My Sweet Boo Turns Two

Dear BooBoo Girl,

Today, you turn 2 years old. Wow. I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. You are finally sleeping peacefully in your "tib" right now because you are sick with a virus of some sort. My poor sweet, baby girl. Yesterday, we had your 2nd Birthday party at Walnut Park in Corvallis. Many of our friends and family that love you so much came to see you and wish you a happy birthday! You had a good time I think, but since you weren't feeling well, you wanted your mama a lot. (Don't tell, but I really don't mind that part). ;-)

Over the last year, you have grown so much!! You decided you were going to potty train yourself in March and just today, you decided that you were going to start using the stool and climbing on the toilet all by yourself! You were so proud today when you did it!! All of a sudden when you turned 2, you became such a big girl!! You are talking so well and everyone that meets you is amazed at that. I guess I have taken that for granted because you and your brother have both always talked. I need to be better at cherishing the fact that you are a wonderful, beautiful chatter bug! I do love hearing you say, "Mama, best friend." And oh, the "I love you's" from you melt my heart! You crack me up when I ask you about your dolly, Lola. We have been working on getting you to pronounce your L's a bit better because right now some of your L's are D's. So I say LooooooLa and over pronunciate the L's with you. You still like to say "Roda." When we ask you if your dolly's name is "Roda" you say, "No! Roooooooooooda." You are a funny little one!! And your laugh!! We LOVE to hear you laugh!!! Nothing is better than the sound of happy babies (oh yah, because you and your brother will ALWAYS be my babies)!!!

Not only did you start walking in the last year, but you run/jump/climb/bounce/crawl on ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!!! You are absolutely fearless!! If your big brother is doing it, you have to do it too!! You LOVE to do somersaults out of your little recliner, or just go upside down!! You love squishing your toes in the mud in the backyard and you don't panic when your boot gets stuck. You LOVE to have your hair in piggy tails and you even bring me the comb and piggy tails (rubber bands) for me to put them in.

When daddy gets home in the evenings, you and and your brother get SO happy and you run and tackle daddy! You love to get in on the action when daddy and Jacob play football. Daddy has taught you how to get down in a 3 point stance (I think that's what it's called) and "hut, hut, hut" and take off running with the football! It is just about the cutest thing ever! Daddy is happy because you seem to be his little lefty...for now. ;-)

You love your family, and I know you love your kitty cat, Jelly, but sometimes you have a funny way of showing it. I don't think she feels the love when you are pulling her across the room by the tail, but she does let you know when she is at her limit! You love to play tug with Roy, even though it ends up being him tugging you across the room.

You are such a spunky, energetic, sassy, beautiful, wonderful little person that God has blessed us with!! We know that God has great things in store for you and we can't wait to see what they are!! You are our little doll baby, BooBoo and we love you sooooooo much!!

Happy Birthday, Emma!!
Love,
Mama (and Daddy too) ;-)

Your Nana-Banana-from Ind"nana" came out for the week and made your "Cinderelda"--that's how you say it right now--Birthday cake.

This was your first look at your birthday cake nana made for you. You asked her if you could hold it. Instead we gave you a tiny taste of the frosting.

This was just before we left the house to take you to your party. You were so sad looking, but still my sweet, beautiful baby girl!!


We had to add another layer of clothing to you because even though the sun kept peeking out, it just wasn't that warm. You played in the park for a little bit with Bubby, daddy and I before you went back up and "greeted" more of your guests. You had 48 total guests. You are one loved little girl!!

Another look at your Cinderella cake from nana.

I made two triple-decker strawberry cakes and you kept wanting to just eat the strawberries off the top. Hey, it's your birthday! We just let you!! The cake tasted AWESOME, by the way!

Your big brother Jacob wore himself out running back and forth from the barn to the playground to play with Jared and Audrey. There were a few times that he fell because there were some big potholes in the ground, but it didn't stop him!

These three beautiful babes are three people that you absolutely ADORE! When you were a baby, Jared and Audrey wanted to hold you whenever they could.

Cousin Chase and Jacob LOVE to make silly faces at the camera. You try to make these faces, but you don't have it perfected just yet. These two have had a little more practice. ;-)

When it was time to sing 'Happy Birthday' and have you blow out your candles, you got sad when we were singing to you. Your little lower lip stuck out and I was afraid you were going to lose it completely, but thankfully you kept it together!

You were blowing your hardest to get the candles blown out, but daddy and I helped you just a little bit.

You were such a trooper, sweetheart. You still said "Cheeeeeeese" even though you were in the middle of eating your nummy cake and ice cream and didn't feel well.

Jacob had no problems posing for the camera either. He ate cake, ice cream, jelly beans, gumballs, and gummy bears until his heart's content! That's what birthday parties are all about though, I suppose.

This was our attempt to get a family picture with all of us in it. As you can see, it was hard to do, but at least we're all in it.

You only lasted for about 2.5 pictures, then you were DONE. I don't blame you though. You didn't feel well, it was at the end of your party and the sun was shining in your beautiful blue eyes. You sure are cute though no matter if you're happy or not!

Don't panic, Boo. You are still my number 1 girl, but I'm just holding Miss Maeve for just a minute. I love you the most, so there is no need to be upset. Mama just wanted a picture with Abby & her sweet baby girl, Maeve. Don't worry, I picked you right back up. ;-)

You were happiest, I think, when we were swinging. Right after this picture, you needed to go peeps and beeps (your way of saying you have to go potty), so we went and let you squat in the grass. ;-)

At the end of the day, we had to say good-bye to nana. You were done for the day, so you just clung to me, but your tenderhearted big brother lost it. He didn't want nana to go and he tried to keep it together, but he just couldn't. He told nana, "You're my best friend, nana." Of course none of us could keep the tears away.

When we got back home, we opened your presents and daddy and I decided to give you our present a day early. You and Jacob both LOVED this!! You already love to pretend to wash your hands in the little sink and pretend to get a drink of water straight out of the faucet. You tell me that you like the water hot. ;-) That's my beautiful, 2 year old baby girl!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!