Alyse Turns 2

So, since Alyse's birthday is in the winter, it is difficult to find somewhere where we can fit a lot of people without going outside. For this year, since Alyse is a little bit older, we decided to have it at Lollipop Park, a kiddie park with rides and tables people can reserve. Since we decided to have it there, we went with a lollipop theme. I made brightly colored cupcakes, lollipop sugar cookies (with sticks in them so they looked like lollipops), and had brightly colored plates. Each kid got their own wristband so they could go on unlimited rides. Alyse loved the rides! This was really her first experience with rides, other than when we went to Disneyland when she was one, and she loved every minute. She wanted to go on rides over and over again.

This is Alyse with Aunt Kathleen as everyone was arriving. She was so excited to go on the rides while she waited.

Here is Alyse on the train with her friends, Ed and Joe. She loved the train and went on it multiple times. She couldn't get enough. :)

Alyse and Aunt Patricia on the carousel. This was another one of Alyse's favorites. Every time she sees a carousel now she wants to go on it; I think because of her first experience of the carousel here at Lollipop Park.

Alyse just having fun. She was such a ham for the camera. We had the party start a little later in the afternoon so Alyse could get in a nap, but she didn't get as long a nap as I would have liked. So it was great that she was so happy the whole time. She didn't get grumpy about anything.

Here is Alyse and Aunt Patricia riding on the ferris wheel. This was the one ride where we weren't sure how she felt. Patricia said she was very scared to smile, but said she was having fun when Patricia asked. There were no tears, so we will assume that she was loving every minute.

New Year's

So, unlike Christmas where we wanted Alyse to experience everything, for New Year's Ben and I decided that we wouldn't have Alyse stay up until midnight, since she is still too young. However, she had other ideas. 


We went over to my parents' house for New Year's, and when it was time for Alyse to go to bed, we laid her down in the pack n' play and she went to sleep. 


All was well, right? Wrong. Alyse had other ideas. She woke up at 11:45, wide-eyed and ready for the night. We tried laying her back down, but to no avail. Since we were going to leave soon anyway, we just decided to keep her up. So Alyse helped us ring in the new year of 2012.


Below are photos of the night:


Pre-Bedtime
Honestly, we weren't sure what Alyse was doing. She laid down on the floor and started scooting around on her back. Whatever the reason, she had fun doing it.

Video of the scooting:

Waking Up

Alyse was a little groggy, but pretty much wide awake since she refused to go back to sleep. She made sure she had her baby with her, because she can't go anywhere without her. :)

Me and Patricia

Ben and I took advantage of the late night wake up and took a family photo on New Year's Eve. Clearly Alyse is interested in other things, like what Nonna is up to. Kathleen was gone at a wedding, so we took pictures with the family that was there. I'm honestly not sure where Papa/my dad was during this time, but for some reason we don't have pictures with him.

My mom and Patricia

Mommy, Patricia and Me

Nonna/Mommy, Alyse, Patricia, and Me

The night ended with Alyse watching the ball drop with Nonna and Aunt Patricia. She was clearly still tired since she is holding on to Nonna's hand, but she was happy to be with all of us. Who knows, maybe she got scared when she woke up in a strange place late at night. At least we got to spend some more time with her.

New Year's Day
While Alyse wasn't up for much of the festivities at night, on New Year's Day night she wore the Happy New Year hats and blew the noisemakers. Although at first she was confused with how they worked. 

Alyse and Aunt Patricia

Alyse and Aunt Kathleen

By the time she got to sit with me, she wouldn't smile anymore. She just wanted down. Needless to say, we took this picture quickly and then dismissed the idea of Alyse taking a picture with Ben when clearly she was no longer in the mood for pictures. At least she enjoyed taking pictures with her Aunts. New Year's was a fun holiday with Alyse, watching her take it all in.