Isn't amazing how time flies? Our Alyssa is now two years old! I really wanted to plan a great party for her birthday, partly because it is so close to Christmas. And partly because we didn't really want to acquire more stuff, so her party was her main present. She chose a ladybug theme.
I wanted to have as many ladybug activities appropriate to two year olds as I could think of. First we colored ladybugs on leaves. In the back you can see the "tree" that we taped our leaves onto.
Everyone loved decorating this cute bug with some spots.
This is the first time I have really attempted to decorate a birthday cake. But how could we have a ladybug party without a ladybug cake? I have to admit, I really had a lot of fun making the cake and decorations.
We got the book "The Grouchy Ladybug" for Alyssa to go along with our theme. We also made ladybug antennae to wear at the party. Alyssa was really funny. She loved them on everyone else, but refused to wear them herself. Anytime I prompted her to put them on, she would choose someone else, declaring "Momma wear them", or my favorite, "Daddy wear them". I wish I had gotten a picture of that. Happy birthday Alyssa!
Alyssa is so much happier sleeping in her big girl bed than in her crib. The headboard has a cat, which she calls Hannah, and a dog, which she calls Sophia. She loves to look out the window at the moon and the stars. Notice the card on the window sill? It is a card from my parents that she wanted to look at as she fell asleep. So sweet....
Who doesn't love Christmas morning? Abigail was of course a little clueless. Alyssa on the other had, was very excited. Last year was fun, but we were excited to see how much more Alyssa would understand what was going on this year. We had a great time with the girls.
Here is Alyssa sharing her excitement with Abigail.
Prior to present time, Alyssa takes one last survey of her forthcoming gifts.
This is one of Abigail's presents, and one that I was very excited about. I didn't realize when I bought it that it has some squeaky parts. Hence, Sophia's uncanny interest. Anytime I get it out for Abigail, I have to quarantine Sophia.
This is Santa's present for Alyssa. We kind of prefer wooden toys to electronic. But alas, Alyssa is too smart. She recognized the Ikea logo on the packaging. I'm not quite sure how that will affect her belief in Santa, but she is convinced (and rightly so) that her train set came from Ikea.
Abigail and Alyssa are enjoying Abigail's present. Sophia is quarantined on the other side of the gate.
This turned out to be a favorite gift. Alyssa loves the legos from Grandma and Grandpa.
I decided to get Alyssa some simple musical instruments/rhythm tools for us to play with together. Here she is enjoying her "jingle bell stick".
Here is another present from Santa. Alyssa recognized it as coming from Babies R' Us, which she calls the "baby store". I guess we have to do better with Santa gifts next year!
Our little Alyssa gladly posed for me with her dog in front of our Christmas tree. Now I know that it is late January, but I couldn't resist sharing these pictures with you.
Dan especially loves this last picture of her checking out some of her presents. Soon to come, pictures of Christmas morning.
She is saying hello to the stuffed tiger she gave her big sister Alyssa as a gift when she came home from the hospital. She loves to stare at it.
Abigail and Sophia together...Sophia loves to lick Abigail. Abigail likes Sophia, as long as she isn't licking her.
How sweet is this? Abigail is hanging out with her big sister Alyssa on the blanket Dan's mom made for her. Strange to think Alyssa was once as small as Abigail. My girls are so sweet!
Alyssa has recently begun to mandate what clothes she wears. One day she found a shirt of mine, and insisted on wearing it. It actually looks pretty good on her, almost like it was meant to be a dress. Here she is modeling it for me. She didn't want to take it off all day long. It is so sweet that she wants to wear my clothes. Someday she really will be grown up enough for them to fit her. I hope that day doesn't come too soon.
I wanted to have as many ladybug activities appropriate to two year olds as I could think of. First we colored ladybugs on leaves. In the back you can see the "tree" that we taped our leaves onto.
Everyone loved decorating this cute bug with some spots.
This is the first time I have really attempted to decorate a birthday cake. But how could we have a ladybug party without a ladybug cake? I have to admit, I really had a lot of fun making the cake and decorations.
We got the book "The Grouchy Ladybug" for Alyssa to go along with our theme. We also made ladybug antennae to wear at the party. Alyssa was really funny. She loved them on everyone else, but refused to wear them herself. Anytime I prompted her to put them on, she would choose someone else, declaring "Momma wear them", or my favorite, "Daddy wear them". I wish I had gotten a picture of that. Happy birthday Alyssa!
