Happy 2nd birthday Lia!

Our baby girl turned 2 years old last week! She has definitely graduated to "big girl" status and tells me frequently that "Lia is not a baby!" It's hard to see her growing up so fast, but I am so proud of her many accomplishments and I am lucky that she still likes to "get snuggled up" with me for some cuddle time every day. To celebrate her birthday, on Friday night we went out to dinner at Pappasito's. She always asks for chips and cheese dip when we go to any restaurant, so we chose to take her out for just that for her birthday dinner. She even got ice cream for dessert! Here are photos from dinner:

On Saturday, we took Lia to the circus. That was her birthday present from me and Philip. She had a great time. Unfortunately, my camera died after about the first 10 minutes of being there, but I did manage to get a few pictures of her enjoying a huge bucket of popcorn and a super-sugary lemonade while she watched the show!

At 2 years old, Lia is a delight! Here are some things we want to remember about her at this age:

-She is talking up a storm and constantly amazes me and Philip with the long complex sentences she puts together. She even forms full questions, like "Mama, do you want a bite of my spaghetti?" or "Daddy, can you help me put my shoes on please?" She also likes to talk on the phone and says "Mimi, can you hear me? How are you today? I'm fine." : )
-She can count to 15
-She is working on learning her ABC's
-She weighs 24.5 lbs
-She is in the 25th percentile for weight and the 50-75th percentile for height, both of which are right on track with the curve she has been on since birth
-She goes to bed at 8 p.m. and wakes up about 7:30 every morning
-She takes one nap about 1:00-2:30 every afternoon
-She drinks 3 6-8 oz. cups of milk a day and eats 3 full meals plus an afternoon snack
-She likes to sleep with a big pillow, 2 little pillows, a blanket and a battalion of stuffed animals including Elmo, 2 doggies, and a baby doll
-She loves to dance and sing songs - her favorites are Row Row Row Your Boat, Jesus Loves Me, and Sesame Street theme song
-At night, she has supper, takes a bath, then gets her pj's on and reads books with Daddy before going to bed
-She likes to watch Dora, Elmo, Nemo, Charlotte's Web, Milo and Otis, and Lady and the Tramp
-She loves babies! She likes to hold Baby Avery (picture below) and is very excited about Baby Ella coming. She already loves to kiss my tummy and talk to her baby sister, and she thanks God for baby Ella when she says her prayers at night!

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter! Happy 2nd birthday Lia!!!!!!!!!!!!