Car Date

Back in my early high school days, I pitched a particularly mean fit when I was told by my daddy that I was not allowed to car date--that is, go on a date alone, in a car, with a BOY, until I was 16. Being just barely 15, and wanting to be particularly independent, AND of course wanting to spend time with a certain boy who IS NOW Bub the hub (so THERE daddy), I got really, really mad.

And the tears flowed freely, and the tantrum was lengthy, and of course no matter what I yelled, I had to wait longer than I would have like to go on car dates. Avery's grandaddy still likes to remind me of it, like constantly, because he found the intensity of my tantrum hilarious. WELL, I swore right then and there that I would let MY daughter car date if SHE had a serious boyfriend that was older because I was going to be the best parent EVER. ha.

So now that I am a parent, and understand certain things, my children are not going to date until they are 25. But I will, in certain circumstances, make exceptions. And I did just the other day, when sweet Charlie from across the street wanted to take Avery on a car date. I think it was a good decision.

My Birthday Girl

What a wild ride these past two years have been. I'm not gonna lie, it's been about a thousand times harder than we ever imagined. From the first moment we found out that we were going to have a lil'bub, our hearts were bursting with so much love and happiness. I keenly remember the moment I heard her and the second I saw her for the first time, that I was just completely overwhelmed with love. But I think that I am ready to admit that day and the following week was one of the hardest and worst of my life. Not because of her. It was because instead of getting to hold her in my arms, bond with her, nurse her and share her with friends and family, she started having seizures. And so they sent her away to a different hospital for tests, terrifying us all, and leaving me to recover from a C-section in a maternity ward, with no baby. Believe me, it was beyooond traumatizing.

When I finally did make it over to see her, and hold her in my arms, it was absolutely amazing. But I don't have those photos that typical moms have, with ear-to-ear grins, and healthy pink babies peeking from behind swaddled blankets.

In the photos I have, anyone can read the seriousness on my face. I can see the adoration and instant love too, but I also see all the uncertainty and fear. It would be another day or so before the doctors announced their findings. The things they told us were devastating... moments that still haunt me at night. But nothing they initially said prepared us for the later news that our week old baby would need major brain surgery-- or else she wasn't going to make it. Such a shocking statement. SO even though we had to sign the papers for them to operate, it wasn't really a choice. There were no other options. And so we walked blindly into this impossible situation, desperately clinging to the hope that she would hang on, get better, and in the best possible world that she would celebrate all the birthdays that she should.

I guess that was sort of the long way of explaining that our greatest hopes and dreams are fulfilled when lil'bub celebrates a birthday. Like they were on Saturday, when we had a fantastic farm animal party for our now TWO year old, who still improves every single day. She was not overwhelmed by all the people, as we had expected, but bounced and smiled and giggled and charmed her guests, like a true birthday girl should. Here is a PARADE of photos...

first thing birthday morning

she spots the birthday balloons!

our welcoming wreath

my little piggy (and the photo on the wreath)

I got crafty and made her a birthday banner

then I got even craftier and made a fun centerpiece

family photo :)

farm food table!

little party animals

more cute little party animals...and
me making a weird face

daddy birthday kisses

about to cut the cake

close-up of cutest cake EVER!!!

enjoying the cake

Aunt Mindy and Mary Kate liked the cake too

opened tons of fun presents

Avery and Nana matched!

playing with new toys of course :)
she really loves her new walkin, talkin kitty

standing birthday girl

Whew! That was a lot of photos. She really can't help being so photogenic can she? Perhaps it has something to do with the millions of photos we take. OK, that's all for now folks :)

So It Begins

The birthday festivities have officially begun! My almost-two-year-old had a party at school today. I'm still busy getting ready for our party tomorrow. Farm animal EVERYTHING! I am having dreams about farm animals too. No seriously. I am.

This is lil'bub this morning...I think she knew something was up because I kept shouting, "school birthday party day!!" But you'll have to excuse my high excitement because I had a summer birthday and never got the school parties (I know--pity party right?). I am therefore psyched that she will get them!!

The teachers made her a cute sign

I brought flower cupcakes...TONS of icing

Requisite cupcake face

Her teachers got lil'bub an awesome farm toy!

She really enjoys the birthday singing

The pretty birthday girl :)

Almost Two

My baby is almost two! It just hasn't quite sunk in yet. I finally started planning the party the other day. We've had so much going on lately that Bub the hub and I decided it would be best to just do a family party this year. Last year we had two big parties, one for friends and one for family. It was TONS of fun but also TONS of work. And booooooy was munchkin spoiled!

When it came to a picking a theme, I didn't have to look far. The girl loves two things right now: Mickey Mouse and Old MacDonald. Hard to decide right? Well, I think I made the right decision: Kid-party planning is pretty fun, I gotta say. I hope Avery handles the crowd this year a little better than last year. She gets overwhelmed pretty quickly. We'll probably have to loop some Baby Einstein "Old MacDonald" on the t.v. (which I know the adults will LOVE) and of course have her new favorite friend by her side. Her pink singing pig she got for Christmas. Avery met a similar pig at her bff Leila's house and just had to have her very own. To prove to you all how much she loves this pig, and really all barn animals, here is a video of my daughter...showing affection to her pig.

X-ray OK!

Thank goodness, lil'bub does not have anything serious going on in her hip. We just need to do a whole lot more stretching and massaging and weight bearing on that right leg. Have I ever mentioned her right leg is shorter than her left? The muscles are really tight from her not wanting to put weight on it....blah. Yet another challenge TO BEAT.

Just to prove she is back in top form, here is her daddy givin her tons of tickles....