These are all from the ages of 20 months to just turned 2 years (she's pretty verbal, so I've written exactly as she speaks).
L to kindly passer by: "Hi Man."
Man: "Hi."
L: "These are my keys."
Man: "Are you going to drive home?"
L: "Yes. Bye, honey.... Mummy! Da man talk to ME!"
L to mummy: "Mummy, don't eat my cheek."
Mum: "Is that your cell phone, Lilia?"
L: "Yes. Lilly gave me."
Mum: For your birthday?"
L: "Yes.... [putting phone to ear] Hi Lilly!"
L: "Mummy, I scared truck. I scared, I scared."
[Mummy hugs L]
L: "Oh, I okay now. Bye truck. Truck all gone."
L: "I took [off] my cardigan, Granny. Was too heavy on my tummy."
Mum: "Look at the colors."
L: "Ooooooh. It's wonnerful, it's wonnerful."
L: [singing] "Ameeen. Ameeen. Happy birthday to you. Say Aaaaaaamen."
Grandad [on phone to Lilia]: "Have you been a good girl?"
L: "No. I been a naughty girl, Grandad. I been a naughty girl."
Me: "Lilia?"
L: "Yes, honey?"
L to Grace [who is crying]: "You okay, Grace? What hurt you?"
For Lilia's second birthday, we had a play group in the park. It was Veteran's Day--her official birthday--so there were older siblings and even some dads who could make it. 
Lilia and Grace had their first day at preschool last Friday. They both had backpacks and new school shoes... It was an open house when parents could come and meet the teachers. Lilia is only doing one morning per week. This is her first time attending school! She loved her new classroom! Grace loved hers, too, because there was a dress-up section.
Perfect for kids under 10. People have been telling me about it forever, and finally we went... There are tons of rides perfectly suited for toddlers and young kids! Lilia and Grace were is awe from the moment we arrived, to the time we left. I thought it was a beautifully designed amusement park, with landscaped gardens surrounding it, and Amish farmland as a back-drop. From the moment we arrived, we ran from ride to ride.
Granny & Grandad came with us, and stayed in our hotel room. This meant Jeff and I could escape for dinner in Lancaster, while Lilia slept. Somehow, we all had pretty good nights' sleep! Granny & Grandad helped look after Lilia while we took Grace on some of the big-girl rides... It was the perfect set up for such a trip; we could come and go freely depending on the kids' rising & falling energy levels, but we had just enough help to make it easy on the parents. :)
There was a princess story-time, which was a highlight for Grace. Lilia loved the bulldozer ride (surprise, surprise!). She screamed and cried when it was over, just to prove it!
The highlight for me, was seeing the girls get to ride real ponies. Grace loved this part and Lilia, too! Lilia especially has always loved horseys--her favorite song is "ney, ney, ney; hear the horse in the early morning." She sings it all day!
As we had a two-night hotel stay, we were able to spend time in Lancaster. It was beautiful. I really loved the beautifully tended to farmland and houses, and all the horse-drawn buggies. Grace got a new handmade teddy bear with her name on it. On the way back, we stopped in Gettysburg. We had the most awesome lunch in the Dobbin Tavern--a colonial restaurant lit only by candles. Food was great.
We kept it simple and rented a (rather large) bouncy castle. Favors were blow-up swords (for valiant knights) and crowns (for fair princesses). Kids came dressed up, and bounced away!
Grace's cake was a princess castle de
he got way too many presents, but her friends were all so sweet to get her such great gifts! She remembers who gave her each gift and talks about her friends all the time. Grace loved her party, and it took her a few days to calm down after all the excitement.
Yesterday, Grace was in her first ever ballet recital. She has been in ballet school at the Perfect Pointe for a year now, and she loves it! Here she is with one of her fellow dancers.
We invited the Drapers, the Rankins, and Grandparents Martin to come see the performance. Here is Carrie with Lilia. Lilia lasted about 20 minutes in the audience before having to be taken out!
