Friends and Cupcakes

Molly has become good buddies with a boy in our neighborhood, Graham. We see Graham and his mom Jessica regularly for playdates, at My Gym and Starbucks, and this summer, Graham was in Molly’s class at camp. It’s so cute to watch Molly recognize her friends and call our their names when she sees them.

Last week, Jessica and Graham came to our house to play one afternoon. Molly was waiting at the door for them and when Jessica’s car pulled up, she ran into the kitchen yelling Graham’s name. She was SO excited he was here! Jessica brought cupcakes so we could celebrate Molly’s birthday a few days early, and the kiddos had a lot of fun eating the cupcakes and making a mess.

Thanks again Jessica and Graham for that special treat!

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Molly’s birthday weekend

We had a wonderful weekend with family and friends celebrating Molly’s second birthday! We took Molly to Suarez for a birthday doughnut on Saturday morning and she picked out a fish cookie {which is a fish-shaped sugar cookie the size of her face, covered in colored sugar. A woman at the coffee shop made a remark about what a nice mommy I was to let my child have a cookie for breakfast and I about lost it. I smiled and said sweetly, “it’s her birthday so she got to pick out whatever she wanted.} Then we sat on a bench and people watched for a bit and headed back to the house to start (or more like, finish) the party preparations!

checking out her birthday message

Grandma and Grandpa (Jim’s parents) came to town from Roanoke on Friday to help set up, spend time with Molly and be at the party. My parents (Nana and Pro) were incredibly helpful running errands and getting the yard set up. So many of our friends came to celebrate with us and I feel so fortunate that we are surrounded by wonderful family and friends. Molly is one lucky girl to have so many people who love her!

It poured down rain on Friday (six inches in two hours) and there was a 60% chance of rain for Saturday, but Chris had a feeling the rain would hold off until 7 p.m. and she was pretty close! It thundered for a while at the party but didn’t start raining until about 6:45.  A lot of the guests had left by then, so it worked out well! We set up the kiddie pools in the backyard, borrowed tents from our neighbors and had a great time. When we put Molly to bed after her party, I asked her what she thought of her party. “Awesome,” she said with a grin.

We gave Molly her gift last week – a new tricycle! She is very excited about her new ‘bike’ and loves to ring the bell, and she uses the basket for her milk, sunglasses and baby dolls. All of life’s necessities, you know.

Be sure to check out the Sweet Birdie’s Nest blog this week to see pictures from the party!

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{Letter to my Daughter} Two Years

Dearest Molly,

There are so many words that come to mind when I think of you:  Adorable. Funny. Shy. Loud. Frustrating. Smart. Sweet. Snuggly. Reader. Temper. Left-handed. Picky Particular. Cautious. Fast. Independent. Sleeper.

But if I had to choose just one word?

Perfect.

You, my dear, are the most wonderfully made thing I have ever laid eyes on. And I don’t mean perfect in the dictionary sense of lacking imperfections, but more so in the sense that I love you in spite of and even because of your imperfections.

I love you, quite simply, just because you are YOU.

You are two in the way that books and experienced parents talk about. Every day is so much fun {I know! I say this every month…but it’s true} and you have this way about you that just doesn’t allow me to stay frustrated with you. You scream and thrash about when you don’t want to put on your shoes, so I put them down and walk away. Then you walk up to me with shoes in hand and say, “Help you, please.”  When you don’t want to go somewhere, whether it’s to school, to your room for a diaper change, or out of Target, you simply sit down. And when I keep walking, sometimes you run after me and sometimes you laugh and push your hair out of your eyes or even take off your shoes like you plan to stay a while.

You have quite the impressive vocabulary and learn what seems like 20 new words a day. And then you refuse to use them in front of anyone we know, which makes me look like quite the liar for bragging about your stellar vocabulary. You talk my ear off and then mum’s the word as soon as someone else asks you a question. I call you ‘Baby’ a lot, obviously, because you add it onto all of your words and phrases. ‘Thank you, baby. No ma’am, baby. Hold you, baby. Shhh…baby. Hey baby.’

You have the sweetest disposition. You love to sit in my lap to read and you give great hugs and kisses. You take very good care of your babies and are genuinely concerned when someone else is crying or upset. You ask for Daddy when I wake you up in the morning and you ask for me when your Dad gets you out of your crib. You always love some good snuggle time right when you wake up and I love, love, love to hold you when you curl into me and wrap your arms around my shoulders. I could stand like that for days.

This love I have for you is maddening. You’re awesome, baby.

All my love,

Mama

Two year stats will come next week, so check back.

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