2

2 weeks with my 2 girls! 2 weeks after 2 years....insert dramatic sigh! I am going to miss this friendship I witness and this little girl I have gotten quite used to in my daily world!
1 cautious girl + 1 full-speed-ahead girl = 2 girls who enjoy staying active

1 baby doll + 1 baby doll = 2 happy girlie girls!

1 determined girl + 1 more determined girl = 2 girls who have to choose who wins this time

1 do-er + 1 observer = 2 girls on a road trip

These 2 are going to miss having each other around all the time, and so am I!

My Sous-Chef

Twice in the last week or so, Anna-Kate has decided to help me cook supper. I love it! I look forward to when I can teach her how to cook and when we can bake together. For now, this is what the scene looks like:
I know I remember chomping uncooked noodles while my mom cooked spaghetti. Things were going well for me and my little helper. Then, she got an idea...

Good technique Anna-Kate! The next time she "cooked" with me I gave her a bowl of water with a small cup and a spoon. She was so busy. She would periodically look at me and say, "I cooking water."

an Opinion

I have heard from several sources that Yogurt Mountain is a must-try. So, I told Will, "let's go!"
One of the fun things about my 2 year old Anna-Kate is that she is starting to have opinions. I was looking at their flavors, trying to figure out what AK would want. Suddenly a sweet voice said, "the blue one." Since this, Anna-Kate has asked for sprinkles at least once a day.

Don't you think one of these 2 pictures (above and below) could be an ad for them?

I just think this last picture is a sweet profile shot my girl.

Anna-Kate is 2!

It is hard to believe that I have a 2 year old, but 2 she is!

Here are some fun facts about my sweet girl!

Weight: 25lb, 12 oz ; 40th %ile

Height: 33.5 in ; 40th %ile

Mobility: AK is just now starting to climb. And, she generally waits until she sees a peer do something before she tries it. The phrase I hear all the time is "My turn" or "I do it." Watching her try new things and test her independence makes me proud and a little sad to watch my baby not be a baby. She remains super cautious, though, as she tries these new things.

Language: AK is a talker, and she has just started being a singer!! I don't keep track of her word count. I just know that she communicates well what she wants.

Food: Like her parents, AK loves food that has flavor. Licking salsa off chips, Mexican casseroles, any condiment,... Like a toddler, she eats things when she is in the mood to eat them. Like her mom, she is always in the mood for a "treat." Like her dad, we have just discovered she is allergic to melons.

Interests: She loves books! She will sit in her daddy's laps for so long looking through as many books as his attention span can handle. She l.o.v.e.s Elmo! She talks about Elmo and Sesame Street at least 12 times a day. Tumbling was the favorite activity we tried this year. Swings are her obsession at the park. She has recently become intrigued, almost to the point of being a new obsession, with bags and babydolls.

Learning: I classify AK as a natural learner because she just wants to know. She knows more than half the alphabet now because she asks, "what's that?" (She knows animals, random objects, etc because she will sit and point while looking at books or puzzles for hours.) She is figuring out her colors, sorta. Pink is the only color she consistently gets right; blue is her default color.

Other Random Thoughts of my 2 year old:

Potty Training is not happening yet. She asks for her "stinkies" to be changed, but doesn't mind being wet, and she is still a little nervous to sit on the potty.

We are not worried about a big girl bed yet, probably closer to 2.5.

She has an easy temperament, but she is fully 2. She lets me know with a sweet little my-way-please look on her face when she wants her way. She throws tantrums with the best of them, most often about not getting to eat a treat or not getting to watch Elmo.

She is my favorite shopping buddy. She can survive going to BJs and WalMart in the same morning, and she l.o.v.e.s walking the mall.

Quote of the Day

While we were changing AK's clothes and getting her ready for bed, this is what came out of her mouth:

"Daddy Uncle Will."
That's right. Daddy is Anderson and Camden's Uncle Will.
"Uncle Will."
No, he's your daddy. You are our daughter.
"Uncle Will" insert big grin "Anna-Kate silly goose."

I absolutely love that she is already showing us a sense of humor!!

The Menu

Okay, I promise, this will be my last birthday post. I will do a post about AK and where she is at 2 soon. I love hosting people in our home! AK's birthdays have given me/us the opportunity to host family as a way to say thanks for all the support they give us. So, here is the menu we spoiled them with!



