Dear Alyssa & Madison -
Today you turned 2 years old and honestly mommy and daddy are in complete awe of you both. After everything we went through, to finally be blessed with both of you is nothing short of a miracle. Yes, mommy and daddy's lives have changed in more ways than one would ever imagine would be possible, but it has been worth every minute to have you both in our lives.
Madison, what can we say, you are our little "Energizer Bunny" who just keeps going and going and going. You have a smile that can melt
any one's heart and an attitude at times that would send them running for the hills. You absolutely adore your sister, so much so that you almost always give up your toys to her wants, even when you were happily playing ... almost always that is and we must tell you that when you do not want to make Alyssa happy by giving up your toy, you definitely let her and mommy and daddy know that you are not going to. You love anything to do with animals and really enjoy watching Sesame Street, Little Einsteins and The Wonder Pets. Your favorite
possession is your bunny blanket and it really shows as his ear lining is shredding apart and the once pink and white fleece is now permanently a dingy gray. You really like playing with your Fisher Price Little People play sets, in particular the animals, and your new kitchen. When it comes to eating, you will try anything once and usually like it enough to ask for more. Your favorite meal is breakfast which is almost always cold cereal, milk, a banana and a blueberry waffle. The strangest thing you have tried and liked was calamari. Although your speech is still limited, your current favorite words include "boo boo", "show", "turtle", "bubble", "mom", "
de de", "two" and the color "yellow". You say many more words but the only string of words you have is "There it is." You still do not need as much as sleep as other toddlers or adults for that matter, but mommy knew we where in for a challenge with you way back before you were born because you were always moving and kicking mommy's tummy and ribs. You are a natural in the water and love to "swim" in the bath tub. The most surprising thing so far about you is that you show no fear (other than the talking and moving skeleton daddy showed you the other day at Target). You love to make a mess and do not mind getting dirty. We figured you would be our "tom boy", but then we catch you playing with the baby dolls and loving on our kitty Chloe and you seem to be all girl.
Alyssa, you are our little perfectionist. You will watch and study other people and, in particular, your sister. While Madison just goes for it, you typically do not attempt things until you know you can do them 100%. Your smile and laugh are contagious although you have a very demanding side to your personality as well. You especially love to take toys away from your sister, and she typically gives them to you; however, when she stands her ground, you get very frustrated and upset. You often try to "trade" her every other toy in the house for the one that you want, most times it works, but occasionally Madison will not budge. You seem to be more opinionated than your sister. You are often the one who takes the shirt you want or the colored snack bowl that you want and then leaves the leftovers for your sister. For now this works okay, as Madison often seems indifferent to bowl colors or shirt choices at this time. You absolutely love and adore ladybugs, unless they are the real alive version, then you get upset and kill them. Your favorite television shows are Little Einsteins, The Wonder Pets and occasionally Sesame Street. You also, just like your sister, love your bunny blanket which is mostly in the same deteriorating condition as hers. You love playing with the Fisher Price Little People sets, but most of all you like "Maggie" the little curly headed girl with glasses. You take her everywhere with you. You are also enjoying the new kitchen that mommy and daddy gave you for your birthday. When you were a baby you would eat anything and everything offered; however, you are now very choosy about the foods you will eat. You generally do not even try new foods (mostly you pretend to touch them and pretend you tasted them and then wave bye-bye to them and push them away). It is hard to make meals for you currently, but as long as there are french fries on the menu you are happy. Your favorite meal is definitely breakfast which is typically cold cereal, a blueberry waffle, a banana and milk. You will eat 2-3 small bowls of cereal and usually finish the rest of the food as well. Your speech is very limited still at this point with no real strings of words. You do say "mom", "daddy", "bubble" and "please" regularly and have been heard to whisper "yellow" and "A, B, C, D". We believe you can say much more, but want to get them exactly right before using a regular voice. You are a terrific sleeper, if your sister would let you sleep later in the morning, you would. The most surprising thing about you so far is that you are so cautious about everything. You do not like getting dirty and need your hands washed or wiped off a lot. You are a thinker versus your sister being a doer. However, rest assured, when you do make your mind up to do something you typically succeed.
You both love music, which is why The Little Einsteins and The Wonder Pets are likely so popular with you both. Alyssa, you have been musical since almost the day you were born. Even now, although you hardly talk, you try to sing with everything. You even sing your lullabyes at night time with mommy and daddy. You love to dance and sway to music too. Madison, if music is on, it gets your attention. Although you may not chose to sing along, your dancing skills are coming along great and you really enjoy swaying, bouncing and especially spinning.
The differences between the two of you seem unending and it is amazing to mommy and daddy how different two little girls can be. However as often as your
personalities collide with one another, there are those precious moments of sisterly affection that show us how close the two of you really are. From wrestling with each other on the floor, to chasing one another, playing ring around the
rosie, listening to your special "twin language", to those moments when one is crying and the other tries to comfort her or just simply joins in and cries right along with the upset sister. You both are so very precious to us and we love you endlessly. We cannot wait to see what the next year brings and to continue to see you become the amazing individuals you each are destined to be.
Our little babies some how became little girls, absolutely beautiful little girls ...
Love -
Mommy & Daddy
Today was the girls' big birthday party. We celebrated the day Sesame Street Style with family and friends. The girls were even fortunate enough to have Grandma B, Grandpa B, Granny B and Granny M all in attendance for the event! Here are the birthday girls in their birthday finest:
After the games and play time, we settled down to a dinner of cheese pizza, fruit kabobs on crazy straws and some juice.
After playing with the new kitchen for a while, it was off the kitchen to enjoy a 
Next we stopped by the funny picture stands and captured this beauty ... yeah well you try and get two 2-year-
After getting our pictures taken, we stopped and played a mini playground and then headed over to the corn pit. This was a big area full of kernels of field corn about 4 feet deep. You just put your kids in it and let them play! Alyssa didn't care for it much but Madison and Christian had lots of fun!
