joy and love into our lives than we thought possible. How can such a little human bring so much life and light into our hearts?! What an perfect miracle and amazing blessing she is!

Some favorite things:
"I do it!"
"a Bella." Not commanding, but stated as a matter of fact.
"Oh boy!"
"funny"
"whalk"..."steirs"..."and" She prefers to walk down the subway stairs, holding my hand, rather than being carried in the stroller. This rarely happens but is requested every time.
"NOON!" She gets so excited on the rare occasions we spot the moon above the city buildings.
"See it." When she hears something she often wants to see it...which isn't easy in the city. There are a lot of sounds and few open visual spaces.
She is a fabulous helper: "backuum" vacuum, "poon" putting the clean spoons away, "push" pushing the full laundry baskets into the elevator and down to the basement.
"Tank ou!" 'Thank you' is rarely prompted anymore but frequently given.
"dan" She loves to dance in circles on her own or with daddy.
Her many facial expressions lately are priceless. Oh, how I wish I could capture some with the camera.

Thank you Minde for the fabulous cupckes at the playground!