BBQ Jalapeno Poppers
Pulled Pork
Mac 'N Cheese
Baked Beans
Rolls
Grapes

Elmo Cake - a closer picture for more detail

I think I am ready to eat again! Yum-my!

My Birthday Party

What a sweet birthday weekend! Anna-Kate was in true show-off form, making it so fun for us! I gave Anna-Kate her first view of the cake before everyone got there. I hoped this would help her understand that it was her birthday party we were working hard to prepare for.

After seeing this, she kept saying, "my Elmo cake. My birthday Elmo." (My amazing husband decorated this cake! I am so proud of the wonderful job he did!)

We hosted mainly family with two of our closest family friends. I'll have to share our menu soon; I didn't get many pictures of us eating. Of course, Anna-Kate forgot about food as soon as she realized she could open presents!

Her favorite quote was "Oh boy!" Her cousin Anderson gets the second quote of the day, "It's a puzzle," as AK opens the presents from his family.

We all also laughed quite hard when we heard her say "More," after opening the last present. Hey, we understand. Opening presents is a fun game!

After presents it was time to sing and blow out candles on her cake. I think this picture might be my favorite from the day. "Yay! Happy Birthday to me!"

I wish you so much my sweet girl! I hope your wishes come true!

The best attempt at a family photo on AK's second birthday.

4

4 weeks left represented here by the 4 ways we have strolled through the last 2 years

1) This was how we strolled the majority of the first year. This picture was taken during our first week together (2.5, 4.5 months). This thing was great! Many days, when the girls were really small, this stroller and my walking legs were the only outing we three had. The negative side to this stroller was that it was bulky for my little Corolla, but it fit!

2) Like I said the first stroller was bulky for the car. Sometimes when we went to a friend's house, this is how we strolled. Also, when the girls were really small, they would entertain themselves by pulling each other's hair. This sorta ruined my desire for a peaceful walk through the neighborhood. Sacrificing my shoulders made more sense than sacrificing the peace. I would trade who rode in the stroller and who rode in the bjourn. And, let's admit it, this is a really cute image!

3) Can you tell why this only happened once?! I think this particular day we had gone out maybe for a playdate or something. Then I decided I wanted Chic-Fil-A rather than my packed lunch. It'll be easy to just whisk the girls in the food court at the mall and pick something up. Hhhmmmm...I don't remember why a drive-thru didn't make more sense in that moment.

4) This is us now, and this has been us for this school year. For one year olds who I took out daily, this stroller has been amazing. It is light-weight, easy in and out of trunk, as easy as any to get through a door. (This stroller and the blue double stroller above are actually the same width.)

Last week held another ground-breaking moment: I took the girls around town without a stroller. They walked the whole time! That required a lot of patience, but was also quite fun to watch their excitement at being "free."

A Famous Encounter

Anna-Kate, Mary-Knowles, and I go to Barnes and Noble at Crabtree on Thursdays at 10:30 (for all you Raleigh mommies) often. Yesterday was an exciting day to be there!

The Cat in the Hat came!
The girls were the first to get within 3 feet of him. MK looked at him a minute and then gave him a hug. AK took a few extra minutes and then would only give him a high-five.

This has been a favorite go-to of mine. Every week someone reads a story and then they have a craft. This is only the second time that one of the characters has come to visit (the first was Clifford). It is about a 20 minute program. Afterward the girls and I normally walk in the mall and then picnic in the food court. Worth trying if you have never gone!

Happy Birthday

to the man of my dreams! and luckily to the man of my everyday! Happy Birthday Will!

In honor of my man this post is dedicated to him and two of his favorite things: his jeep and his daughter who adores him!

and because I can never resist a Now-and-Then, here is Anna-Kate in the jeep at 3 months.

5

Here are five of my meaning-filled moments with the girls:

1) This was our first day together. If you could have seen me getting the girls outside to sit like that.....well, let's just say you would have been too busy laughing to help me! The girls were 2.5 months and 4.5 months old. That was one crazy day with two really cute babies!

