Lainey's Birthday Letter ~ Age 2

She's Two, She's Two - Our little Lainey Bug is TWO! Popping in today to honor our little tradition of birthday letters to my littles.

Previous Letters to Lainey:

• Lainey's letter to the world - She's arrived
• Lainey's First Birthday Letter

Lainey Lou,

Lou Bugg, Nainey Girl, Lou, Elaine Louise, my sweet whittle baby girl ... I LOVE YOU! I love you, I love you, I LOVE you. You are the biggest spunk of bright energy I could have ever imagined and you sweetheart, you are truly the apple of our eyes.

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around you being two years old. Not because of the obvious "time has flown by, how are you so big, where did the time go, etc <all of those are true too>", but more because I honestly cannot remember nor can I imagine life without you.  You beam with love and happiness always and it is such a bright spot in our lives. You have never met a stranger and make everyone who meets you smile. You are a total goof and keep up laughing constantly. You have complete disregard for authority and do anything and everything your way. It is no secret you run the show.

Little lady you entered our lives when things were quiet (relatively speaking). And from the moment you started to actually wake up life got a lot less quiet. We began questioning everything and life was spiraling quickly - and yet through it all - there you were. The bright spot. The littlest spunk that ever was and the one that made every single part of it worth walking through.

I could have told you when I began having children with 100% certainty that I would be a boy mom. I would have a little football team and it would be all I ever needed. But then here you came. With a full head of brown hair that the nurse quickly adorned with a pink bow and I knew right then and there my younger self had never been more wrong. I needed you sweet thing. I needed you more than I ever knew and I am so thankful God gave you to me. Being your mommy is SO. MUCH. FUN.

All of your sass, all of your spunk, all of your drama ... every single piece of your personality is my favorite. You are the perfect mix of silly and sweet ... you'll fake an injury one moment to get everyeone's attention and then laugh scream and run the very next.

You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and simply cannot get enough of Mickey on TV or your iPad. You literally eat EVERYTHING - the pantry is your favorite room in the entire house and if you had it your way you'd have noodles, hot dogs, cheetos and cookies for every meal -- probably mixed together. Your favorite outfit is a pretty dress paired with tennis shoes and a high ponytail - because duh, a little girly and a little tomboy is the perfect combonation - and it couldn't make me prouder.

You are absolutely SMITTEN with your big brother, Bubby. And he prefers you call him Bubby over Bennett -- and corrects you when you say his real name. The two of you play hide and go seek almost daily and you make sure if you get a snack you always grab one for him too.

You have your daddy completely wrapped around your finger, and you're probably his biggest fan. Him coming home at the end of the work day if you favorite part of the evening - a close second to shaking your booty in the bathtub and running naked baby through the house until we catch you.

You still sleep with your paci and request to pick out which one you'd like before bed everr night. You're very paticular about your blankets when we put you to bed and always have a different opinion on if you will sleep with a stuffed animal and which one it will be.

You've had a big year sweet girl! Soon after your first birthday we packed your bags and vacationed in New York City for the first time in November. After Christmas we packed everything once again and moved to a new city in December. January was a bit of a blur. It was a rough month of everyone (except you). You seemed completely unphased by the move and as long as you had your family with you - you were per usual, happy as a lark. You started regularly rocking ponytails and went to the circus. Aside from not sleeping (which continued for the better part of 5 months due to the sleeping arrangements of the new living conditions) you were settling into your second year of life just fine. 

Come April, we packed our bags once again and celebrated LIFE and HAPPINESS at the happiest place on earth. You made it all the way to Florida to see The One and Only Mickey Mouse at Disney World. My favorite memory of you from the trip was watching you dance and wave during the parade as Mickey walked by. It really is magical. As the months turned warmer and summer snuck in - you packed your little backpack and headed to summer camp with your brother.  No tears from you at drop off - you couldn't wait to explore a new place with new friends. My social little butterfly :)

In the midst of summer and truly the hottest week of the year, we all cheered as we'd survived a 6 month renovation project and FINALLY unpacked our bags inside our new home. Once again, you seemed unphased. You loved the new space, when right back to sleeping like a champ in your big girl room (and is it ever a big girl room!) and settled right in with your best people around you as though nothing had changed. As one final hoorah of summer, and a farewell trip to your uncle Max we packed your bags AGAIN in early August and took you along for a fun getaway to Chicago. 

