CIMG5837 S feeds E cake on her 2nd birthday

It may be hard to believe, but E had to be coaxed into eating tiramisu cake! She picked at it and left most of it alone. Smoked salmon, on the other hand... E polished off half a package of it!

CIMG5841 E rushes to see her picture

As a way of a birthday celebration, we dressed up E in a pretty dress someone gave us years ago, and took pictures of her. She likes to view pictures of herself, but doesn't get that you have to pose before you can see a picture of yourself. :-)

CIMG5854 A pretty dress needs matching shoes.

Dressed up in a birthday dress, E demonstrates her iconoclastic taste by matching it with my shower slippers.

CIMG5941 E in S's Lap

E watches a movie in S's lap

003_0A 2 years 2 months: E pushes a toy stroller with a "baby"

near grandma's home in New Jersey on July 4th weekend. July 2007.

004_1A 2 years 2 months: E in grandma's living room

in New Jersey on July 4th weekend. July 2007

007_4A Grandma dries E's hair

at grandma's home in New Jersey on July 4th weekend. July 2007.

008_5A S dries E's hair

at grandma's home in New Jersey. July 2007.

013_10A E and a lion

in a small zoo near grandma's home in New Jersey. July 2007.

015_12A E on the beach

in New Jersey. She doesn't speak softly, but carries a big stick. :-)

016_13A E on the beach

in New Jersey.

024_21A E with grandma

near grandma's house in New Jersey

CIMG6759 E "sleeps" on stairs

2 years 3 months: E plays "going to sleep". "Mama do the blanket!" she says (meaning I should put a blanket on her). About two seconds after I put the blanket on her, she sits up: "Wake up!"

CIMG7079 E makes a "proboscis"

... because she knows I find it funny. The first time she made this grimace spontaneously, it made me laugh, and since then she won't let five minutes pass without making it again. August 2007

CIMG7494 E shackled to a balloon

... waiting to play a "pop a balloon" game at the picnic organized by the day care center she goes to. You tie a balloon to your ankle, and try to step on other people's balloons while protecting your own. E didn't really enjoy it. October 2007

CIMG7498 E and me in a 3-legged race

As if having a balloon tied to an ankle wasn't bad enough, E was then shackled to me for the 3-legged race. We finished next to last, but nonetheless she (along with everyone else) was given a medal. She was so happy with that medal afterwards!

CIMG7511 E gives me an evil eye: don't dare to touch my cake!

2 years 5 months: a blue-blooded, or rather blue-lipped vampire at the picnic organized by her day care center.