Elmo party!!

As mentioned previously I dreaded the primary color infusion that comes with having kids. I've fought it. I even make sure to hide the primary colored toys behind the more stylish ones so that the first ones we play with (read: leave out all over the place) aren't the dreadful plastic primary ones.

Then she fell in love with Sesame Street. There isn't much you can do to avoid primary colors when you go the Sesame Street route so out of love for our precious cupcake, we did it. Loud, proud, primary!!!

For her 2nd birthday I wanted the day to be about HER. Here's a few things I knew it had to be for it to be her:
1. Small - she isn't shy but she also doesn't love big crowds. The fewer people around, the more "herself" she is.
2. Sesame street - she loves it. It's the only tv we watch and we only watch the last 15 minutes (the Elmo portion) so I guess I can't blame her for having a preference to Sesame.
3. Playful and detailed - she is SOOOO detailed. You can not, don't even try, to pull one on her. You spill - she calls you on it, you toot - she excuses you, a rolly polly crosses her path - she notices. So, the more details...the more she would enjoy it.

How did I do those things:
1. Small - I asked her everyday for one week who she wanted at her birthday party. I didn't prompt, manipulate, or lead. I just made notes. It was the same few names everyday. It was hard because I know there are other sweet friends she would have liked to have there too but then it would be big....and we were going for small. SO - sidenote shout out to the handful of friends who must be wondering why you didn't hear about her party this year. We still love you!

2. Sesame street - shirts, bags, cake, plates, napkins. We went Sesame!!!

3. Playful and detailed - I made most of it and tried to think of exactly how the show goes. Here's some pictures (click for larger view):

Sign says "Elmo loves his goldfish, his crayons too, now you can take them home with you" which is from the Elmo song. Inside the bag among other things were sesame crayons that I melted down in the faces of various Sesame friends (why I did not take pictures, I don't know) and goldfish snacks. I considered sending everyone home with a pet goldfish and then realized I might be the cool mom to the kids and the enemy to my friends :).


Fun candy and a GOLDFISH!! Elmo wouldn't be complete without his beloved fish, Dorothy. Each day on the show the figurine in her bowl reflects the theme of the day. We thought a "2" was appropriate. Our detailed cupcake knew right away that this was a "Birthday Dorothy!"


Birthday banner! Thanks to my mother in law who gave me a Sesame Street cricut cartridge for Christmas, I was able to make this fun birthday banner. It stayed up for weeks. Cupcake loved it!

C's and 2's! Of course everyday on Sesame street there is a number of the day and letter of the day! We had these little 2's and C's everywhere for our cupcake's party!


And finally, just a few others from the party:

The cake. Thanks Gigi for the last minute helping on icing this baby!!


Lighting up to sing. Cupcake had a special party hat from Aunt Sheri:


When everyone sang Happy Birthday to our sweet girl she was so excited that it was fINALLy her day that she kept pointing to herself saying "to me" "to me" during the song. She also did a rock star job blowing out her candles. When she woke up from nap she said "Mommy, I love birthday parties." I think it was a success and most of all it was fun for this crew who loves her so much (shirts made by me!):


Happy Birthday again sweet Cupcake! We hope your day was as special as you are! We love you.

Two!

I'm the worst blogger these past few but all important weeks. Yikes! I'll get caught up, I will!

Cupcake is 2!

Her actual birthday was during the week so it was a sweet day for the Hubs and I to do our own celebrating with our precious little one. We went into her room with a balloon on her birthday morning and she was thrilled! Daddy made yummy waffles for breakfast. Then we got dressed in her sweet birthday outfit from her Aunt Sheri and Uncle Ken and headed to gym. At the end of the class everyone sang for her special day. We had lunch with Daddy on our back patio and really had a sweet day of family time in honor of her 2nd birthday.

Here's a few things we don't want to forget about our cupcake at 2:

She is FULL of energy. She loves to play pretend, sing songs, learn more sign language, help in the kitchen, help with anything really, read books, color, play with stickers, play with baby dolls, play outside, go down slides, swing, try daring things, swim, and go on "adventures." She is a mostly good eater but her favorites are fruit, peas, O's cereal, mac and cheese, applesauce, yogurt, and popcorn. She is still a fabulous sleeper clocking 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 nap hours a day. She loves routine and knowing what to expect. She loves to snuggle with us in bed in the morning...for about 5 minutes. Then she loves to read. She loves tea parties. She doesn't like new environments right away....it takes her time to warm up. She doesn't love when other people (anyone besides the hubs and I) crowd her space, hug her, or kiss her too much. She puts up with it with most people....but she doesn't like it and I like that she's partial to us :). She wants to potty train, mommy isn't ready. She loves real babies especially Baby Dawson and her new Baby cousin Kel-girl. She doesn't have her 2 year molars yet but we are working on them. She loves a reason to put on a band-aid but hates boo-boos.

I know I probably missing some things but since I'm going to be better at blogging, I am sure I'll get to them! Most of all, Cupcake, WE LOVE YOU!!! We are so excited to tackle age 2 with you. I can't imagine anything being terrible about you so here's to TERRIFIC TWOS!!!!

In her birthday outfit making faces:



With her Daddy:

2 years ago

Two years ago tonight I wasn't pretty. I was swelling. My blood pressure was scary high. They were attempting to induce labor. This was all earlier than expected. Little did I know how soon my tiny cupcake would enter the world.

I will be giving in to my own worst nightmare pre-baby this weekend by turning my home into a primary colored wonderland for our little cupcake's 2nd birthday. I always said the one draw back to children is that your house is overcome with hideous primary colored plastic. While we've done a reasonable job keeping that at bay, all bets are off this weekend. I figure, if you are going for it, go for it. So, pictures to follow next week and they'll be primary.

I'm also doing a little reflection tonight on the wonder that the past 2 years have been. The picture above is so funny to see now. We had no idea what we were in for, how she'd rock our world, and how even though time seemed to be ticking PAINFULLY slow that night, time would soon go faster than we ever knew. The past 2 years have been incredible. We are more in love with her everyday and thankfully each other too. The fast ticking clock can't be slowed enough for us to soak up each moment we have with her. In fact, two years later, we still find it hard to share her.

For months now we've attended birthday parties, sang the song, done the dance and come home to a sweet cupcake that politely says "My turn?" or "My birthday?" At some point the politeness became desperation. One day she promised me she'd be good so she can have a birthday. It's amazing that while time is so fast for us, it's so slow for her. Yet she's graciously done the birthday thing for her friends and some of her family. I can't wait for tomorrow when we can open the door to her room and say it's YOUR Birthday. YOUR DAY. We'll sing to YOU. I can see her face now full of joy and excitement at the realization that it is really her day. Though I can also close my eyes and still see those eyes the first time they looked at me....both faces are perfect.

Tomorrow is YOUR DAY!!!! You'll wake up and call for us around the same time you first appeared in our life...2 years ago. We'll be as excited to see you tomorrow as we were the first time. We love you, Cupcake.