Once we returned home we dusted off that little backpack at the end of the month and packed it up once again as you officially started Preschool two days a week. And, as no surpise you LOVE it. You walked in the first day like you owned the place and love to come home and tell us all about your "fwiends". We rounded out fall with some apple picking, pumpkin picking, and halloween festivities ... but quickly turned the calendar to celebrate our little gal turning TWO!

So, on your second birthday I'm praying for you little bug. Praying for your spirit - that is always shines bright. Praying for your future - that it is filled with happiness and goals that you work hard to achieve. Praying that the bond between you and your brother always remains strong. Praying for your future friends - that they lift you up and not tear you down. Praying for your family - both the one we share and the one you may one day have, that you know happiness health and wholeness all of your days.

You're the apple little Lou. The apple of our eye and the best daughter and sister we could have dreamed of.

So keep leading the way little lady ... because you my sweet have some big awesome things ahead of you!

And yes, shake that booty when it's time to celebrate - because life's no fun when you take it too seriously!

Signing off as your biggest fan with the most love for you in the entire world,
The Proudest Mommy, The Luckiest Mommy, Your Mommy

Welp, it's Wednesday

It's been a busy end to summer round here. Lots of here and there shenanigans. Lots of waiting on this person to come help us with this project for the house. Lots of driving from here and there to get that one piece that we seem to be missing. Lots of plans. This week I have some sort of school orientation just about every day before the kiddos officially start next Tuesday ... and it's got me all crazy. I'm thinking back on summer and just thinking of all the things! So many things. Lots of a lot of things! So, instead of talking about every 'thing' to wrap up the end of the season, I'll condense it into five little things. I think a nice tidy list makes everything seem better.  And here are five little things. 

{ ONE :: WEDDING }

For starters, we headed to Henderson, KY to watch one of my college besties get hitched at a beautiful little winery tucked away in the countryside. .

 Bennett was there too ... but he found some pals and we never saw him the entire night.

 Megan sure looked pretty :)

And two of my favorite people rocked the dance floor.

And just to squeeze it in ... because it was (sort of) on the route ... we also made a pit stop to check out the new brewery, Tin Man Brewing, in Evansville, IN. We got the special behind the scenes tour with our new business partner and master brewer.  Bennett was mostly impressed with the real life Tin Man robot that sits inside the tap room (Not that this picture would let you know it) .

{ TWO :: BENNETT + BASEBALL }

Our sweet Bennett ... he had a BIG Sunday when his Tee-ball team was honored at the Minor League Baseball - Bats - game during the opening ceremonies. Their team was able to walk out onto the field and sing the National Anthem with the players, watch the first pitch be thrown, and had their names announced on the big speaker.

 Little sister watched in amazement and was so jealous she didn't get to go out on the field.

 Fame suits him well. Not phased even a bit!

That's Bennett near the pitcher's mound -- he saluted the flag holding the third basemen's hand -- what a little stud.

 On his way back in he had a little swag to his walk and happily high-fived the umpire.

 And couldn't wait to tell daddy ALLL about it!

And while we're on the B topic ... just like that it was time again for Bennett's annual kidney scan! I remember like it was yesterday when we had Bennett's 20 week anatomy scan while he was in utero. They told us our baby may not be healthy. He had several markers for many things, and most of all hydronephrosis, and a lot of fluid on his kidney! Man was I a hot mess in the weeks to come. But, as He always does, God saw us through, and we came out on the other end stronger and perfectly fine. Bennett continues to have to have scans once a year to check on the fluid levels ... but to date they have remained the same since they were first diagnosed nearly 4.5 years ago! WAHOOOO

 And little man is so good and brave during his appointments! Way to go buddy!

{ THREE :: LAINEY }

Lainey is making herself and her toys right at home here at the new house. Eating dirt and burying things in the yard. What a gal. I really don't know what to say about her right now other than she is truly a sour patch kid ... although she's usually more sweet than sour. But MAN, does this girl have some sass.

Moreover, the terrible twos are hitting a smidge bit early in this house and whheeeeewweeee are they coming on hard and fast. She is the sweetest little munch, tough as nails with the biggest appetite and softest heart around ... but goly ... she's giving me a run for my money!

{ FOUR :: HOUSEGUESTS }

We had our first and very MOST favorite house guests. When MaKenzie, Ross and 'THE GRILLS' arrive you know you're in for a good weekend. We had an absolute BLAST and cannot wait for them to come back down - ASAP!

