A Little too Two

(Sometimes it isn't easy being the 4th kid. Your mom and dad forget to take pictures of you because the big kids have so much big stuff going on. Add to it your big sister having a birthday the day before yours, and your mom just might have already gotten birthday burn-out by the time your birthday rolls around.

Especially if she just had a baby 5 weeks prior. And 3 other kids' parties and birthdays to plan between Halloween and February 11th. She is not, after all, Super Mom. Because Super Mom can plan a little better to spread out those birthdays throughout the year.

So, it shouldn't surprise you that the blog post about your birthday doesn't go up until June, even though your birthday was in February.

Fortunately, you won't figure out how neglected you are until you're older.

Like, 3 or 4.

But then you chuckle and realize that your little brother probably will only have 3 pictures of his childhood, all taken the same week that mom realized she hadn't pulled out the camera in months.)

 Amelia turned 2 in February! She was so excited to be 2!

So, we started the morning off the right way--with gifts! She really liked that part. The gift unwrapping at Christmas (not to mention ALL of her siblings unwrapping their birthday gifts for months WITHOUT sharing!) had primed her for this year's present-unwrapping. It's a good skill to have. She played with Mega Blocks and her little walking puppy and the myriad other toys ALL MORNING. It was a little slice of heaven for everyone involved.

Sadly, Amelia got the burned-out remains of mommy's cake-bakin' skills. She wouldn't settle on what sort of cake she wanted, there was not party to throw, so...

She got the sickly looking kitten cake, decorated right after dinner with frosting left over from Sheridan's birthday party. I think it was a 10 minute job from once the base coat went on. I was honestly embarrassed to present it to her, but she LOVED it. Phew! Thank goodness kids just turning 2 aren't the biggest critics (well, at least of cake decor!).

 She was so excited for the cake!!! The fire!!! The song!!!

Finally!!!!!! The experience she'd been dreaming of for 4 months was HERS!!! Wicked-crazy cat cake and all!

 Cake was YUMMY.

 How much cuteness can you cram into one little body?

Amelia is still one of the most gregarious, pleasant kids we've ever met. She just climbs right up into laps and turns the lap-owner into a puddle of gooey sentiment. This little girl ADORES people and wants to be adored right back. We try really hard not to spoil her, but she is pretty irresistible. Mia (as she calls herself) loves to sing and dance. She likes to pretend that Sheridan gives her dance lessons. Heck, the girl loves to pretend--she's a kitten, a baby T-Rex (rrrow), a mommy... The girl is opinionated about what she wears, what books we read to her (and she LOVES reading, esp Sandra Boynton), and what Daddy wears after work (she thinks it's her job to convince him to change from his suit and tie into a t-shirt).
At age 2, Amelia is 35" tall (78th %) and 24.5 lbs (40th %). She seems so tiny, though!
Favorite color: Yellow (but she also loves pink and purple)
Favorite food: She says pizza...but it varies day to day.
Favorite animal: Mia LOVES animals, but probably kitties. She also loves dinosaurs and any other animal that has been rescued by Dora or Diego.
Favorite shows: Super Why, Little Einsteins, Dora and Diego