The BIG Reveal

This is what Daddy started with.  He worked really, really hard...for four days

and I waited (very patiently)

even learned how to play a little tee ball

...and this is what I got!  My very own park in the backyard!

Here I am on the maiden voyage down my yellow slide

I love my Daddy.  He should be very proud of himself.  He did a great job

Semi-Big Girl Bed

Last night was Lila's first night in her semi-big girl bed; she still has a half rail.  Shawn converted it yesterday afternoon, and she played in her bed all afternoon.  She thinks it is really cool that she can get in bed by herself.  I was a little worried, but she did great.  She laid in bed "reading" for about 45 minutes before she fell asleep.  I quietly peeked in on her a couple times, and she never got out of bed, and most importantly, she didn't fall out! (I had a pad on the floor just in case).  I was a little sad because it just seems like, all of a sudden, she is not a baby anymore, and there are more and more reminders of that everyday.  Tonight, she talked and sang a while, and then she called for me, and said "I want to rocka wif Mommy" (I want to rock with Mommy), and of course Mommy was more than happy to rock her baby for a while.  

Chatter Box

I know this is cliche', but these kids grow up so fast...just two months ago, my little bug really didn't say a whole lot.  It just seems like we woke up one day, and she realized how to talk, and she really hasn't stopped (day or night).  Her little thoughts are so cute; I just want to freeze her at this age.  Everyday is something new.  Last night, she literally laid in her bed and talked herself to sleep...we heard her reciting "llama, llama" (which is one of our favorite books) to all her little animals that she sleeps with, and then she was singing and clapping...and then it all started again at about 5:30 am!!!  Yesterday, I wrote things that she says these days

"I want waffle, bacon"  (she says this every morning)

"In a couple weeks...in a couple weeks, I go Nana's house"

"This be eighteen dollars"  (for some reason, everything is $18)

"Mommy, you go buy some apple juice"

her: "ooohh, Michelle buyed me this toy"
me: "who is Michelle?"
her: "Cha Cha's Mom"
***Michelle seems to be her new favorite because she let her stay and play at her house last weekend**
later on: "I want go play with Michelle"

"Mommy, I am pooping"  (calling to me from the other room)

"I want to go to Wal-Mart at Nana's house"

"how 'bout, um...how 'bout some hot coffee"

"No, Daddy, that's not cool"

her "I have the hiccups"
me: No, you don't
her: "Uh-huh...I want hiccups"

"look at my petty dress; I need makeup on my lips" (getting ready for church)

"No, it's not hot; it's warm"

"Rowdy's eating my pants!!"

"I want to go to the Cedar Park"  (she thinks that the park is called Cedar Park)

"Bye.  See you morrow...I'm going to Gran's"  (putting her purse on her shoulder).  "Where are my car keys?"

"I want go church, and get a pink donut"  (she got to go pick out a donut after Church, and now she wants to go to church all the time)

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day brought quite a few projects around here...and we love projects!!!  My little bug is turning into one little crafty helper.  My Granny bought her some colored paper for her birthday, and they make paper chains.  The last time she was in Hallettsville, she walked into my Granny's house, and said "Granny, do project"...music to my ears, and not to her Dad's.  When I make something, I will always say, "Shawn, don't you think this is cute?" and he will say "I'll tell you when you clean up your mess"...Look out Dad, I have a partner now!!!

Lila went over to her Gran's house for a little baking.  Gran had visited the bake shop and had all kinds of cute sprinkles for cupcakes.

The finished product

At home, we made tissue paper flowers.  I had not made these since I was in the 3rd grade, but quickly found the instructions online.  It was a really easy/cheap project, and age appropriate for my apprentice

Our flowers turned out to be pretty cute, and colorful...we will definitely make these again

This is just a picture of the treat bags I made for my volunteers at work, because I thought they were cute.  I found the little vintage valentines on Google, and they printed out great.

Country Girl

I love going to the country and spending time with my family.  I always look forward to seeing my friend, Papa G.  He is a funny guy, and he always has the pantry stocked for me with special things I don't usually get like Cheetos, and Hawaiian Punch (he always gets a couple treats for Mom, too!).

Today, we went out to feed the chickens and ducks.  We fed them some corn.  You throw it out there, and they come running

Papa, I think we are all out...I don't see any more in there

Bye-bye!  See ya next trip

Come on Papa...I think there is and ice cream cone with my name on it!

Birthday, Part II

This past weekend, we went to Hallettsville to visit all the relatives.  It was so cold.  The temp got down to 18 degrees in South Texas.  The pipes at my parents house froze and busted,  and of course all the cattle troughs froze over, and had to be broken up, so Shawn got a good taste of what it takes to live in the country, and go out in the freezing weather to take care of all the animals.  I took this picture of my windshield from the inside of my car...I thought the ice crystals were so pretty against the clear blue sky.

While we were there, we celebrated Lila's birthday (again).  Nana and Papa, Granny and Papa Greer, Granny Judy, Carol and Jay, Jeanette, and Lindsay all came.  Nana and I came up with the idea of a school bus cake, because Lila LOVES school buses (for some unknown reason).  She gets so excited when she sees school buses and is always on the look-out for them.  I think the cake turned out pretty cute for amateurs, and Lila was pretty impressed.

Of course, there were more presents.

She let us light candles this time, but she wouldn't get too close, and she wouldn't blow them out, but at least I got a picture with some candles.

Happy Birthday, Lila!

My Sweet Bug turned 2 today.  She is 32 inches, and 21 lbs, 5 oz of GIRL!  She is such a sweetie.  The other day, out of nowhere, she climbed in my lap and said, "lub ooh Mommy"!  Her favorite sayings are "No. No.  Not nice.  Behave", and "Lila do it".  She is a little shy, but oh so observant.  She loves jewelry, and Christmas lights, and she loves helping me do anything (how long do you think that will last?).  She is still not a very good eater ( but loves fruit, and raisins, and milk).   She loves all animals, and recently has started to play with her dolls, and likes to talk on the phone.   She is our answered prayer.  We have had an amazing two years.

So, we have been talking about birthdays and how you cake on your birthday, and blow out candles, and she would show me how to blow.  So, yesterday we did a practice run.  I lit a candle, and she ran off and said, "fire, hot!", and wouldn't come back.  This morning she was sitting on the couch, and she said "Lila bow out cannles", so we tried again...with the same result.  So, no cute blowing-out-candle pics this year, but she loved hearing the Birthday Song

Shawn bought Lila this little aquarium, and a blue beta for her birthday (and promised to take care of it). She named him Dolphin

Here are the Elmo cupcakes ready to go

Here is Lila on the morning of her birthday, ready for school in her new Bevo shirt and two ponytails

I took cupcakes up to school for snack.

After school, we came home and opened presents.  Here is Lila with her new infant seat for her babies.

Then we went to Chuy's with Gran and Jon.

**cute story...my brother asked his boss if he could work the early shift so he could go with us to Chuys for Lila's birthday, and his boss said, "your niece is 5, and she likes to go to Chuy's?", and he said, "No, my niece is 2 and she likes to go to Chuy's."

Thanks for all the phone calls, emails, gifts, and cards.  She had a great day.