Day Care Birthday Party

Your day care had a very special birthday party for you on your big day. It was loads of fun. They got you the most beautiful cake and you were a little overwhelmed with all the attention at first but you slowly warmed up to it all.

Hugs to Daddy when we first arrived

George!

Cory's hat was very popular while the cake was getting prepared

Jackie

A certain someone was not quite sure about it all 

Duder wanted the cake action to get startedf

George and Lonna

Your Special Day

This is where we first walked in and learned not to touch the butterflies

We took you to the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum for your birthday. Daddy had to work in the morning so we rode the metro (choo, choo) into the city and met up with him. 

looking at the butterflies

you really wanted to touch this one, but were so good and just looked

you loved it in there 

 After the butterflies we went to check out the elephant and lions.

running around the mammal area 

One of your favorite books in your African Safari book. Here you and Daddy were checking out the Kudu. You were so excited to see a Kudu.

2 Years Old!

These past two years have been the best of our lives. You have brought us so much laughter and joy and it is hard to imagine a world without you. Who can remember when you were just a baby? Your strong sense of self and independence has only become more defined as you have grown. You love to do things your way and by yourself, which includes everything from peeling an orange to putting on your "pull-ups" and your jammies. "No momma, Laurelea," is a phrase we are hearing with a creeping frequency these days, but it is ever so endearing.

We are constantly amazed at your vocabulary, and have been really cracking us up lately, whether it is when you talk about being in the "kenchie" with mommy and daddy cooking or it is that the bath is just too "spicy" for your little bummy.  Your ability to speak Spanish is pretty impressive and we sometimes have to put on our thinking caps when we know you are trying to tell us something in Spanish. 

You are one of the most considerate little kids we have met. You have very good manners, often remember yourself to say thank you and please, and have recently started saying, "excuse me" at appropriate times.  Oh, and your best thought of the month was when you suggested to us, after burping, that it was a "Laurelea toot-mouth!"  You were so excited to learn the word, "burp," but "toot-mouth" is gonna stick with us for awhile!  :)

You always wake up happy, albeit sometimes you're slower to warm to the world than others.  Those mornings are a real treat, because they mean we get a cuddly little Laurelea in our arms for a few precious minutes before you are off and running.  We still know exactly when you are tired -- your fuse is very short and you cry at the drop of a hat.  Your hunger cues are very similar.  And don't think we are really complaining too much; these cues are just your wonderful little way of communicating to us and they make our life easier to live.  

Laurelea, we love you, and are so relieved to be freed from describing your age in months!  You are TWO, and that is the end of that!  

Thanks Grammy for my special birthday shirt!

We got her a sled for her birthday. So we took it for a spin right after she got up and had her pictures with Woody!

Just as we were playing with her new sled, it started to snow. So we bundled up and headed outside. 

someone loved her birthday gift of both the new sled and snow!

Rough Weekend

Laurelea caught a stomach bug right before the weekend. After 24 hours of not being able to keep anything in we called the doctor and she referred us to the hospital emergency room. Cory had to work yesterday so L and I trekked over and waited were finally seen and sent home. Our pediatrician had requested that we have some labs done, and her diaper sampled, but the doctor on duty opted to not to that. So we left with an anti nausea medication. Today she is still pretty sick but does appear to be doing better. Cory caught it too, so for right now I'm the only well one in our house (knock on wood, I really hope it stays that way).

eating crackers in the ER

her little tag

attempting to keep her entertained

 We were up early this morning and headed to Target to get more Pedialite and other necessities.  These sparkle shoes caught our eye and we had to get them. Nothing fights a sickness better than sparkle shoes!

Snow!

We had our first real snow of the season. Laurelea and I got out there to check this cold stuff out. She was not impressed by how cold it was both outside and the snow itself.

checking out the snow

"Mom, I'm cold"

Inaugural Brunch

We hosted a brunch today for the inauguration. Laurelea wore one of my dresses that we found when we were at my parents. It was one that I wore on my second birthday, it went so nicely with the patriotic theme. It was cold out today and we enjoyed the great company of friends while watching the inauguration.

L and I made the decorations

Lucy and L having a muffin in the princess tower

Korey and Avery watching 

the whole gang

how sweet is this one! L is wearing Grandpa Robert's Marine hat

Cory and Jackie playing

dress up came next... Jackie with George

L and Avery 

Lucy

Naomi even got into it.

McCamy's Tea Party

On Saturday we went to McCamy's 3rd birthday party. They had such a cute theme and did a little tea party for the kids. They also did a photo booth and the kids were able to get dressed up and take pictures. The loved it!

Lucy and McCamy

they loved the photo booth

silly faces

L wasn't into the photo booth, but did love the boa

and the tea....

Cake time