happy birthday TWO you

This little gal turned 2 and was so excited for her birthday! 

Here she is in all her birthday glory...

We started the day off by letting her "open" her new big girl room.  She loves it, even if she doesn't sleep in her new bed quite yet.  I made her a little reading canopy.  She still has no idea why it's there, but she likes to play in it :)

Every girl needs cute nails on her birthday, so we did manicures and pedicures after watching Daddy play frisbee that morning.

Sweet little e loves pretending and playing with Daddy.  The baby wipes are her pillow, of course.

We invited little e's cousins over for cake and ice cream.  We really didn't think very many people would come.  Turns out that everyone we invited showed up except one family (we missed you Paul and Mykal).  37 people, 2 cakes, 1 pan of brownies, a huge tub of ice cream, lots of presents, and a broken swing set later (note to self: our swing set cannot hold ten children at once), we put our exhausted little girl to bed.

We love you, little e belle.  You bring us so much joy and laughter and beautiful, tender moments.  We are so glad you are part of our family.  Thanks for making our lives that much sweeter.

kisses

The following conversation actually took place.  And I want to remember it. 

little e: Hold me, Mommy.  Hold me.

me:  I'll hold you in a minute.

little e:  Hold me, Mommy. 

me:  You mean I have to be your mom and I have to hold you?

little e: mmm hmmm!

me:  How much money do I get?

little e:  Kisses kisses! (pronounced kee-ses)

I'm not sure where she learned that kisses double as currency, but I accepted the kisses and held my girl.  What a cutie pants.

She is in the cutest stage of life right now.  Old enough to hold my hand, give me kisses, and tell me she loves me (okay, most of the time she tells me she loves her daddy).  She melts my heart over and over and over again and I can't get enough of how sweet and snuggly she is.
 
I love you, little e.  I hope you always know that. 

the prettiest girl i've ever seen

Our darling little e,

One year ago we welcomed you to the world and to our family.  We held you in our arms for the first time and your little face filled our hearts with joy and wonder.  You were so perfect, so beautiful, and so precious.  Your birth was a miracle.  But the real miracle is how you grow and learn each day.  And each day we love you more and more.

  

april 27, 2011

one month 

two months

three months

four months

five months

six months

seven months

 eight months

 nine months

 ten months

 eleven months

April 27 2012 - 12 months

our little birthday girl

Happy birthday, little e.  We love our little girl with all our hearts.

love, mom and dad