Happy 2nd birthday, Maya

Cas and I arrived home the night of Maya's 2nd birthday from a week in Costa Rica, and we had time to sing her happy birthday and put her to bed.  But the following Saturday, we had a party for her.  First we had to stock up at Target - 

Then balloons and ice at HEB -

And then party time.  We had a pool party, and in typical two-year-old fashion, Maya didn't get into the pool until everyone else was getting out for dinner and cupcakes.  

I had asked my dad to serve as lifeguard, and he took his job VERY seriously.  But since the kids out-numbered the adults, we were thankful he was vigilant.  

Maya never left the top step, but was exuberant with her kicking and splashing -

Back inside, trying out her new car.  She's a big fan, calling it "Maya's car" all day long.  

Birthday cupcake - where she, Collin, and many of their friends only ate the icing.  

Sugar-filled mouths -

Maya continues to delight our family.  She's nurturing, mischievous, silly, opinionated, smart, and loving.  At two years, here is what she is into:

• She loves babies - both real ones and dolls.  She cannot go to bed without one and normally three dolls, and she knows she can take Eric, Collin's doll, at naptime but not bedtime.  
• She loves to sing, and also loves to take selfie videos singing.  For the last 2 months, she's been stuck on "Happy Birthday."  
• She loves to color and chalk - much more than Collin did at this age.  
• Like her brother, she loves to read.  She reads to herself, reciting phrases off commonly read books.  And she loves to cuddle up and read throughout the day and before she goes to bed.  
• She loves raisins (upon waking, she says, "good morning mama.  raisin?  two?"), milk, eggs and onions, pasta, snack food, and chocolate.  She'd rather sit in my lap and eat off of my plate, despite the fact that the exact same food is cut up in toddler-sized bites on her plate.  
• Most of all, she loves her brother, dogs and family.  When Collin woke up the other morning, she squealed with delight and danced in the living room.  This afternoon at a park, Collin bumped his head, and Maya immediately climbed up the playscape to him to give him a hug.  

We are so, so thankful God graced us with this wonderful girl as our daughter!