OOOOh my little firecracker…my sweet, daring, stubborn, hilarious, outgoing, fearless, punk-ass, Tica-americana firecracker. FELIZ CUMPLE MI AMOR! Dos anos?!? Como es esto posible?!!

I am so blessed to be given the gift of being your mother. You are simply incredible. While I may not have as many posts detailing your milestones as I did with Sophie, know that I am living each milestone with you everyday and thoroughly enjoying watching you grow (though wouldn’t mind slowing it all down a bit).

You are loved by so many around you and you bring love wherever you go. Your smile lights up the world. Your laugh can set it on fire. You are truly a magical, glowing bundle of happiness with just the right touch of spunk and straight up sass.

At the wee age of 2, you can play countless jokes on all of us, put on a serious game face, count higher than 10, pick out colors, speak so many words and phrases that it would be impossible to list (impossible b/c I have about 15 minutes until you wake up), eat enough assortment of food to keep things easy, make all your pee pees on the potty, wear big girl underwear (or free booty most of the day), pick out your own clothes, shoes and hair accessories (this gets quite annoying each morning but I’m proud of your little opinion nonetheless), play numerous games with your sissy, paint and color everywhere except on paper, snuggle with nearly every animal you meet (even little stinky charles), say hello, thank you and bye in two languages, wave to everyone you see, and have a bold opinion on everything you do. You also love to practice the art of diversion when it comes to apologizing or being asked to do something you don’t want to do. For example, the conversations usually go something like this:

Momma or dada: Sabs say sorry to sissy

Sabs: bird

Momma or dada: say sorry to sissy

Sabs: want buba

Momma or dada: say sorry to sissy

Sabs: wanna show, wanna come, wanna see

Momma or dada: Say sorry to sissy

Sabs: dog

Momma or dada: Come on we’re going in time out

Sabs: You so mean (being dragged into time out)

Momma or dada: Ok are you ready to say sorry to sissy

Sabs: owwwww (nothing hurts)

Momma or dada: Sabs last time, say sorry to sissy

Sabs: hands sissy a toy

Momma or dada: No Sabs, you need to say sorry.

Sabs: Look sissy (points at something irrelevant)

Momma or dada: Sabs she doesnt want a toy, she wants you to say sorry

Sabs: Look sissy (pointing at same irrelevant object)

Momma or dada: ok we’re going in time out again

Sabs: nooo (being dragged into time out again)

Momma or dada: Are you ready to say sorry to sissy

Sabs: (crickets)

Momma or dada: (open the door from time out and point to sissy) Say sorry Savannah (usually we have escalated into Savannah by this point)

Sabs: (15 minutes later) I sorry.

Repeat in another hour.

So yes, you are the most stubborn little acorn i have ever met, but oooh you have such a charisma about it that it is really difficult to stay serious and keep our composure during these lessons. This will both get you far, and drive people mad throughout your life. I think you get it from your dada, he thinks you get it from your momma. Sophie has it too but uses it differently. Actually as I’m writing it, i think i’ve realized, you display your stubbornness in the same way I do, and Sophie displays it more like Dada. She is more hmm, how do you put it…crafty about her stubbornness. She will get what she wants and not waver but be patient about it, you and I let it out right then and there with the big fat No. So maybe Dada is right, though clearly it isn’t black and white. Anyway, I digress and will have this debate with Dada later as I seem to be having a revelation of sorts. Back to the birthday girl.

You are putting so many sentences together now that each day we find new phrases you have learned. Your favorites usually start with I WANT. I want that one, i want up, i want buba, i want shoe, i want dress, etc. You also say the sweetest little I love you, and blow the most beautiful little kisses. You give super tight hugs and love to snuggle.

You adore your sissy like no other. The bond you two have is magical and it fills my heart each day. Yes you argue, mainly b/c you are a little bull, though I’ve caught sissy instigating in the recent days (i think she has finally started to pay you back now that you are getting bigger and can take it). Again, you are straight out aggressive, and she comes around the back door hovering her hand over a toy of yours while no one is looking, or dangling something of yours in the distance just to get a rise out of you. That’s what sissies are for. In the same hand, the minute Pooks goes to art class you start with Where sissy, want sissy, where sissy, want sissy, and the minute you go for a nap, Pooks can’t wait til you wake up to play. You two are partners in crime and I only hope you continue to be throughout life. Everyone comments on the love you have for one another. You are constantly hugging, holding hands, watching out for each other, playing together, calling for one another, helping one another, etc. It is truly beautiful.

