London’s Turning Two

Halfway to Toledo on Friday, I realized London’s birthday party was this weekend, and her actual birthday is the following week. She didn’t get much time as our baby, before Adaline was born, but she has fallen into her role as the middle child so perfectly. 

Ready or not, here came London. How does that Shakespeare quote go? “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” That fits London to a T.

London loves in the hardest way possible. All or nothing. She adores Peyton, and is always right behind her, emulating every dance move, attempting to do somersaults, and into all the same toys. London still only refers to Adaline as “Addy Bug” and I hope she never stops. She races me to Addy Bug, and is always so quick to give her a blanket or toy. She lets me know the minute Adaline falls asleep, with the loudest SHHH ever.

London has a face that could get her anything she wants. She tilts her head down, giving herself the smallest (and cutest) double chin, and looks at you with those big, brown eyes, with the tiniest hint of a smile, like: you know you love me. I seriously have anxiety thinking about her as a teenager!!

Babies, dogs, ducks, and mermaids are her favorite things. I love the way she gently touches  her baby dolls and sweetly says, “beebee”. Peyton taught her to say “mermaid” after she got so sick of hearing London call her mermaid doll a “baboo”. London always says “no (long pause) thank you” whenever I offer her something she doesn’t want. She gives the best hugs, most have a running start. Her newest obsession is to lay on the floor with her arms out, while yelling, “fly” while pretending to be an airplane. Her “I don’t know” shrug was my absolute favorite, and it breaks my heart that she doesn’t do it as often anymore, and instead says, “dunno!”  Why do they grow up so fast?

I say grow, but let’s be honest, London is a peanut. She’s smaller than my friends’ one year old! Which is actually very convenient, since London would be content being carried around all day. When she’s in her stroller, she MUST have the sunshade down, regardless of where she is, most recently, inside the Art Museum in Toledo!  She is so shy when we are out and about, but such a chatterbox at home. I love both sides of her sweet personality.

Her favorite foods are: mac and cheese, pasta (with no sauce), cheese (in any and all shapes, colors, and forms), ketchup, pancakes (but only if they are really small and in perfect circles), and blueberries (but only outside, she won’t eat blueberries inside!). She knows what she wants, and won’t settle for less. Lord help whomever she falls in love with!!

London insists on wearing shoes 23 hours of the day, and only wants to wear socks if she has jammies on. She crinkles her nose and shuts her eyes hard when she smiles for pictures.  When her bowl of food is empty, she puts it around her mouth and bellows “more” so that it echoes back at her, and then she laughs and laughs.  London has the best dance moves, and if you ask her to wiggle, she’ll put on a show – our littler entertainer! She hates dirt. She even insists on cleaning the bottoms of her shoes with wet wipes. When she thinks she’s being funny, she tilts her head to the side (again with that cute double chin), and smiles and waits for you to look at her (see the raspberry photo below!)  These are the things I never want to forget. 

I hope she knows we love her just as much (and as hard) as she loves us!

Happy (almost) birthday, London Rose!