Mary Elizabeth is officially 2 years old. We had her 2nd Birthday party today. It went great, the weather held out, she had fun with everyone and just really enjoyed the day. I kinda watched as people played with her and she ran around making her silly faces, and being her charismatic and charming self. I was in awe of how cute she was and how fast and much she’s grown. It was good that I got to sit back and reflect a bit. I really believe though she’s gone through so much in her 2 little years of life, she has touched so many lives and gotten closer to people than most 2 year olds would. And though, I do have to say- even though she’s got a bratty streak that started as she entered toddler-hood… it’s still cute & funny… like for example when she shakes her finger at you to tell you "no, you don’t do that" or things like that. Speaking of "no"…. That has become a verbal part of her vocabulary. Not too long ago she was only saying mama or dada. Now we’ve added the words: more, no, bye, yay, yea, hot and map. (Map because of Dora the Explorer). Though some of those are said seldom you will hear her say Ma or No on any given day. She still learns lots of sign language but we try to tell her to use her mouth too, and with the surgeries- comes more and more so it’s good to see improvement. I think though she is amazingly expressive often dramatizes her emotions which makes it cute.
I recently had to answer questions for an evaluation with Early Intervention and she has to keep asking developmental questions until I start answering "No, she can’t do that". Apparantly she was definitely in the 2 1/2 year level cognitively and I answered yes to some questions for even the 3 year old level. So nonethless, speech is still her only issue which is only due to her condition making it hard for her.
Mary Elizabeth got a lot of cute gifts for her birthday. She got a rocking chair with her name painted on it, a bubble mower, a pink t-ball set for toddlers, a tricycle, a mini power wheels, a table/chair set, lots of great clothes, a bowling set, a little people farm toy, play food for her kitchen, etc etc…. and of course her new room from us. Which she absolutely loved. The bed was like her new favorite toy. Of course jumping on it was the best, and we told her to go to bed and she layed on it for a while. Though she just liked laying there, and didn’t sleep hahaa. But hopefully she’ll get use to seeing it, then we can try naps in the future and eventually sleep in there- but I won’t push it til baby time gets closer as she is always hooked up to things and that well- makes me nervous thinking of her walking around with her feeding tube in and her oximeter on her foot!!! So we’ll get there eventually. The room does look adorable though.

Anyway, this birthday girl was pooped from the long day, that she truly enjoyed and went to bed early. I, though usually don’t do it- rocked her a little to sleep, just because I wanted that mommy time tonight. It was nice- some days I still can’t believe I’m a mother, let alone that I now have a 2 year old daughter! We are so blessed!

Happy Birthday Mary Elizabeth… the light of our lives