Happy Birthday Addie!!!

Yesterday was your birthday. My baby is 2 years old. MY. BABY. IS. TWO. YEARS. OLD.

We actually spent a long weekend in New Mexico visiting a couple dear friends (more on that later) and we spent most of Sunday on the return ride home. Miss Jen painted your (and your sister's) toenails and fingernails your favorite color - blue and then we were off for the 8 hour drive back home. No, it doesn't sound terribly exciting but seeing the balloons at the balloon fiesta and having a small party next weekend will make up for it. That's ok, though, because that's how you roll. You're very much a "go with the flow" type of girl. You're cool like that.

Though the drive was long, it was actually quite fun. You still adore your big sister. It seems that all Ellie has to do is say a word followed by some silly facial expression and it gets you every time. This time we spent quite some time laughing at Ellie asking you "Do you want more juice?" and would respond "No!" and then she would look up at the ceiling with a sly look on her face while you burst out in full laughter. When that finally settled down a little, you turned the tables and asked Ellie "Mo juice?" and would do the same thing. I'm telling you, this there is nothing better than the adoration you and your sister have for each other.

You are probably one of the most easy going, carefree souls I know. You are still incredibly easy to put to sleep. Just read you a book, tuck you in and sing you a song and you're good to go. Even the transition to your big girl bed was a piece of cake. If the answer to one of your questions is "No" then as long as you know we understood your intentions, your response is typically a very polite "Pease!" followed by a simple "Tay."

You are so passionate and live so big for such a small person. If you get upset, though, we can watch you try to hold it in and try to calm yourself down. Many times you do. If you can't calm down on your own, you'll turn to us for support before finally breaking down. But even your worst break downs, with tears so big it seems that you could drown in them, don't last long. You are almost always your smiley self soon afterwards. Seriously, girl, you do such a good job of keeping your cool that sometimes I'm convinced you're an old soul.

Because you're so mild mannered it has taken a while for us to see what some of your favorites are. Your favorite stuffed friend is Bun Bun Bear (which I love since it's a gift from your big sister the day you were born), though your baby blue dragon (a gift from Mommy and Daddy from our trip to Oxford, England) comes in a close second. You love being surrounded by all your stuffed bears (all 10 or so of them) when you go to sleep, and you insist on always sleeping on your big puppy instead of your pillow. Your favorite color is blue, though we didn't know that until AFTER we gave you a rainbow big girl room. Your favorite book is by far "Blue Hat, Green Hat" and you can practically read it by yourself.

Your favorite activities are doing whatever your big sister is doing, swinging on the swings at the park (especially with your eyes closed), giving people hugs, jumping at Bounce Town, swimming, splashing, taking a bath, walking around silly swinging your arms like a monkey, but no matter what you're doing it seems as though you have no fears. You are bold and so willing to explore on your own or just tackle a challenge that many big kids have trouble with.

You are very caring. It's not uncommon for you to come up to Mommy and start running your fingers through my hair just because you know it feels good. Perhaps you know that since it calms you down, it must calm me down too? You like to show me how soft your blanket is by rubbing it across my cheek and saying "Nice." You also need no coaxing to give people hugs when you notice they are sad. You give them freely without thinking twice about it.

You're a bit shy with your words. Perhaps it's because your sister talks for you, but you're starting to catch up. In the last month you have exploded with words and many 2-4 worded sentences.

From the moment you entered our lives, our lives have been so blessed. Never had we imagined a baby as sweet and easy as you. Nor have we imagined a little girl as loving and snuggly as you. Words can not describe the love that comes from how simple life seems with you in it. Perhaps your big sister says it best when she says "Addie, I love you and you are my friend forever." She also occasionally points out that you will always be our baby. Just sayin.'