The Big 2!

A little over a week ago
our baby girl turned 2.
Makes me want to cry.
I can't believe 2 years ago I saw my first baby's bum and black hair
as they showed me over the curtain.
I had a C-section.
No, not by choice.
I remember the first thing I heard the Dr.s say was "Wow, that's a lot of hair."
Today, she is a strong intelligent and beautiful toddler.
Very talkative and just wonderful to be around. Sometimes.
She is also in the terrible two's.
Yes, it started when she was about 18 months but I think it's getting worse.
No matter. She is still so much fun to be around a lot of the time.

For her birthday we decided to head over to Thanksgiving Point and spend time in
Cornbelly's.
The three years we have lived here, we have never been to Cornbelly's so we didn't know what to expect.
First of all, the line was extremely long. It was a snake line down the parking lot but it moved rather quickly.
My thought at first was to just skip it and do something else because it probably wasn't going to be age appropriate for Eliana.
The real reason was I was too tired to walk from where we parked but as we got closer I decided we should go.
Great choice!
Eliana had been asleep but she woke up with the thought of just being able to walk.
She definitely wanted to walk because she did not ask to be carried for the 3-4 hours we were there.
Which was great for us because we knew it would knock her out for a nap.

The first thing Eliana did was get on a slide.
Around the "park" there were small playgrounds for kids/toddlers.
She then got courageous and moved on to a bigger kids play area.
She scared me because I lost sight of her for a bit and I am too short so I sent Casey.
She liked that one too much as you can see she didn't want to get off.
But there was more.

Eliana's most favorite part of the "park" was the princess land.
There was a horse which I wish I had let her ride longer because she loved it but other girls were in line.
There was a carriage where I sat with her.
There were big legos but let's be real...
She could not get enough of the dress up area.



She picked her dress and I dressed her up and she danced and looked at herself in the mirror and kept saying princess.
When it was time to go Casey chased her until she yelled "STOP!... I PRINCESS!!"

We had a great time but I am sure Eliana had more fun than we did and that was what we were hoping for.

 

 

When we arrived home and Eliana woke up from her nap we took out the cake.
We sang happy birthday to her and got a laugh from trying to blow out the candles. 
Right now she is obsessed with Doc McStuffins and Sofia the first.
So her gifts were Doc McStuffins the doctor set, which she loves giving her checkups especially when we ask for one.
Liam doesn't ask for one but he still enjoys getting a check up as well.
We got her Sofia the First bed set which I hope will help her stay in her bed longer.
It's worth a try.
She also has plenty Princess Sofia toys now.
It was a great party of 4.
I love our little family.
We would have loved to have been closer to family.
We could have had a pinata but oh well.
We have 18 months left here.
No I am not counting down.
Happy Birthday Princess Eliana!
Has a good ring to it huh?

Sunday was actually her birthday which is why we celebrated it on Saturday.
She was dressed very pretty.
 Look at that adorable face.

 She asked her daddy to pose with her for a picture.
I mean what 2 year old doesn't want her daddy in a picture with her?

 After church showing some sibling love. That is how he wishes his sissy a birthday. Gotta love that smile!

 But of course she has to change into a "princess" dress. You can't see but she is also wearing her ballet shoes we got her for her birthday. Pretty and pink. Yes that is some birthday chocolate!

 

As a birthday gift we also signed her up for gymnastics.

She has had a blast.

Besides gymnastics they have given them opportunities to play a little bit of other sports.

T-ball, soccer, bowling, and basketball is what they have done so far.

Just check this awesome monkey.

 

 

Tues she had a checkup and is a healthy gal.

She is smaller than most toddlers her age but hey that's just her body works.

Even if she is petite she has a big heart.

She didn't enjoy her shot.

Who does?

She was angry but we took her for some FRO-YO

It made it all better.

Look at her rocking out to the music.

 

 

We love you Eli-Beli-Jeli-Bean!!!

First Second Date...

Casey and I finally put into our budget some money and space in our calendar to hire my friend to babysit for us so that we could have two date nights a month.
She is wonderful by the way.
Eliana loves her!

Last night was one of those date nights but we changed it up a bit.
We did a little role play.
No, we weren't anyone different.
We were still Casey and Crystal
BUT we pretended to be on our first date ever.
There was nothing wrong with our actual first date, just mixing things up a bit.

If you want to fall in love again.
You should try that.
We were going to go to the gardens we had gone to before but they closed earlier.
So we just had our picnic outside of a paleontology museum near by.

Just two people getting to know each other on their first date.

On our first date Casey and I talked for HOURS and it was great.
We were by campfire with a group of friends.
The night was beautiful.
We even had a conversation about the stars.

