Look Who's Two!

My baby girl turned two years old today.
(This is how she shows you she is two - even though it looks more like 4)
I just can't believe it.
Old parents in the grocery store line are always telling me
"enjoy her now, because time flies by..."
Well, I believe them, they don't need to worry about that. It seriously feels like yesterday she was this tiny little thing swaddled up tightly in her soft pink blankets.
That was two whole years ago... really?
And I do enjoy her. She is one fun little gal. And we had a really fun day today. I only planned stuff I thought she would really enjoy. And I did everything in my power to not have any tears. Now, that is a dedicated mother! If I do say so myself.

She woke up happy - she must have sensed it was a special day. I was going to the bathroom when I heard her in her crib, "hi lion!" and then she started jumping.
When I opened her door she excitedly said "Mama! Cereal?"
So she ate some golden puffs for breakfast.

When she was all done eating, she noticed my tennis shoes were on to go walking (my doctor told me I was getting fat and that I have to walk everyday, not my finest moment in life).
She, again, very excitedly, said "Walk! Paisley?"
So, we went walking with Paisley.


She took a long bath in the tub (really more like play time for her),
and then we packed a lunch and headed to the park.
She loves the park! There was a pond with ducks and plenty of slides to go down.
She was a little slow getting onto one of the slides and this little boy said to her (meanly, I might add) "hey girl. go!" and then pushed her head.
Oh boy. I wasn't going to let him get away with that. Not on her birthday. He must not know how seriously I take birthdays. They are truly a holiday. I got after him real quick. He left her alone after that. Next time, perhaps, I should let her fend for herself, and not get after strange kids, but it hardly seemed fair on her birthday.
When she got hungry we found a picnic table. She ate two bites of her sandwich and two slices of banana and then wanted to play some more. So much to do! No time to eat!
(I guess it's appropriate, two bites for a two year old!)




We then headed home for naptime. Um, naps didn't happen, though I really could have used one.
So we watched "The Princess and the Frog" instead.

When daddy got home we headed to Toys R Us to spend her birthday money from Grandmas!!
She fell asleep in the car, go figure. So, we lugged her around and picked out some fun toys for her:
A doll stroller and a cute doll to push in it (I don't have a picture of this one, but I'll be sure to get one later)
And this cool 'build a vehicle' set that has a screwdriver and drill. You take the vehicles all apart and then put them back together. She got the hang of the drill really fast.


For dinner we had homemade macaroni and cheese. A favorite at our house, not just with the kiddo, but the hubby as well!
During dinner we could hear the neighbors outside. She immediately started naming off all of her friends, "Paisley? Isaac? Andrew? Claire? Asher?"
Well, lucky for her, three of them were out there. So they all played while us adults sang "Happy Birthday" and ate birthday cake and ice cream (don't tell my doctor). I didn't even bother with candles, she was too happy playing.


It got dark. So we had to go inside. But I just have to say,
I think she had a very happy birthday.
We love you soooo much Brinkley!


(Remember this banner? I made if for her last year. It was so fun to pull out and hang up for all the world to see! We got lots of birthday wishes from strangers walking their dogs.)


Things to remember about Brinkley at age two:
*She is learning at an incredible rate! She is saying new words everyday!
*She loves when buses drive by our house. Even if we're inside and can't see it, she will say "bus! bus! bus!"
*Right now, she is still in the beginning stages of learning her colors. Everything is blue, until I tell her otherwise.
*She loves to see airplanes in the sky.
*She still loves her lion and chews all over him. I can't believe he has held up so well.
*She doesn't like me to do her hair. It's always a little bit of a battle.
*She loves to read books. Sometimes I will find her in her room, just reading quietly to herself.
*She loves to play! She plays really well by herself and is developing quite the imagination.
*She is good at remembering names. Especially those of family and her little friends.
*She is always getting "hurt" even if nothing happened to her. She'll tell me "hurt, hurt, hurt" until I kiss whatever it is. Usually her knees.
*She does really well in nursery (so they tell me!)
*She loves to be outside!
*Her favorite food right now is cold cereal. Sometimes she eats it for breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. Mac and cheese can sometimes take the place.
*She loves to tickle and be tickled.
*People still stop me in the store and tell me how cute she is.
*Her favorite moves are Finding Nemo (still), Shrek 2, and Leapfrog's Letter Factory. Though, she recently got into Princesses due to spending time with her adorable cousin Jude, so Princess and the Frog may be a regular at our house as well.
*She likes to color. She can also draw circles. Lots and lots of circles. She likes me to draw squares and stars for her.
*She loves blankets, mostly for her dolls.
*She doesn't like her hands to be messy.
*She's going to make a terrific big sister because she loves babies and knows how to be so soft with them. She also knows to be quiet when they are sleeping! She'll put her finger to her lips and say "Shhh. Sleeping!"