Marley's Two Year Old Pictures

not sure why they always end up sideways. i just can't figure that out. hope you enjoy :)

and now she's two.

Tomorrow she'll be two. wow. so much has time has passed, but it still seems like yesterday. I can still smell her newborn baby smell, remember how her skin felt so loose on her body before she started chubbin' up. i remembered how my heart stopped at her first smile and how i had to call my mom right away and how i cried a little at it all. And now she's insisiting on unpacking her own Happy Meals. Tonight she asked for 'pretty nails like mama's" so we painted her toes sparkly red for her party tomorrow. And as I carried her to bed, i told her when she woke up she'd be 2 and that i would make her a special breakfast. She put her hand on my cheek, looked right at me and said " and i will eat it all gone". Last week we gave up the binky forever, on monday she argued with me about what clothes and shoes she wanted to wear, and tonight she just almost got her nightgown on all by herself. She says please and thank-you without having to be asked, she calls her grandma "honey", her top lip smirks up like elvis (and her mom!) when she says "orange" and "gross". She discovered strawberry milk tonight, and looks for pictures in the clouds when we ride in the car. She sings songs at random times, just because they must be running through her head. I hope her life always has a soundtrack and that she'll never be afraid to sing it out loud. That's my wish tonight for my two year old.

A day in the 'burgh with Jen

marley had an ENT appointment in the afternoon one day while we were on our "staycation", so we spent the morning at The Children's Museum in Pittsburgh with Aunt Jen. Marley had a blast, and so did Jen and I. She especially liked the ABC windows in Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood, the water play on the 3rd floor, and the Bob the Builder attraction. After we had lunch, we explored the art studio at the museum. Marley enjoyed painting most of all I think. It had been raining that day, but it cleared enough for us to go outside and play in the sand. We stopped in the gift shop, and Marley immediately picked up a stuffed frog and that was all she wanted. I tried to get her to get Mr. Rodgers puppets, but no - only the frog. Aunt Jen was THRILLED because Jen loves and collects frogs. Needless to say, Marley came home with the frog and takes it to bed almost every night. Thanks Aunt Jen :)

Firecookies and Friends

We celebrated the 4th by going to Isabella's 2nd birthday party, coming home and taking a nap, and then joining the Hackers for a neighborhood party. Marley loved the food, loved seeing all the kids. She hated the sparklers and the fireworks. On the way to
the Hackers, we heard some very loud firecrackers. Marley said "oh, I scared", and then called them "firecookies" all night long. Maybe next year :)