Birthday Bash Spectacular

This very fine young lady turned two recently, so we had ourselves a party.  Tim took Squiggles to the dump transfer station while I decorated the house.  When they got home, Squiggles kept squealing, pointing to the balloons, and saying, “Pretty boons, Mama!”

As though brightly colored orbs hanging from the ceiling weren’t enough, many of her very favorite people showed up for some food and fun. 

 

Squiggles drank from a non-sippy cup (I think for the first time, but Cami might have other information):

Some silliness ensued…

After lunch, Squiggles got ready to open presents.

She was genuinely delighted with her Ah-ah-ah (Curious George) and Strawberry-Shortcake-Yeah-Yeah-Yeah books from the Jones clan,

her opera-singing bee card from Nana,

and her book of stickers from Mommy and Daddy:

But mostly she liked the Ah-ah-ah cake.

Daddy helped her blow out the candles,

and everybody helped eat the cake.

After all the excitement, she spent some time putting her new stickers in her new Strawberry Shortcake coloring book.  And on herself:

And on Daddy.

Cami took some glamour shots,

And Daddy got a kiss from the birthday princess.

I’d have to say the party was a success. 

The Prettiest Blossom (April, 2011)

On Mondays, Mommy gets to stay home with the baby, but we never stay home.  We go on adventures!  One spring morning when everything was in bloom, we went to Mount Auburn Cemetery.  Squiggles is officially walking.  She’s still quite wobbly, but loves practicing and thinks it’s funny when she falls on her bum.  We spent the morning walking around, climbing up and down stairs, dipping our toes in the fountain, and enjoying the sun and blossoms.

Mommy got pretty emotional as we were playing.  I wanted to freeze time and keep my little baby exactly as she was on this day.  My heart had never felt so much love.

It just about broke my heart to watch my baby walking away from me.

Easter in Philadelphia (April 2011, 13.5 months)

We took a trip to see Darin and Kim’s family in Philadelphia for Easter.  Squiggles’ cousin Sarah is a talented photographer, and she helped me stage a photoshoot.  Unfortunately, our subject was MOST unwilling to pose or be photographed.  Also, it was the wrong time of day (shadows problems – Sarah warned me).  But we had fun, and laughed at Squiggles doing everything BUT posing for photos.

We were super excited that Grandpa Dave was in Philadelphia when we went down.  We went to the park.

And to church:

After church I tried another photoshoot.  The baby was interested in having her photo taken, but she was very interested in the roll I gave her in an attempt to get her to hold still.

Squiggles adores her cousins and followed Sarah and Megan everywhere.

We went to Jacob’s arboretum and Squiggles loved every second.  She loves flowers, trees, and being outside!

Here is is with Grandpa, Sarah, and Megan.