Pre-bedtime fun

Yesterday

Today

Party weekend!

Yesterday, we went to a birthday party for Desmond and Iré (and Eli, a child we don't know).  There were many children and music and a parachute and much craziness.  Thanks to Vanessa for getting some pictures, including this one:

After the party, we looked for seals.

We didn't find any.  We did find some rocks, though.

After Madeline's nap, she and I went out shopping for her birthday party today.  She helped pick out goody bags goodies, snacks, and juice boxes for her friends -- and balloons too.

Today, Madeline got to enjoy the fruits of our shopping trip!

She was super-happy all day.  Maybe that was because six of her friends came over, parents in tow, to help Madeline celebrate turning two.

The little ones romped all over the house, playing with this, that, the other thing, and each other.  Then Madeline got her birthday-party cupcake!

She enjoyed everyone's rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" but wasn't sure she wanted the same level of attention when it came time to maul her cupcake.

She told me she'd like to get down from her seat and join the other kids.

So she did.  She enjoyed her cupcake, and the other kids seemed to like them too.

Mmm.

There was more wildness after the cupcakes, but eventually the little ones began to tire and raucous playing gave way to peaceful coloring.

And so Madeline's friends all headed off to their naps and Madeline upstairs to hers.

After her nap, Madeline enjoyed sorting and stacking her party hats.

But she enjoyed -- even more than the hats -- eating one more cupcake.

Goofy kiddo pics

Visiting

On Friday, Madeline got in some play time before ...

... and after school.

On Saturday, Summer and Neal attended a conference in Boston, so Madeline hung out with Anna and me.  Anna declared Madeline medically sound.

We went to the Museum of Natural History, where Madeline was especially fond of this leopard.

As soon as she saw the leopard, Madeline cried "Leopard!" and away she went.  She told us to "Look at its mouth!  It's singing!  It's laughing!" and "Look at its claws!  Big claws!"  She also enjoyed the lions, bears, and antelopes.

On Sunday, Summer and Neal eschewed the conference due to a combination of snow and a reduced Sunday schedule for public transit.  Instead, we all played with dinosaur magnets ...

... and read books in front of a roaring fire.

This morning, Summer went to work and Anna and Neal took off.  I have been sick, so I have little to relate other than that we had a nice visit, and today Madeline asked after Anna and Neal repeatedly until she accepted that they were "goin' to see Melody" -- their cat.

Two years old!

Earlier this week, life was busy but uneventful.

Today, though, was special.  Two years ago today, Madeline turned zero.

Here she is at one month:

Two months:

Three months:

Four months:

Five months:

Six months:

Seven months:

Eight months:



Nine months:

Ten months:

Eleven months:

Twelve months:

Thirteen months:

Fourteen months:

Fifteen months:

Sixteen months:

Seventeen months:

Eighteen months:

Twenty months:

Twenty-one months:

Twenty-two months:

Twenty-three months:

And, today, Madeline turned two!

Madeline has been looking forward to her birthday for weeks, and this morning she could hardly believe the day had finally arrived.  "Maddie's birthday soon?" she asked.  "Have cupcakes?"

So she did: she brought cupcakes to school, where the kiddos were also celebrating Valentine's Day and pajama day!

Back at home, she got exciting presents, like this sled ...

... these birds ...

... and these assorted Mr. Potato Head parts (plus a heart full of candy).

Anna and Neal, visiting from State College, also helped Madeline celebrate!  (They got in late last night, so this morning Madeline's main non-birthday-related question was when she would finally get to see "Anna and Meal.")

Finally, Madeline's post-dinner cupcake-and-candles proved one stimulation too much and bedtime ensued. At bedtime, Madeline said she'd had a happy birthday indeed.