Addison Marie Turns 2

Today our baby girl turned 2 years old. I don't know why but it's hitting me harder knowing that she turned two than when her first birthday came around.  She's just changed so much and such a little girl now versus a little baby.

Right now she is very much into doing things just like mommy and daddy and always wants to help in making meals, putting away groceries, doing laundry, sweeping the floors, and more.  So for her birthday we got her a little broom and dust pan set and a children's baking set.  I guess I was dually motivated by getting her this because, unlike her toy vacuum cleaner, she can actually help clean up with the broom and dust pan.  We let her open this present early so that she could help me clean up the house for our party that evening.

The characters she loves are Shrek, Cinderella (Lella), Dora ("Do-wa")the Explorer, Fifi Forget-me-Not, and Strawberry Shortcake ("strawbry cake").   She has been going off on her own a lot lately and playing by herself.  She loooovvvees the Little People that Cathy Duffy brought over for her.  She loves going over to Min's house and playing dress up with all of Mei Mei's princess dresses.  

Addie is a pretty picky eater as well.  She won't eat any meat except for hotdogs ("dock-dog") with lots of ketcup ("che-pa").  She will really only eat plain pasta, strawberries, corn, apples, yogurt, toast with jam, pretzels, raisins, sometimes rice, cheese sticks, and carrots.  She does unfortunately love every kind of sweet and chips imaginable so she knows "cook-ee", chips, fruit flakes, and more.

She is very emotional but very caring as well.  She actually recognizes when people are sad or hurt. When Harry makes any noise (but usually when he cries) she says "baby sad" and if anyone looks sad or says ouch, she asks "you okay mommy?"  She loves to give hugs to everyone even total strangers (that freaks me out a bit), but she is very, very friendly. I always feel bad for her little friend Madeline Hardy because she loves giving Madeline hugs but some how they both end up falling on the floor when she does it. Love hurts I guess.

Addie's birthday day schedule was pretty hectic. Kevin had to go into work early because he was in Black Belt training again, so he woke Addie up so she could open one of her presents early.

Then we all had to get ready to go the ISE tea so that we could spend time with our friends, Amy, Kendall, Kameron, and Tina before they move back to the States in a couple of weeks.

After tea we rushed home so that we could Skype  Grandma and Grandpa Schafbuch and open up the gifts that they sent to Addison.  She has been talking about "Backpack" since she discovered that Dora wore a backpack at Christmas time.  So my mom found a backpack and super cute purse which she loves.  She also got a Dora ball, Dora fruit snacks, and Strawberry Shortcake coloring book.

On the evening of her birthday we had over our neighbors who all have grown to love our little Addie, so we had to have them be part of her special day.  

We finally got to display the Birthday banner that Grandma Sally made for her.  Last year Sally sent the package in plenty of time but UK customs held it up for 6 weeks and it missed Addie's first birthday, but Sally sent candle number two for me to attach to it this year.

Addison loves chocolate so of course we had to have chocolate cake with loads of sprinkles.

Here is our little chocolate cake face at 2!!

Here she is when she was 1 !!!

Simon helps Addie play with some of her new gifts. She got a new shopping cart from the Beales' and of course in good British fun they had to pick on us for it being called a cart when they call them trollies.

Mei Mei is one of Addison's closest friends no party would be complete without her. Unfortunately Min and Yi Hong, couldn't make it to the party because they both were quite poorly with a really nasty virus.

Simon and Sarah got her a cute little pup tent from IKEA and the Wong's got her a beautiful summer dress and new shoes.  ( I guess Min tried them on her one day last week to make sure they fit before giving them to her - silly goose).  Grandma and Grandpa Dea sent Addison some money for her college account (she'll be very thankful in 16 years for that gift).  Addie also got a package from Uncle Ryan, Aunt Lindsay, and little cousin Emma for her birthday.  She got some great books and some Dora coloring books...Thank you!!!