Party Horn

Happy Birthday

Update: 2 Years

Dear Lily,

It doesn't seem possible that you are two years old now!! Right before you were born two years ago I wondered what you would be like. Today, you are your own little person with original thoughts and funny things to say. You make us laugh EVERY SINGLE DAY. Your way with words and creativity make you who you are right now.

Recently I told you to the leave the door ajar and after explaining what ajar means you said, "No Mommy, a jar is for cookies." That is funny. You are very sensitive to sound and frequently ask me "what's that?" when you hear a noise. When we were at the playground you asked "what's that?" I told you it's an airplane (which I'm pretty sure you already knew). Then you said it wasn't an airplane it was "robots flying like a bird."

You have quite an imagination. Sometimes I can't keep up. Many times throughout the day you will announce what you are. Like, "I am a mouse," "I am a lion," "I am a doggie," I am Clifford," "I am Dora," " I am a baby." It's endless really. You frequently say this to me, "I am a baby. Mommy say baby you're so cute." You use correct pronouns and grammar. You have started to use words like: maybe, first, right now, like, can, can't, not, not right. And long words like: recycling, handrail, escalator, umbrella (and so many more that I wish I had written down).

You have so many toys that you play with from time to time, but you are mostly entertained by the most simple objects. You played with an Altoid can and battery for hours the other day. You said the Altoid can was a camera and you went around the house taking pretend pictures. Oh, and the battery was medicine. Speaking of medicine, you had yet another ear infection last month. That's three in four months. We are hoping that will be it for the winter season.

One day I was fascinated by watching you play with a little slip of paper. It was about an inch wide and six inches long. First you imagined it was a tie. Then a bra. Then a flag. And lastly a kite. You regularly and spontaneously say "I love you Mommy." You also say, "Mommy you are so pretty" which works wonders for my self esteem. Yesterday you also said trees are so pretty (which I thought was a thoughtful observation).

Your birthday was last week. We celebrated at home on your real birthday then had a party on Sunday. I'm not sure which is more exhausting, throwing a keg party in my college days or a party for toddlers. You guys were all over the place. By the end of the day there were cans and cups in the yard and grapes in the bubble machine. It's safe to say, it was a fun party.

Here you are at our quiet home celebration. You got a cupcake with two candles. You are saying cheese in this picture but it looks a little more like you may have sat on a porcupine:

Then we opened some gifts from family. Uncle Mark sent you a bunch of super cool books:

Nonna and Grandpa sent you this beautiful dress:

And Papa and Nana sent you this Lily doll that sings a special Lily song:

Grandma Mandy, Uncle Brandon, and Uncle Cristoph came all the way from Texas to party with you for your birthday. We didn't do a very good job of getting many group photos:

Grandma and I stayed home with you while Daddy went to a Union Soccer game in the pouring rain. We were glad to be all dry while the boys got soaking wet. I don't think those ponchos really did much:

Grandma made tortillas from scratch. Yum yum! She made you a special Lily size tortilla that you thought was teeny tiny and cute:

Before we got to party with your friends...Daddy, Grandma, and your Uncles jammed out with a little Rock Band:

Grandma love her baby:

PARTY TIME!! We couldn't have done it without Grandma's help. She cooked amazing brisket and Tex-Mex fare that had all the locals from Philly wondering when she was coming back. Grandma also cleaned and organized the house, to which am VERY thankful.

The theme of your party was Dora in the Jungle. It was Dora and animals galore:

You had a Dora cake that you were super excited about:


Love this smile:


You partied with your friends:

We even had a little sand box and bubble machine in the backyard:

Then it was time to open presents:

Posing with Daddy:

I don't know what's going on this picture but I liked all the action:

After everyone was gone and the house was quiet you literally did this:

I think it's safe to say you had a great time. We loved celebrating your day of birth. You are a riot. You are still the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Love,

Mommy