Paige's 2nd Birthday

Paige turned two years old today...WOW! These two years have really buzzed by quickly...it seems like only a couple of months ago that I gave birth to this precious baby girl that could barely hold up her head, and now she is running around and talking in sentences! God is so amazing...as a mom, I have no idea how anyone could ever doubt that!

Here are some things that Paige is able to do at the ripe ol' age of two:
-knows about 30 signs, but only uses them on occasion (out of habit) while saying the verbal word. She will do the signs for me if I quiz her on them :)
-can count to 15
-knows these colors: red, blue, purple, yellow, orange, brown, pink, black, and green
-sings along with me while I sing the alphabet and, although she can't sing it all by herself, if I stop and pause she will say the next letter in the song
-can identify a circle, star, diamond, heart, square, triangle, and oval
-can identify some letters and make their sounds

Here are some of Paige's favorite things to do:
-swim at the Linn pool or at Little Splashers (Memorial Pool) in Jeff City
-play with water balloons...filling them up is half the fun (especially with Daddy)
-wear dresses and spin around in them
-watch Yo Gabba Gabba and Elmo
-play at any park (swinging is her very favorite and sliding is a close second)
-play with play-doh and cut out shapes with cookie cutters
-attend music classes at Musikgarten with Ms. Helen
-sing and dance
-get pushed "fast" in her cozy coupe through the kitchen and living room.
-color with markers and paint (with a brush or her fingers)
-play "band" with her pink piano and Sesame Street guitar...she says she has to practice
-ride on the Kawasaki Mule on Grandma and Grandpa Loethen's farm

Here is Paige this morning (bed head and all). We started out the day with a birthday waffle and sang her Happy Birthday...she enjoyed it!

Blowing out her first set of candles.
We had Paige's birthday party at the Linn Community pool. She had lots of fun swimming, spending time with her friends and family, and opening presents. Here she is getting reading to go inside the Linn pool for her birthday party. She is with her friend, Elle, and she is super excited!
The dessert/treat table!

Close-up of the cake, cookies, and cupcakes that I made for the party!

Paige and Elle swimming in their rings...Paige calls her ring a hoop (she thinks it is like a hula hoop)...which I think is pretty cute!

Paige and her grandma Loethen.

Paige and her grandpa Loethen

Neil and I...we enjoyed swimming too!

Blowing out the #2 candle on her Foofa cake...she needed a little help!

Paige had to stick her finger in the cake to take a lick of the icing...her friend Alice has been teaching her how to do that!

There is a water slide at the Linn pool and some of the adults had fun going down it...so we got some photos. I thought I had one of Neil too, but I must have been mistaken...unfortunately!

Here is our friend, Andy, coming out of the slide!

Grandpa Loethen...can you believe it!

Our friend, Kara!

Time for presents!
The Dudenhoeffers made Paige this awesome chair...it has "Paige's Chair" written on the back!

One of her favorites...a Dora backpack!

Presents from Mommy and Daddy at home...Paige is sitting on her new Rock, Roll, and Ride Tricycle.

Her very own stool...with Paige written on it and decorated to match her bedroom.

I just love, love, love it!

Opening the big one!Her very own table...she can have tea parties for four!

Opening her big present from Grandma and Grandpa Loethen...a basketball goal.

We ended the two year celebration with birthday pizza and one more Happy Birthday song. What a fun day...Happy 2nd birthday, Sweet Paigey; we love you!