Bye bye Baby

As anticipated, this post is late. My baby turned two years old two weeks ago.

Because January was CRAZY and because two year olds just don't care much, we didn't stress hard about having a celebration. We did try to make it somewhat memorable however.


We ate some of E's favorite foods for dinner (at 7 PM, after DH coached basketball and T went to piano lessons). We had pizza and Doritos.



After spilled lemonade and a quick shirt change, we pulled out the (store bought) cake. It wasn't until after cake shots that we realized there was a smudge on the lens. Oh well. She blew out each candle, covering the cake in a healthy layer of saliva.


We all indulged in some so-so cake. I believe this actually qualified as a party because we had guests, E's friend N and her mother, who watches my kids each day while I go to school (Thanks Al!).


With the last 20 minutes before bedtime we cranked up the NSync and had a dance party.

I love this shot as it shows the motion of E head-banging.


T and R pulled out their best dance moves and taught us all a thing or two. This was followed up by a rousing game of Follow the Leader, after which bedtime was declared. The children's protestations were proof that it doesn't take any planning whatsoever to throw a fun party!


Even though she can be an absolute PILL, I'm so grateful for my little E. When she was born, I remember thinking she was just the definition of sweetness, and, in her own way, she still is. She loves to explore and has no fear, but she doesn't have a malicious bone in her little body. She loves to be as independent as possible, give hugs when people are sad, listen to stories, eat pickles and lemons, and imitate everyone in the family. She's a nifty little singer and has embraced using words, although we still can't understand many of them. At her two year doctor appointment she was in the 95% for height and 50% for weight. I'm so grateful for her little spirit. She's my little buddy.

And with that, I bid a not-so-fond adieu to January. DH has worked crazy hours all month, getting home at 11 or midnight many evenings, while keeping up with basketball, teaching Sunday School and helping me keep the house liveable. I've been driving 1.5 hours round trip to school 4 days a week, driving to the elementary school 3 times a day, keeping kids fed, clean, homework done, throwing laundry in the washer at 11 PM and doing all my homework after the kids were in bed. I am grateful that we got through it all without any major breakdowns, but it was still an effort just to get through.

Through it all, DH and I still managed to make it to the temple and go on a date sponsored by his boss, who told him to take his wife "somewhere nice." His boss also sent me flowers, in thanks for so generously lending my husband this month.

The flowers are nice, but I'd rather have my husband.

Hello February. We can do this.