Adri's 2nd Birthday

Last month was Adriana's 2nd birthday. Adri has been practicing singing happy birthday for at least 4-5 months before her birthday. However I think we confused her because she had three birthday cakes. In California we had a small family party for Adri, on her birthday we had a cake and sang for her, and then the Saturday after her birthday we had the big party.

The week of her birthday was a busy week. We were playing catchup after our vacation in California. I had been working on some islands in the yard and spent 30 hours that week after work digging out grass, throwing down mulch, trimming hedges, mowing grass, etc. Like I said, it was a really busy week.

So on to the big day. On Saturday we had family and friends over for Adriana's Minnie party. I wish we had more pictures but we were busy running around and then my camera died when we were cutting the cake. Natalie's family got some pictures of the three of us together but so far they have been stingy with the pictures and haven't shared. Maybe one day we'll get them.

So what's going on with Adri now that she's two?

Adriana's favorite movie is Chipwrecked. She loves all the Chipmunk movies but her favorite is Chipwrecked which also happens to be the first movie she went to, while conscious that is. Her next favorites are Up and Megamind which was the first movie she slept through in SoCal. I often hear her in her sleep saying things like "Chipmunks" or "Chipmunk Movie". I think the only thing she has ever done funnier in her sleep was the time she was laughing really loud. She was laughing so loud I woke up and then Natalie jumped up scared thinking something was wrong. I think she was dreaming of the claw that time.

Adriana still loves to be chased around the house with the claw and she loves to be tickled. When I stop tickling her she looks at me and says "again, again Papa". Just last week when I asked her if she wants to be tickled she ran over to the couch, laid down, and assumed the tickle position.

Adriana loves ice cream, mangoes, jack fruit, olives, tostones, and cheese. She likes other things but those are her favorites.

Adriana has learned to call me by my name when she's not getting my attention. She starts with Papa, then goes to Daddy, then moves on to Joe.

Adriana is still obsessed with airplanes and helicopters. Like I said, it's always her first request when it comes to drawing. Even when we're on an airplane she wants me to draw an airplane.

Adriana is a chatter box. She's only two but she talks like she's three. Lately at the end of a sentence she says "actually". For instance, "I want the red ball, actually". She cracks me up.

Adriana now tells us what she wants to wear and sometimes she tells me what to wear. When she wants to go outside she puts on her pink rain boots and brings me my sandals. She loves to go out back with me and walk around. She loves to throw dirt and do other things that I really don't like her doing.

Adriana loves to feed her fish. She likes to feed herself too and throws a fit if we don't let her feed herself. She tells us to put the food in her hand.

Adriana is very social. When we take her to the parks she likes to run up to random kids and give them hugs. A lot of the time it leads to her being pushed away and kids running from her. However we're having a bit of a problem getting her to play with kids her own age. She loves hanging out with older kids but even with her cousins she doesn't show much interest in smaller kids of kids her own size.

Adriana is also a good climber. She owned a four year old at climbing at the park. She has learned how to climb out of her crib and since watching her cousins she's learned how to irritate us even more with her monkey climbing skills.

Adriana loves rain, thunderstorms, and fireworks. She is looking forward to the day she turns 6 and Papa buys her a pink .22 rifle.

Adriana is starting to get really jealous. She doesn't like it when anyone touches Mama and Papa. When my sister was here, the last night, Natalie told Aubrey to give her a kiss. Adriana yelled "No Mama, don't kiss Aubrey, you don't kiss Aubrey Mama". She also likes to look at our picture and keep repeating "and the Mama and the Papa".

Adriana loves looking at pictures of herself and watching videos of herself. She laughs up a storm watching herself on tv.

Adriana learned the entire ABC song before she turned 2. I first heard her sing it in California when we were camping.

Adriana knows the difference between her diapers. Tonight she told me pointed at her swim diapers and said "That's swim diapers with Diego. They're for the beach". I'm pretty sure she also already knows the difference between her left and her right.

And most important Adriana does not like Barrack Obama. She points at the bad diapers and says "there's Obama in my diaper". Annoys Natalie, makes Daddy proud.

There's probably a ton of stuff I'm forgetting since it's been a while.

On Adriana's birthday. Her own personal cake. She even blew out the candle herself.

For some reason she really liked this Minnie balloon.

I was outside grilling and I saw her come running out with her Italian Ice. She thinks she owns the world when she has it.

Last picture before the camera died.

Since I'm too poor to buy Adri a roller coaster, here is her Chicco coaster.