2) I like this one just because it is such a good shot of everyday moments! We had a lot of these "everyday moments." Anna-Kate woke up from nap first. She joined me to get Mary-Knowles out of bed when she woke up. After a nap, I am refreshed and the girls can't wait to get back to hanging out with each other!

3) I love this one because it shows how much fun we have together! We laugh and laugh, sometimes in between cries or shouts of "mine," but then we laugh again!

4) Notice I didn't pick any of our truly note-worthy outings, just a random one. These random outings were the ones that normally turned into the memorable ones. We need to get out, do something different, change our environment. Some times an ordinary place can be an extraordinary outing!

5) I love this one, not because it is a great picture of either of the girls, but beause it shows how far we have come! Two babies who were barely holding their heads up to two girls big enough to not sit in a high chair.....carried everywhere to walk/run everywhere......strolling at all times to walking hand in hand.....milk only to treats please....a few months to 2 years!

Why "5"? I only have 5 more weeks to enjoy watching Mary-Knowles. Only 5 more weeks. I can't say enough how much I love having this girl in our world!

Have I Ever Told You

about my parents?

Meet Max and Susan Miller. Married for 36 years. Parent to 3 plus 2 in-laws. Grandparents to 1. Aren't they cute?!
Today is my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy! My dad loves his family and is willing to do anything for them. He is a hard worker. He doesn't sit still well ;) He likes westerns and gospel music. My favorite thing that my dad did for me growing up: when I was 14, in the 9th grade, I desperately wanted to go to The Phantom of the Opera. My dad, who doesn't like that style of music or that style of theater, volunteered to go with me. We got dressed up. We went to dinner. Then we were off to the theater for a daddy/daughter date. He tried to hide it, but he l.o.v.e.d it! And I did too! I love you Dad!!

Happy [almost] Mother's Day Mom! My mom is a family-girl! She loves hanging out with family. She loves to read. She loves Star Trek. She is a great cook. My mom is brave when she doesn't want to be, like letting her 18 year old daughter go to Africa. One of my favorite memories happened in recent years. While pregnant with AK, I treated my mom to a tea at a local tea room. We giggled and ate scones and even caught a napkin on fire. My mom and I have always enjoyed spending time together! Can't wait to spend this Mother's Day with you Mom!

Lesson in Fire Safety

It pays to be cute! This afternoon the girls and I tried eating our snack outside. We had just finished when the fire truck drove up! The girls were soooo excited! Since we had finished our snack, we started walking in that direction to see it up close. The firemen saw us and offered to show us the fire truck.
AK was excited to be near the truck but didn't want to get in it. However, MK was quite excited to be in the fire truck! While Mary Knowles was "driving" the fire truck, the firemen heard their pager. They had a call to respond to. MK was taken out of the truck. The firemen got in, and off they went. The girls were quite upset.

While the fire truck was driving away with sirens going, the girls were still trying to figure out why they left. Before it was over, their story went something like this:

"Ma'y Knowles drive fire truck. Firemen help people. Bye bye fire truck. 'ere fire truck go?"

The girls and I were definitely excited about this surprise lesson in fire safety!

Photos Attempted

Random fact: When Mary-Knowles and Anna-Kate were both still in infant carriers, I timed how long it took for me to get the girls from inside the house to in the car with key turned in ignition: 11 minutes!

I should have timed it today. I let the girls walk to the car. Uuummm, I am sure it took more than 11 minutes! Keeping these young walkers together, safe, and focused on the goal is quite a goal in and of itself.

Today I also attempted a short photo shoot. Short, the key word, because look at the pictures I got out of it.

Cute, of course! But, smiling at the camera sweetly in front of flowers in bloom, no. I will have to try a "photo shoot" again soon. :)

The following two are my favorites that I got today.

I am not sure why this is my favorite of Anna-Kate. Maybe because she looks like a little girl. Maybe because it shows off her cute jellies. Regardless of the reason, it's my favorite of AK from today.

This picture is the best of the day! It is not a smiling picture, but it is definitely a classic MK face. Precious!

Happy Easter

Remembering that Jesus is risen every day!

Hope you all had a great Easter Sunday and enjoy reminders of His Grace every day!

(I had a sinus infection last week, and Anna-Kate had a head cold. We enjoyed our Easter Sunday this week.)