My Little Bit is TWO!

Happy Birthday, Little Bit!

You know, my goal as a mother from early on was to make sure that I treasured every single little moment. I did not want to look back one day with regrets. I didn't want to hear a little old lady tell me, "it's over in a blink of an eye" and worry that I was missing something. Although that was my goal, I still feel like these last two years FLEW by without me noticing. I was intentional with my moments where my children are concerned, yet despite my deepest efforts, here I am two years since Little Bit was born...shaking my head and wondering where the time went.

I think with your first born you are so excited to reach each and every milestone that you are looking ahead...not behind at phases that passed by you. I know that is the way I was with LaLa. Plus, as soon as LaLa passed this baby stage, I was so excited about what was just ahead...preschool, being able to be more independent, soccer, more talking, more active, etc.. I was pregnant when LaLa turned two. I think that helped too! I knew the "baby" world was still just around the corner. It is so odd to be excited over such a milestone, yet so sad when those milestones go by as well. Wow, what contradictory feelings!

Little Bit is so excited about her big party on Saturday. She is pointing at pictures of all her friends and family (hanging up on a board beside changing table) and asking, "they coming to my bertday?" She can also hold up two fingers when you ask her how old she is. However, she has to hold up one finger on each hand because she just hasn't grasped the concept of two fingers side by side on one hand! Regardless, it's cute!

LaLa has been a great big sister to Little Bit today. She woke her up by singing happy birthday! We spent the day as a family at Chuck-e-cheese, and the girls had a great deal of fun. I think they should hand prozac out to the parents when you leave. Needless to say, the grown ups are quite exhausted!

Can you guess what kind of party Little Bit is having!?:)

A Pirate Party...A special moment

This is my last post about LaLa's fourth birthday, a pirate party. I wanted to share two quick lessons that I will never forget as a mama.

The pirate party was a lot of fun. I would have to admit to my little girl that she had a great idea for a party. Something I never realized before I had kids, but you, as a parent, will spend most of your weekends shuttling from birthday party to party. It makes you really appreciate the guests that come to yours because it is a lot of work and time to make it to all these kid celebrations every weekend! Pirate was a theme that was fun and different from the norm. That statement describes not only the perfect pirate party but also my sweet, special, and unique little girl.

She is one of a kind! I can already see at the young age of three four that peers have influence over each other. My hope and prayer for her that she will stay true to her unique self and special spirit without being influenced by the "way" others assume she should be. Sometimes that uniqueness can drive me crazy as a mama, but I try to remind myself to value it rather than squelch it. LaLa put it best when I was trying to persuade her to a princess party, "Mama, my friends will love to be princesses, but I want to be the pirate and lead the crew. I'd like an eye patch and a peg leg." I pleaded to LaLa, "BUT don't you want to be a princess like everyone else?" LaLa replied, "No, mama. I'm a princess every day. Everyone is a princess at their party. I want to be something different, but if my friends want to be a princess, that's okay with me. I'm just going to be a pirate when I'm four. Maybe next year, we can do a princess party. We'll just have to see." EVEN the best mama couldn't argue with that statement... So, LaLa, you lead your crew and be whatever you want to be...for your birthday parties and in life!

Picture of Little Bit & her Daddy Gene. She wasn't feeling quite like her peppy self at the party. Ear infections, sore throat, and new teeth have a tough battle for Little Bit lately! She looked super cute as a little pirate though! She would not. absolutely. would not let me fix her hair! Oh, well, choose your battles!

Okay, now to my favorite, most precious birthday and mama moment ever!

We asked LaLa what her birthday wish was for her party. Did she want a character or a jumpy (thank goodness she said no)? She wanted her daddy to dress up like a pirate. Hee Hee. IF you know my husband, Robert is somewhat reserved. He can be crazy and rowdy, but he must be perfectly comfortable in the situation first. It was sort of the family joke that Robert was going to dress up for her party because no one (and I mean no one) thought he would ever dress up. Bless his heart. He found a pirate costume (from my brother....hmmm...odd, huh?) and spent the night before the party planning his costume. Just as people were starting to arrive, he came down the stairs all dressed up as a pirate.

Robert coming down the stairs in his pirate costume for the birthday party!

LaLa's facial expressions were priceless. It melted my heart. She looked up at her daddy and said (as she smiled and hugged her daddy), "Daddy, you tricked me. You did dress up like a pirate to make my birthday special."

Took this picture as she looked up and saw daddy as her pirate.

Later, that night as I put her bed, I asked her what her favorite part of her birthday was....after toys, toys, toys, cake, ice cream, food, friends, games and all...do you know what she said?

"Daddy dressing up for my party was my favorite part of being four. Daddy is my prince, mommy." I don't think I have ever loved my husband more than at that moment! It reminds me of this plaque I saw once at a craft festival,

"I found my prince, and his name is Daddy."

Better later than never...going to share Easter pictures on the next posts! Then, (hopefully!) I can share the reason(s) why our life has been so extra crazy lately!

An American Girl Day with the Big Girls!