Well, I have gotten more time out of you this morning than I had intended. You are still sleeping and I’m def running on borrowed time so I’ll be wrapping this up. This is the first time in maybe a month that i have been able to drink a full cup of coffee before you greet me in the morning. Ah, here you are, im psychic! Ok 1/2 hour later, you are eating a chocolate chip cookie Dada baked last night (nutritious morning snack) and watching your favorite nursery rhymes. Which brings me to note that you love singing, dancing, babies, animals, painting, helping me bake, sitting on all counter tops, climbing, oh and how can i forget…going weeeeee (down slides at the playground). When you get excited you pant like a doggie. Oh and you absolutely love horses, which you call HORSEY!! You will also hold frogs and lizards…something that freaks your sissy out so you will run around holding a bob and chasing her. Dada taught you that and is always the one to hand you bob.

Your favorite songs are Wheels on the bus, Family fingers, Johnny Johnny yes papa, basically anything CHU CHU tv related on the ipad. You love Shrek. You are currently sitting next to me singing Mary had a little lamb. Now it is done and you yelled BRAVO. Oooooh i love you. Now you just said I want pee pee. You little potty training pro. You decided you were going to potty train and we have been following your lead. You pretty much got this thing down.

One last thing to note…you only want to wear clothes with cats on them or clothes that are 3 sizes too big (b/c they are your sissies). I bought you the same dresses as her thinking you would wear those b/c they are the same, but you still want to wear hers. Good thing you live in a place where you can run naked most of the day or you would drive me wild.

Anyway, there is it, your 2 year round up. I keep thinking of all these things to note but this post would just get ridiculously long (if it isnt already). Happy Birthday my precious peanut. We love you more than you can ever imagine and will continue spending the rest of our days trying to show this to you. Shine bright, continue being you and carrying that loving joy everywhere you go. Thank you for being my daughter. XOXOXOXO

Well technically we got home 2 weeks ago, but naturally I am just catching up! Here are some photos from around the house since we’ve returned 🙂

On the way home from San Jose Pookie made some very important transactions. She paid the tolls with her very own money and actually purchased her own water bottle on the ferry in spanish!! Yes, it was her very first solo transaction all in spanish and she wasn’t intimidated in the least bit. She came back with a grin ear to ear and begging to do it all over again. So proud (as usual) of her little fearless, loving self.

There she is on the ferry heading back after her big purchase 🙂

So we woke up and decided we were going to go to the Parque Divertido (which is an amusement park we heard about in San Jose). Pooks was super excited (since we just got done telling her all about the rides the night before), we drove there, pulled into park, and found out they were closed! They only open on the weekends when school is in session. Major parent fail! Thankfully it was redeemed by some quick thinking and lot of hyping. A quick u-turn and off to the Children’s museum we went!

We came here 2 years ago when Sabs was in my belly and Pooks was just a wee bit. We didnt make it very far inside b/c Pooks was devastated that they put a stamp on her hand and just couldnt get her little 3 year old self over it. It was crowded with field trips and she was not having any of it, so we left after about 45 minutes. We couldn’t understand what all the hype was about b/c the museum seemed crowded and dingy and the area it was in was pretty ick looking. Fast forward 2 years and here we are at the most incredible Children’s museum i have ever been to. Yes, it kicks San Francisco’s butt, NY’s little hiney, and Italy too! Wow, we really didn’t know how huge this place was and what was a 45 minute trip last time, was over 3 hours this time around!

The museum is massive, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, it was insanely diverse with space,science, health, nature, exhibits, etc. It was both indoor and outdoor. It had huge pint size supermarket where the kids are given money and sent off with a shopping list to do their very own food shopping. They then checked the kids out with the money and sent them back to put all their groceries away. In Italy they had a similar exhibit except it was all ripped apart from kids running through and not putting things away and was maybe 1/4 of the size. Here the kids we taught to put their things away which was great for keeping it all organized and also teaching the children respect and manners. It was literally spotless. Sophie could have spent all day food shopping.

