Happy Birthday Bailey!

Today you turn 2, and there are some things about this age that I never want to forget.





Daily you fill this house with laughter.  You love to dance and have tea parties and listen to music; you ask for "noise" whenever iTunes isn't playing.  William Tell Overture will forever be the "horse song" and I will never tire of singing "Baby Mine" to you when you go to bed and ask, "song?"  It's even better now that you've started to sing along.


Your books are among your favorite toys.  Some days you pull all of them from the shelves just for the fun of it.  You've learned your letters A through J and numbers through nine.  You identify animals by their sounds, not their given names, and can't do a horse's neigh without grabbing your neck.  I'm amazed at how much you learn everyday.


You are quite used to - and comfortable with - playing alone, or with just Mommy and Daddy.  When we play outside, all you want to do is splash in the water, no matter what the temperature is.  And Daddy is determined to make you a tom boy if it's the last thing he does.  You're constantly being thrown in the air or across the bed as he rough-houses with his little girl.


Your favorite foods are bread, cheese and bananas. And you'll eat as much spaghetti and pizza as any grown adult.  When we go on walks, you're always asking for chipa or empanadas or juice as we pass bakeries and restaurants.  You collect rocks on every outing and turn everything into a cell phone. You'll also hold up your hand at every passing bus, trying to get them to stop for us.


Over the past two months you've become an amazing big sister.  You let me know when Sister is crying, help me keep her awake by tickling her belly, and include her in whatever games you're playing.  You cover her with kisses when it's time to go "night-night" and always ask to "see? see?" when I'm holding her. 


You are a creature of habit and enjoy routine.  I hardly need to leave directions for babysitters; you're sure to tell them what needs to be done when, and how.  From putting soap on both hands after going potty, to reading books before bed, to dumping the bath water immediately after you're done bathing.


Anytime I'm in the kitchen for more than two seconds, you ask to "sit? sit?" on the counter.  You love stirring up cookies, using cookie cutters, and sampling batter off of beaters.  Your eyes light up when I pull out the mixer and you immediately ask, "eat?!"


You are my precious baby girl and I love you more and more every day.


Happy birthday, darling!