Happy 2nd Birthday Charlie!

Of course, we are biased, but Charlie is just the greatest kid ever. She's incredibly fun, funny, interested and interesting. Here are just a few facts about Charlie that we discovered in this second year of her life:

Favorite songs: The entire score for the Nutcracker Suite, Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" album, "Moon, moon, moon" by Laurie Berkner, "Frere Jacques," "Twinkle, twinkle, Little Star," and just about any song with a danceable beat.

Favorite expressions: "Here you go, Daddy." "Airplane! Up in the sky!" "Please, more hotter milk, Mommy please."

Special skills: Balancing on her head (feet on the ground, of course), somersaulting, hanging from the bar above the slide at the park, singing any words to the tune of "Frere Jacques", playing "air" violin and guitar

Favorite books: "Huckle" book by Richard Scarry, "The Little Engine that Could" by Wally Piper, “A Goodnight Walk” by Elisha Cooper, “Mr. Brown Can Moo” by Dr. Seuss, the whole Todd Parr canon, and any book starring Elmo

Favorite foods: Cheese, chocolate zucchini bread, hot milk, blueberries, avocado, grapes, sausage, birthday cake with special Johnston family recipe carmel frosting

Favorite activities: Drawing pictures (or commanding you to draw certain pictures), dancing (particularly naked), playing any and all instruments, reading books, wearing other peoples' shoes, playing hide and seek, getting tickled -- and a new one -- opening birthday presents!