Party Girl

Ally turned 2 yesterday. How is our baby 2?!!! The day started out rough when I left her screaming at home while I took Keith (and Cole) to the doctor. I had Jenny and Katie help her open a present early to help ease her pain. I heard it worked.
Keith is doing great, by the way. His blood counts are higher than they've been in several months! He needed an IV antibiotic since he had a fever but it's come down, so they gave him 2 weeks off until he's admitted for chemo again. Yay! Keith was also very excited about having Cole with him. He had almost no anxiety over the visit which is rare. Looks like Cole will keep on coming to appointments as much as possible. Yikes...
Anyway, by the time we got home, Ally was asleep so I didn't really see her until the afternoon but we partied hard to make up for it. There is no shortage of love in this girl's life. With that face, though, how could it be any other way?

 Keith and especially Cole were extremely "helpful" in opening presents. I'm honestly not sure if Ally opened one present but she really didn't care. She was just enjoying the chaos with her brothers.

Keith, Cole and Ally decorated foam cupcakes with their names. That's about as crafty as I get. Open up a pre-set package and put on the stickers. I might have given myself a pat on the back for it, too.

The timing of Ally's arrival in our lives has turned out to be such a blessing. We don't know what we would do without a playmate for Cole when Keith is in the hospital or gone for appointments and really just unable to run and play as usual for the time being. Cole has never known solitude and it just is right that Ally came so close on the heels of the boys. We never would have planned it that way. Never. But isn't it crazy and often amazing how some things work out better than if we'd planned it ourselves? Good thing someone else is in charge, right?
Ally is playful, coordinated, independent, cautious and opinionated. She is extremely perceptive of the needs of others. If we're going outside, she gets EVERYONE's shoes and brings them to each person. She knows which shoes belong to whom. If you are speaking to someone and you mention that you need something, she will go get it for you. If Keith is scooting across the room, she gets on her little bum and scoots, too. If Cole is climbing or yelling or singing or coloring. So is she. She LOVES her brothers. She lives for when they are awake and ready to play with her. Our lives just wouldn't be the same without her.
With the exception of having some separation anxiety, she has ridden the waves of change the last 6 months incredibly well. How grateful we are for that.
Here's to a happy 2 year old!