My sweet baby is four. FOUR. Four. Yes, four. Maybe if I keep saying it, it will click in my mind. I somewhat want to cry because she is my sweet baby...not a four year old! Part of me is so excited that she is four! I'm thirty...and my baby is four. Man, I need Prozac, seriously. My brain cannot wrap around those concepts.

Anyway, my mom (Mimi) started the tradition of taking LaLa to American Girl (AG) for her birthday last year. LaLa got the bitty baby and the bed...this baby is known as Lily in our house. Now my hubby insisted that no doll was worth that amount of money, and that they wouldn't know the difference between a dollar store baby and an AG baby. Well, they do...even Little Bit. She loves the dollar babies too, but Lily is the only baby in our house that is consistently played with. She even has a name...and clothes on half of the time!

Of course, I am not sure my mom knew what a monster she was creating in starting this tradition because my LaLa is in love with all things AG. They send this catalog regularly (smart people, huh). It is addressed to her and very kid-friendly. You look at it and just FEEL like your AG baby needs it ALL! I'm an adult, and I look at that dang catalog and feel pity for poor Lily that she doesn't have the latest high chair or bunk bed set or new spring outfit! We have, however, kept it a bday tradition only...fortunately!

On the first trip, we braced ourselves for the long drive and had no idea what we were in store for! My mom and I felt like kids again. We took both of my girls, and it was a blast. If you haven't been, go! The experience is worth it! You don't have to buy a thing, but you will. They do have babies to loan for the bistro experience. They have this little bistro, and your little girl will be treated like a mommy, a princess, and a mini little lady!

This year, my BIG four year old, daughter wanted to take her 'bestestestestests' friend. She insisted that this was not a day for BABIES...like it was a bad word or something. Poor, Little Bit! When she turns three, she will get her turn though! So, my friend, Brooke, and I traded children. I took her oldest (LG which is 5 months younger than LaLa) and LaLa. She had my Little Bit and her little one (5 months older than Little Bit). We couldn't have planned our babies any better! Their ages work out great! Once again, a year later...right before LaLa's fourth birthday, my mom, LG, LaLa, and I head up to AG store and bistro. It was a great day full of memories that both girls talk about all the time! My mom lets LaLa choose her birthday gift and treats her to a girls' lunch!

Of course, we had to get them matching little outfits and bows. The little girls get all "cutified" at the bistro. Your doll can get her ears pierced or hair fixed too. I'm serious!

Right before we left, I snapped a quick shot of the girls posing and displaying all of their loot!

LaLa chose the twin bitty babies and the double stroller for her present. She thought for days...and days....on a name. She wanted them to rhyme. She makes everything rhyme right now...it makes me laugh when they happen to be a "non-repeatable" word. It starts out, "mommy, what rhymes with duck?" This is usually motivated by the ducks and geese around our lake. Anyway, back to the twins. She came up with three options...Charlotte (she wanted one to look like her with her name) and Scarlett, and Harlot...guess which two I persuaded her to stick with? So, Scarlett and Charlotte enjoyed their birthday crowns while LaLa ordered to the waitress off their mini menus for her babies. See the cute little highchairs they provide?! They also talk to the babies and serve them real food. LaLa and LG both explained to the waitress that their babies had allergies...french fries and peanuts. Oh, the things they learn at preschool!

Surprise! They brought out cake, ice cream, a special, secret surprise from Mimi and Gumpy (grandparents) and goody bags! LG and her baby Kristen are so excited about the cake! Oh, four candles!

I'm so glad that my sweet baby is so excited. Her mimi (which my family calls mafia mama because she has secret mysterious powers and we're all a little scared of all five feet of her!) somehow found SUGAR. SUGAR is that little fur ball of a dog that LaLa is holding. It has been backordered since the day it became available on AG. I have looked on ebay and everywhere for that little thing. They secretly brought out the unexpected gift during the cake. It was 20 dollars. I could have bought a real dog for that! Then, you have to buy the dog's accessories seperately. Yeah, that part is a scam. I'm telling you though...AG is addictive. I emphasize to you though...I didn't buy it. The dolls, yes. They are totally worth it. The bistro, yes. The fur ball yorkie...not so much! My mom will tell you, though...LaLa was ecstatic. That smile stayed for days and days. That dog is still treated like a real dog...so maybe it was worth it...maybe. I just don't get the attraction!

So, Sugar, Scarlett (she wanted two t's like her name) and baby Charlotte all joined our family! Those are some Southern names!

You may look at this picture and say, "That looks like trouble! 2 girls in a mall with strollers." Well, you'd be right!

People, please watch your ankles and be ready to jump out of the way FAST. On the elevator up, LG announced to a very crowded elevator that her baby had a stinky diaper. She asked random people if they smelled that poopy baby! Fortunately, people (even the hit and run victims) oohed and aahed over their cuteness. LaLa and LG thought they were big stuff and acted as such the entire stroll.

Of course, we  have to visit the merry go round.

A fairy tale day for two sweet little ladies!

Just have to show this one...one more time!

This was right by the door on our way out to the car.

Sweet girls!