Two Years Too Fast

This very hour two years ago (2:40 p.m. to be exact!) we were blessed with our second daughter! Allison's birth was so uneventful, which was exactly what we wanted after the scare we had with Lauryn.

She was so beautiful and had a head full of dark hair from the very beginning. I can't believe it has been two years! She had so much fun at her birthday party this weekend. That will have to be a whole separate post for tomorrow :)

This morning we started off her special day with blueberry muffins for breakfast and a trip to the zoo! The threat of rain today was actually what motivated me to get out in the August heat. I figured it would be overcast and surely a little bit cooler than our usual 105 degree temperatures we've been experiencing.

In reality it was still hot. And extremely humid. But when your birthday is in August, you pretty much just accept it. Our sweet friends Ethan and Rachel joined us for our visit to the zoo and lunch afterwards. I don't think we could have asked for a better way to celebrate!

Allison is one of the happiest kids you'll ever meet. She is also extremely polite, saying "thank you" a bazillion times a day!

Her favorite book to read is The Three Little Pigs. She loves dolls and has currently named all of them "Abby". Her favorite foods are blueberries, bananas (with peanut butter), cheese, broccoli (of course with cheese), green beans, cheerios, Life Cereal, yogurt, baked beans and Cheetos. She does not like meat of any kind (unless it's on a hot sandwich from Firehouse Subs), pickles, or tomatoes.

Apparently she is a fan of synchronized diving. We were watching the Olympics last night and every time they dove off the board, she turned to look at us and shouted, "Cool!!"

She adores shoes and clomps around in mismatched shoes all day long. Boots, flip flops, and dress up shoes are her favorites.

She has mastered drinking from a regular cup (on her first try, I might add!) and can count to ten. She also knows the colors yellow, brown, and orange and we're working on the rest :)

We say prayers together as a family every night and she says hers without missing a beat. "Dear God, thank you for Daddy, Mommy, Lauryn, Allie, and Hope. Amen." She loves when we sing to her before bed and sings along to "Jesus Loves Me". She rests her head on our shoulder and says the words with us. I don't think there is anything that melts my heart more than those moments.

Allison is athletic. She likes to jump off of any object and onto the floor. She loves to do somersaults and would swim all day long if we let her. She prefers to be outside if given a choice.

We can not imagine life without our Allie Bear (Lauryn called her that from the day we brought her home from the hospital and it has stuck ever since!) She completed our family two years ago today. We love you, Allie!

Here are some pictures from her first week, and then today at the zoo!

Back in recovery. Oh, yes, mommy needed some meds!

Meeting her sister for the first time!
Sleeping while Mommy recovered

Hmmmm, which one is Allison?

Yes, it is HOT in August!

Lauryn was never too far from the action.
This was the picture we used on her birth announcement.

This will forever and ever be one of my all-time favorite pictures!

Just crusin' around with her crew.
Monkeys!!

I think she could watch the monkeys for hours!
Playing on her trike from Mommy and Daddy this weekend. Who is this child and what did she do with my baby!?

Stay tuned for party pics!