Happy Birthday Eileen!

Fall means birthday season in the Dimock house.  Today is Eileen's second birthday.  I'm doing okay with it.  She is still a baby girl.  It's not until three that I have issues.

We tried to make her regular Thursday special.  After soccer practice, we stayed at Arena Sports and played in the bouncy houses, a very rare treat.  This was followed by Happy Meals for lunch at McDonald's.  After long naps by everyone (we were all thoroughly exhausted after a morning of soccer and bouncy houses), we made a quick trip over to Cupcake Royale to pick up some cupcakes and red velvet ice cream for later.

Linus had a much tougher time with Eileen's birthday than I did.  In his words, "I don't want Eileen to have a birthday."  I think this stemmed more from jealousy than not wanting Eileen to grow up.  After a brief rough patch, we had a lovely night.

Linus found a Playmobile catalog and spent copious amounts of time scouring its pages.

birthday girl, wearing her brother's shoes and practicing making the number four

playing statues, this may be one of my favorite pictures ever

Eileen asked for help opening presents and Linus was happy to oblige.

Dave and I gave Eileen a bunny family of calico critters with baby bunnies and a bunk bed.  My parents got her a little cottage carrying case for them.  Linus' jealousy kicked back in immediately when he saw them, but was willing to share her toys with her.  We also gave Eileen a doll potty so her dolls no longer had to use the play kitchen sink.  My friend, Heather, sent Eileen one of her favorite books and a doll high chair.  When Eileen saw the high chair, she repeated over and over again, "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!" 

Eileen prefers to eat baked goods by holding them to her mouth and slowly pushing them in.

Who needs a spoon when you can eat ice cream with your hand?

It was a lovely birthday at home.

Eileen at Two

Loves: doing whatever Linus is doing, putting on other people's shoes, singing, pretending to swim and fly, reading books, playing with the toy kitchen, being a baby jaguar, her dance/movement class, Diego, Dora, Batman, and Super Why, coffee shops, being wrapped up, and snuggling.

Dislikes: when Linus doesn't want to play, Mama is trying to cook dinner, not getting to do what Linus is doing, chicken, broccoli, and being told "no."

Eileen is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.  I relish how generally easy going she is and how much she likes to snuggle.  She will snuggle almost anyone.  I should probably be concerned.  Eileen has the ability to make people fall in love with her over her sweetness.  Although she is starting to express stronger opinions, I am remaining optimistic about what her "terrible twos" will look like.