We swam in the pool for the very first time. We played on the slip and slide and had all the giggles.

We ate a yummy dinner together and had some down time.

 We headed out to see our favorite boys in purple, Louisville City FC.

Fam Bam!

 And we had some yummy morning snacks, complete with snuggles ...

 And a took a big walk before it was time for them to head home :(

{ FIVE :: FAMILY }

And finally, when we catch a minute to breathe. We snack and catch up on some cartoons. The days are long, but the years are short my friends. Cherishing all the days. Every last one of them.

Lainey's First Birthday Party ~ Up, Up and Cake!

Whew! I finally got around to getting the pictures from Lainey's First Birthday party off my camera to share all the fun we had!  I've had this on my to-do list for so long but every time I went to do it, it seemed we had 14 other things on our plate that day. Side note ~ Good grief, this time of year is busy busy busy. I feel like every year I think it will be better, things will slow down because we're more in control or something. But every year, it gets busier and busier I'm convinced! It's the most magical time, I love every second of it ... but as with all things in life ... I want it to slow down and not go by so fast! Le sigh ... savor the moments you can I guess.

Anywhoodles, back to the topic at hand. The birthday girl!! Lainey officially turned ONE on November 1, 2016 and I wrote her my traditional Birthday Letter. Then I recapped her final months while she transitioned into toddlerhood. Next, I mentioned her party briefly and shared a few iPhone photos, but alas ... here's the big to-do!

I designed her birthday invitations and for some reason mine and hub's engagement was on my brain the day I designed them. So, naturally I started with a hot air balloon and went from there. I was pretty happy with the final product and the rest of the party took shape from there. 

We hosted her party at our new house (which means I am indeed certifiably crazy I am well aware). But, we had so many people wanting to see the house before renovations started, so we thought it would kill several birds with one stone - and to be honest, I think we pulled it off pretty a-ok. Mom and I spent a good portion of Friday getting decorations and tables (uhm hi ... we don't have furniture) set up so it felt as cozy as it could.  

And Saturday morning it was food and finishing touches! Plehn's Bakery thrilled me with their excellent work on the cake and cookies! ( I took these pics before I updated the chalkboard - it was still inked from Bennett's 3rd Birthday Party, whoopsie)

Note the hot air balloons in the light fixtures. Mom and I were pretty please with our creativity there (even though I don't think anyone even noticed, ha!). 

Sorry, that's three individual photos of cookies - and even more of the dessert table. I realize that's a bit excessive ... but I was super in love with them. The conversation I had with the design team at the bakery didn't go all that well, so I was more than anticipating things to not turn out. So, when they did, I was over the moon!

It was lunch time and it was one of the first chilly days of winter, so we served chicken and dumplins, tiny ham sammys and some fruit salad. Easy peasy.

And look at this little nugget! She was so excited for her party ... we didn't put her outfit on until the first guest arrived (Sissy!) and we let Sissy get her dressed.

She had a "look through the year" montage on the fireplace.

And a beautifully decorated smash cake area all her own.

There's our birthday girl! Outfit from a little Etsy Shop ~ Olive Loves Apple

Taking steps at her party!

Sissy!

Lainey lovin!

 This was ... "Lainey say, you're ONE!"

My girls!

And all of Lainey's leading ladies!

And some of her party guests!

And some of her besties!

Addison ~ sweet girl. These two are gonna be trouble. Her momma is one of my good friend's and these gals are only three weeks a part. Teehehehe.

And this boy is gonna cause some trouble too. Lainey's boyfriend, Charlie!

Sweet cousins!

Emmie!

Uncle Jon Ryan and Aunt Brooke!

Uncle Ted + Sissy

PaPaw!!! (any guesses where Lainey gets those blue eyes?!)

And then ... it was time for cake!!

She was so excited.

And when everyone started singing and the sweet girl realized it was all for her, she couldn't stop smiling. She was beaming at everyone in the room. Little miss loves being in the lime light.

And big brother helped her blow out her candle.

And then it was time to dig in.

But it didn't take long for Bennett to step in and get a taste test of his own.

And Lainey quickly realized it was all hers.

Sort of...

A girl and cake. Does it get any better? 

THIS IS AMAZING!

 Sweet pea dug a hole right out of the middle!

I mean a full on hole! Hahaha 

And last but not least it was time for prezzies.

Happy First Birthday sweet girl, we love you so much and thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate our little ray of sunshine. Until next year ...