On the eve of your 2nd birthday,

I'm sitting at my desk and staring at the pictures I've taken of you over the last 2 years, and watching the video I made of your birth day over and over again.  I'm crying at how fast  you have grown, yet beaming with pride for you.  My dearest Adalyn, if I had to pick one word- just one- to describe you, it would be AMAZING.

 Your first steps at 10 months...

Spilling our big family secret ;)

Jumping and dancing on great grandpa's boat in Michigan:

I just can't even sum up in words what a fun, loving, hyper, kissable, stubborn, SMART, BEAUTIFUL, little girl you are becoming.

You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and even though I can count on one hand how many times you have watched it, Thomas the Train has to be your newest obsession.  I recently bought you a Thomas pillow pet and you now take every nap and go to bed every night with him.  {{{how do I not have a photo of this?!! }}}

You LOVE the water, especially the water in our town pool.

and grapes.

Your grandma and Auntie Emily came to visit you last week, and I thought I would attempt 2 yr pictures of you since I had some assistants. You were NOT having it and instead preferred to chase the butterflies and smell and rip flowers.  Oh well. 

This is who you are right now, and when you don't want to do something...

But I did get another chance to capture photos of you in a dress.  You were the flowergirl in Daddy's best friend's wedding.  The following images had your Daddy and I in tears by the way.  Just thinking about how he will walk you down the aisle on your wedding day...well, I just can't even think about it.  But I do know that you will look at these images on that day and that warms my heart.  See, you were, and will always be, your daddy's little girl.

This one needs to be come a giant canvas in our bedroom.

You are a great big sister and love "Baby Eloise" very much.  We just have to work on being gentle.

You love going over to Mimi and Papa's house, especially because they now have a hot tub that they turn down just for you.

And they always have surprises for you. We celebrated your birthday with them early last weekend since they were going to be out of town.  You got a Mini Mouse watch that sings to you and a....well, see for yourself...

(Ellie had to test it out)

And then you spotted it

And ran 

And jumped right in.  "I drive.  I drive."

How are you only 2?  You look 16 here! This one might be new art for your new playroom.  Yes, it is finished and I've been busy making it fabulous for you. 

Car rides with sissy might have to wait awhile. 

Attempt #2 at  photoshoot was also a fail, but your sister was happy to oblige.

You were more interested in the promised cake.

So my daughter.

Maybe it's my new camera, but I really have found an increase in the number of images I take of you and your sister on a daily basis.  I'm so glad I have this blog to have somewhere to put them all!

Adalyn, HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY.  In the morning, you will tell me that you want to go downstairs, and then say "No, I do it" when I try to hold your hand.  You will ask for cereal or a muffin and then you will say, "No I do it.  I get it" and try to reach for it yourself.   And when you rip open your present in the morning, you will undoubtedly yell, "I did it!".  You may look, sound, and act like a big girl now, but you will always be my baby.