Audrey had a fabulous 2nd birthday. She woke at her usual time - early - but Eric got her to stay in bed and read to her animals while we slept a little later. When only the dog ended up falling back to sleep, Eric and I decided to go wish Audrey a Happy Birthday together.
Her birthday (and Eric's) has been all she has been talking about. "Audrey's so excited!" she would say out of the blue, and then reference her upcoming birthday. "Audrey's going to be 2!" and the past couple days she added, "and Daddy's 34!" So, I knew she just couldn't wait to start the day.
We walked into her room to wish her a Happy Birthday. She was excited but indicated that she was in the middle of one book and had one more left to finish. Well, ok, then. She quickly looked thru the last book as Eric had taken a seat in her room, and I reminded her that, at this hour of the day, I wasn't this excited for any other reason than it was her birthday morning.
She was excited to head downstairs to see the 'prise from Eric and I. Eric had worked hard to get her new play kitchen assembled prior to this morning. The reviews for the kitchen were glowing from a play perspective but were consistently bad from the assembly perspective. I think Eric did a great job and it looks perfect.
Audrey first spotted the Christmas tree with lots of (newly) wrapped gifts under it but quickly lost interest when none of them looked like a true 'prise for this morning. So, she headed in the kitchen and walked right past her kitchen! What caught her eye instead? A nice platter of cupcakes (which of course she then wanted for breakfast). Eric turned her around and then she saw it.
Speechless. Mouth gaping open. I hear her whisper, "A kitchen!" She was so excited! We never found the pots and pans that were to come with it but we just so happen to have a few of those around our own kitchen. She keeps asking me when her microwave will beep but I told her she has to make the sound! She also turned on the burner, and then turned to me and said, "Mommy, this is broke!" No, this is what pretend play is all about! No bells or whistles! Except those that come out of your own imagination! She loves it though so it's definitely a big hit. We did have a minor incident with her cup of milk. No, your refrigerator does NOT keep your mild sufficiently cold. Thankfully, we found it after only a few hours in her frig...
We opened her cards and gifts. I can't believe what thoughtful gifts she got. She loved the letter blocks from Aunt A and Uncle A (especially noting which blocks match in color)! A second gift was from a good friend of mine from grad school. I cried when she opened it as she had thought of Audrey and her red hair during a recent trip to Ireland. She brought back for Audrey a gorgeous green sweater from the Emerald Isle, which I can't wait for Audrey to wear.
We also got her two year pictures taken today. She was not happy to have a brown dress with perfectly matched headband paired with red shoes. However, she was in full support of this ensemble after I told her that her red shoes were her "splash of color". She tried to repeat this often while wearing the shoes (things not matching *really* bother her!). but instead would say, "splash of shoes!" The photographer told Audrey that she was the best two year-old she had ever photographed. She likely changed her mind as the next prop the photographer planned to use was a white chair, but Audrey said, "No, Audrey wants the rocking chair!"
We then had a great lunch (complete with a pink balloon). And, after a nap, we headed to the Children's Museum. She loved the carousel rides, and I loved watching her take in the magic of the stars on the top of the carousel and the pony beneath her. She even got to play with a play kitchen in a giant dollhouse at the museum!
I can't believe it's been two years. When the clock struck 8 AM this year, Audrey was pirouetting in the mirror, saying "Audrey's so cute!" while admiring herself in her dress. Oh what many, many things have changed in two years! And how blessed we truly are.
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