Happy Birthday Ariana!

My dearest baby girl,

It was such an honor to celebrate your second birthday with you. You were a joy all day long. You started out this morning by taking Corbin and his friends to a paintball clinic and stopping at Starbucks for the traditional juice and blueberry cake with Daddy and Aidan. When you got home, I changed your clothes and we were off to Build A Bear. You loved the pink bear we got for you in Russia so much that the buttons with our voices stopped working before daddy and I got back for court. So, we thought it would be fun to build a new stuffed animal with you and put a fresh recording of our voices inside. You picked out a pink leopard and Aidan picked a brown bear. You picked a heart to go inside the cat, gave it a kiss and then helped the lady put fluff inside. Once you and A both were ready, we went to the brushing station and then we were off to buy some clothes for your new friend. You picked Cinderella slippers and a white dress. Aidan picked a Spider man costume. I think you liked his better when you saw the mask go on. After Build A Bear, we stopped at the play area for a bit of running around. Then we went to have lunch at the food court. I was worried about your clothes so I ran to Gymboree and found leggings with birthday cakes on them!! Perfect. After lunch we headed home for a nap. When you woke up you played with Aidan and the kitchen set Nana and Papa sent you both for your birthdays. Aidan demanded balloons for the celebration, so after Daddy brought Corbin home, we went to Publix to get some balloons. Once we got home, we sang happy birthday to both you and Aidan (you each had a cake) and you blew out your candles (with some daddy help). You had fun getting cake all over you as you ate it. You liked it so much you had 2 slices! Then we cleaned everyone up and went to open presents. I am sure that was the first time you ever opened a present. You got the hang of it quickly and had lots of fun discovering all the new toys. Your favorite toys were foam blocks to stack. You can make a very tall tower.

After presents daddy went to check the mail and brought in a wonderful gift from the government! It was your certificate of citizenship!!!! Now we can go get your passport and Social security card.

Going to bed was tough tonight. You were wound up from the sugar and all the excitement. You actually scaled the side of the crib to get out! I had to take the pillows and animals out to make sure you were safe, and couldn't get so high that you accidentally fell. I tried to lay in bed with you, thinking "maybe we need a big girl bed"... ok...... NO. No, big girl bed yet. First of all you kept sticking your fingers up my nose, in my mouth and into my eyes... then, when I wasn't going to play, you just headed right down and out of that bed. That was actually when I removed all the items from your crib you could stand on, and put you right back into it. You were mad, but you were safe. I am still sitting here next to you to make sure you are sound asleep.

I wish I had been with you for your first two birthdays. I am sure you were a beautiful newborn. And, I know you were such a sweet and lovely First Birthday Princess.

You have been such a gift to our family. We look forward to watching you grow up as we celebrate many more birthdays with you in the years ahead.

I love you, Ariana!

Mommy

Side note: Yes, we also celebrated Aidan's July 25th birthday today. Corbin and Collin were at camp during A's bday and we promised all of them we would have a celebration after they got home. Well, as soon as they returned, mommy and daddy had to get on a plane for court in Moscow, so we missed out on our family celebration for Aidan (we did have an Aidan/mommy/daddy party on his actual bday). When I got home, I knew Aidan was going to be jealous on your birthday. Instead of letting his jealousy and hurt feelings ruin the special day, we combined his need for a party with his brothers, with our need to celebrate the wonderful you. It turned out to be the perfect solution. He was proud and thrilled and worked hard to help you understand that you should be happy and excited too. It couldn't have gone any better for either of you. The pressure was off you, which I think would have really overwhelmed you. And you had a role model to follow. Aidan was happy to finally get the party we promised. Next year when you turn 3, we will have a special day just for you.