TWO

Today our baby turns two. And I guess that means she's not really a baby anymore. Coralie has changed so much in the last 6 months; she says so much and her little personality shines through more every day. She is a beautiful child, inside and out, and radiates joy. We are so lucky to have her in our family, so lucky to call her ours. She makes my heart burst with pride every day.

Inevitably we spent yesterday and this morning reminiscing about these days two years ago. How strange it was to think of a time when Coralie wasn't here; how we didn't know if our baby was a boy or girl. Tonight, at 11.30pm Ben and I will recall those last moments in the birthing pool in our bathroom. That final push. Meeting our daughter for the first time, and the drama that followed. Staying up until 4.30am, buzzing and unable to sleep. And tomorrow we'll be thinking about how our girls met for the first time. And how it was love at first sight.

It's an emotional time, birthdays.

Darling Coralie, you light up the world. We all adore you so much, and thank you for making us laugh all day, every day with your funny little ways. As you turn two years old you...

*love playing with your babies ("oh, baby!") and spend hours pushing them round in the pram and rocking them. Also doing their pretend cries, which is both confusing (are you crying, or the baby?!) and hilarious.
*are also obsessed with cars and motorbikes - making your Grandpa very proud, I'm sure!
*love the Playmobil 'guys', and they're are never far from you. We often find them in you backpack. Stashed away so Phiney can't find them.
*love reading books, and Pip & Posy are your favourites. As are The Tiger who came to Tea and Charlie Cook.
*run everywhere. I think I've seen you walk once. Those little legs will carry you awesome places, I'm sure.
* adore your big sister (Nee-Nee), and we often refer to you as 'Shadow' as you copy everything she does. One of my favourite things in the world is to listen to you in the morning over the monitor chatting and laughing and singing together.
*also love your best friend George ("Georgie!!") and his big brothers. What a gorgeous bunch of kiddos you are.
*eat ANYTHING. In the last year there have been some serious extremes of this (sand, snails, ladybirds...!!) But I think your favourite foods right now are corn on the cob, grapes, cream cheese, housmous and sausages. Every day... 'what would you like for dinner, Coralie?' 'Mmmmm, sausages?!'
*love animals, but especially bugs. Spiders, ants and woodlice are your favourites and you'll spend ages patiently trying to catch them in the garden.
*give the most awesome cuddles ("squeeeeeeeze!") and kisses. Sometimes you slip a tongue in, which is gross and funny at the same time.
*looooove your Mama. Definitely having a mama-phase right now, which I am totally embracing! Give me all the cuddles.
*also want to sing another song before bedtime. Top of the list is Twinkle Twinkle, Rock a Bye Baby, The Hokey Cokey, If you're Happy and you Know it and Mama Mia. Yes, the ABBA song.
*are obsessed with ABBA (Super Trooper and Mama Mia are you favourites and they're on repeat in the car) Nirvana's Live and Unplugged in New York album and Never Had a Friend Like Me from the Disney CD. You also love some drum and bass. And Dolly Parton.
*want to wear your wellies every where.
*still won't wear a hat.
*love bath time.
*hate nappy changes.

Happy birthday Coralie Joe! We love you xxxxxxxx