Our new two-year-old!

I cannot believe she is already two. This girl has been such a blessing to us. I have so many things to say about her, but for now, I will post some pics from her fun birthday. (And by FUN, I mean FUN-NY, because this normally happy, easy-going girl acted like a classic two-year-old on this day.) We planned a family party with Ava's favorite foods: LOTS of fruit, homemade bread, and Mac & Cheese. It all went downhill when she saw us pick up the cake and did not let her shove it in her face right away. Mom mistake number one.



THEN, we let Mase help her blow out the candles because her tiny puff of air was unsuccessful:



THEN, she only wanted the first gift that she opened and we encouraged her (and her cousins) to open the rest:




(You can see she has dramatically thrown off her tiara and started a fit here...)

We saved it a little when she had some cake and she demonstrated some of her charming personality:



I just WISH I had a picture of the screaming, throwing herself down on the grass, relentless fit she gave during her gracious exit.

Good thing she is our second because we thought MOST of this was absolutely adorable. Here are five things Ava has taught me since I have been privileged to be her mother:

1. You should not leave the house without picking up your stuff. I don't know how many times I am standing at the front door, keys and purse in hand, with Ava slowly picking up some mess, "Have to Keen-UP, Mommy!"

2. Grudges cannot be held when her laughter fills the air. ANYTHING she does wrong can be forgiven by a little cute laugh or a gap-toothed smile.

3. Siblings form a bond right at birth and little phases of bickering do not harm it. My kids LOVE each other SO much and I am grateful for that every day.

4. Moms can relive their own childhood wishes when they have a little girl.

5. You CAN and WILL love your second just as much as you love the first. I wouldn't have thought that when I only had little Mase, but there is room in my heart for both of them (and more, if we are blessed with more).