They had an illusion room where we were brought inside in a small group and the whole little house was lopsided. This was another Pooks favorite. They had a real plane, helicopter, train, and bus that kids could explore both inside and out. They had a playground, dinosaur exhibit, toy room, coloring/building station, and a pint size kid town with a real little police station, school, fire station, etc. that was full of costumes for the kids to try on and play pretend. Ah, this place was seriously A M A Z I N G! I still can’t believe we had no clue how huge this museum was the last time we were there. Shows how much a toddler tantrum can skew things, also guessing a mega preggo belly didn’t help the situation last time around. This time it wasnt overly crowded and all the kids were super sweet and respectful of one another. Oh, and it was $12.00. TOTAL. $12.00! Anyway, on to the pics!

The inside portion is a bit dark for photos so some are a little blurry but I just love Sabs face in the pics below. She was so amazed by the coin drop. I think we did it about 6-7 times.

Controlling the rocket ship into space

Digging up fossils and learning about diff cultures

Preparing and eating some food in the little interactive kitchen (complete with fridge of food, stove, drawers of utensils, pots/pans, etc.).

Inspecting sea creatures

Interactive health station

Milkin the cow!

Fun and art zone!

Flying a plane

House of illusions!

Playground time

Food shopping fun

Kiddie town

Ah, it always feels good to be back on our ole stomping grounds. Everyone was still battling the dreadful cold (aside from Will) but we were all ready to get out in the CR sun. We chowed at our favorite hotel breakfast, did our traditional work out room play and scale weigh ins, picked up our usual starbucks, then headed out for some fun house playtime. We wrapped up the day with some yummy gelato and a run around the park.The girls made buddies everywhere we went. Ooooh how i love them so.

We wrapped up our fun NY adventure with some Chipotle for lunch and mailing out all our returns. The journey back to CR was perfect. The girls napped a bit on the plane. Pooks got her little “yellow sparkly water” (ginger ale) which is her special plane drink. Everyone was perfect.

Our hotel in Atlanta was super comfy, and we all watched this obstacle course competition while eating unusually delicious hotel food. The girls were both cheering on the competitors and it was just so much fun! It is rare to have the entire family engaged in show so we soaked it all up. It was prob around 8pm or so when we got to the hotel and we had to leave early the next morning for our flight to CR so we literally just hung out in the room, ate and slept. Flight to CR was on time an girls were fantastic!

We had one little slip up which thankfully ended fine. Momma was walking behind carrying Sabs and a bag. Dada was in front with the rest of the carry-ons, and Pooks was skipping in the middle of us down the airport hallway. We were heading to baggage claim in train style with Dada conducting and Mama caboosing. Sabs decided she wanted to skip with Pooks so i plopped her down and off the went in between dada and momma. They turned the corner and i was lagging slightly behind them. All of a sudden i hear a little voice yelling “No Sabs, NO!!!”. I picked up my pace and wrapped around the corner. Dada turned around at the same time. Pooks was on the top of a staircase shouting for Sabs, Dada was on the bottom step of an escalator going down and there was little ole  Sabs hanging on for dear life on the middle of the moving escalator. Naturally I bolted down the moving stairs and swooped her up. She was perfectly fine but whew that was a close one. Literally as soon as they turned the corner there was an escalator. Dada figured i was watching the girls b/c he was in front (which i should have been but i was a bit out of sorts with the cold and just lil slow moving literally 3 seconds behind them). Good ole Pooks saved the day screaming from the stop of the staircase for Sabsy. So indicative of their personalities…Pooks sees an escalator and waits for me, Sabs hops right on.

Anyway, aside from the escalator mishap, all travels were fun and uneventful. We landed in Liberia and the airport was easy and quiet as always. The girls ran around like little nutballs, and Pooks helped the man roll our luggage out. We rented a car and drove to San Jose (about 3.5 hours) to spend a few nights in the city. We stopped at our Pop’s ice cream shop (a little tradition along the ride), and when we arrived at the hotel, Lisette, (the reservations manager who always takes care of our family), was waiting with two bags filled with candy and toys for the girls. Ah, home again, home again. This hotel is literally a second home to our little peanuts. The know everyone and run right in claiming their stomping grounds. Next up, some SJ fun!!!!