Chase and Cammi Bevans

Her birthday cupcake at her party.

We had Zayah's party early because Chase would be out of town working on her real birthday.  We went swimming.  Went down waterslides.  Floated on tubes.  Warmed up in hot tubs.  Then we ate pizza and cupcakes.  

This year for Zayah's party we opted to donate her gifts.  This was an idea I had last year but did not get it orchestrated in time for her 1st birthday so her second birthday was the year!  And if I have any say in it, it will not be the last time we do it.  We chose the Harbour House Outreach program at the local YWCA.  I'm hoping we can get her excited about donating her gifts every year to hopefully different places. 

On January 31, 2013 at 4:29pm I officially had a two year old.  We went to rhyme time at the library, we played at the Family Center on the jungle gym and we met up with her good friend Taylor at McDonald's so they could eat and play on the playplace.  I bought her new clothes.  It was a fun Mother-Daughter outing.

My two year old:

- She's starting to put full sentences together.  She pauses before she does and I can see her little brain thinking about what she should say.  Example:  Dad was tickling her feet and she was laughing and kicking and trying to get away but could not.  She stopped laughing got this serious look on her face and said, 'Don't tickle Grandpa!'  We laughed.

- She sleeps with her stuffed 'Boo' from Monsters inc. every night.  And has a couple soft blankets she loves.

- She can count to TEN!!!  She's so smart I can't even stand it.  She even can point out certain numbers when she sees them on things.  Today she brought me a flash card and said, '8 Mama.'  It really was an 8!  

- She catches on to things after just being shown once.  Putting a toy in a certain spot, it will go to the same spot every time.  Pushing a button to start a movie.  Singing a song.  

- Which brings me to my next thing I LOVE that she's started doing.  SINGING!  She sings twinkle twinkle little star now.  I didn't even know she knew the words because every time I sing it to her she stares at me blankly.  But, as she was playing on the jungle gym I mentioned earlier she just randomly busted out, 'Like a diamond ss-ss-sky.'  I was amazed.  Just the other day at the hockey game her and 2 friends were playing ring around the rosie.  She has never played this before and laughed hysterically.  Everyday since then she has sang Ring around the rosie. 

Her words to twinkle twinkle sound something like this:

Twinkle twinkle dar

wonder ut ut are

up da woorld ah-high

wike a diamond ss-ss-sky.

I have it recorded and laugh every time.  Did I mention she does this as loud as she can?  At the top of her lungs.  Hilarious.

- She knows and recognizes people.  Instead of just saying Nikki or Chan Chan's or Grandpa's names she looks at them to make sure it's them.  She recognizes people to their names now.  Love that.  

-  She will not say Grandma.  I tell her we are going to Grandma and Grandpas house and she just says, 'Grandpa Grandpa.'  Just says it twice.  

- She's been in a toddler bed since her real birthday.  She does so good so far.  Stays in bed until morning (although our mornings have been a lot earlier since but I can live with that).  Waking up earlier means that naps have been easier which I love, as they were starting to get phased out before.  Compromise.

There are so many words and phrases she's saying and as they happen I'm making a promise to myself to jot them down and record them.  More will come.  Having a two year old makes me get teary eyed, but she's a very good little girl.  She's fun, energetic, hilarious and still gives me cuddles.  

Love you Zayah Mae, my little 2 year old.