This was our second first date.
The opportunity to do it all over again.

There were reasons I can't decide which first date was my favorite.

Our actual first date...
I am in love with the stars.
I would have liked to study Astronomy but it didn't happen.
I love love love nature.
The beauty in everything that surrounds us.
So perfect.
Especially during this time.
I LOVE October.
Just even the word October.
Should have named Eliana October.
We had the perfect first date with the stars above us and beautiful weather.

The thing I liked the most was that even after the group hangout was over we still spent hours talking afterwards back where I lived then.

For this date he went all out and surprised me with an edible bouquet of  chocolate covered strawberries.
Something he didn't even know I was craving but knew it is my addiction.
And not something I get a lot.
And a white teddy bear with a strawberry in his hands.
You can imagine how Eliana was going crazy to get her hands on it.

This time we have kids so our time alone was limited.
Even though it was limited we took advantage of every second of it.
Before our actual first date he texted me how he felt about me for over 12 years.
After getting in the car he kindly told me how he felt about me and asked if he could hold my hand.
I must admit I felt just like our actual first date.
When he held my hand it reminded me of the day he held my hand for the first time.
We had great conversations and we learned new things from each other.

Our plan was to have a candle lit dinner at the gardens but since it was closed we decided to just enjoy our dinner right outside of the museum.
I prepared a delicious spinach, avocado, and pasta salad.
A side of grapes.
Purple for me, I like the sweet ones and green for Casey.
They are his favorite.
We also decorated a small pumpkin for each other that now sits on our entertainment center.

We had a great time.
When we went into the Museum...
I should probably state that I am terrified of fish and open water.
Even if they are plastic or dead or skeletons.
They had a room of stars but I was afraid there may be something I am not seeing.
To which Casey responded "What? Something like this?" and followed by making a dinosaur sound that scared me.
So he had to hold me.
He then said "Man, we really should have come here on our first date."
That's my man.
My protector.
And also the one to scare me.

The biggest fish...holy cow

When we did get to a shark I did not expect I almost died of a heart attack.
It was still a good choice.
I don't like any thing with fishes or water (unless it's awesome turtles and dolphins)
So other than that part I had a great time.
I also have an interest in Geology and Paleontology.
The only problem was not having enough time.
Our time felt so short.

I learned so much from this date.
I would advice every couple to date each other like it was your first date.
Pretend it is the first time you have seen your spouse.
You want to get to know each other.
Be yourself and have lots of fun.
Laugh a lot.

This morning when before Casey headed to school he asked me to come downstairs.
There in the middle of the rug was a question.
You know you have kids when you use crayons to ask your wife to marry you.
I needed my wedding and engagement rings resized since I haven't worn them in at least 2 years because of my pregnancies.
But what the hey I am going to have more kids and who knows if I will ever go back to pre-pregnancy body. 
So the hubby picked up the ring and was going to propose at the gardens but that didn't work.
He didn't want to wait longer.
He got on one knee next to it saying "Marry Me Today and Everyday"
And of course I said YES!
I love my hubby and the spontaneous things he does to show me he loves me.

A ray of sunshine

 A little word to miss Eliana:

Eliana we let you walk the store.

We want you to know we love and trust you.

I saw you wandering through the clothes.

You didn't touch them, you just wanted to walk under them.

Feeling them brush the top of your head.

You said "Hi" and "See ya" to everyone who walked by you.

Even the little girl who kept giving you looks.

Yes, I saw her but you did a great job handling it.

You kept saying "Hi" to her and babbling what you know until she finally gave in.

Perhaps it was her sparkly skirt, tight ponytail, or older age that made her act the way she did.

Maybe it's because you are so innocent and have no idea what a mean facial expression means

But you kept smiling.

She couldn't handle your sweet countenance.

She gave in and gave you a smile.

You slipped and fell.

Poor old man who walked off saying you scared him.

I appreciated his concern but you stood right back up and cleaned your hands.

Without thinking about it you admitted that it hurt and asked me to kiss your hands.

They were a bit dirty but I did it any way.

Some may say gross but I appreciate your courage and for letting me know that I am the first person you will go to and trusting that I will make it all better.

You are a strong little girl.

Not because you don't cry.

You have those moments.

But because even when an avalanche of toys falls on you, you stay there and ask for help.

I am always watching you but I let you take control of the situation because I know that you are brave enough to ask for help when you can't handle it.

Every day I learn from you and feel the blessings from the Lord in helping me understand him more through you and your brother.

You love to talk but we know that you just love letting us know that you are learning and that you know that " it's daddy, it's mommy, it's Minnie, and Donald, and Daisy, a dog, a book, clothes, girl, boy, bubba, water...etc.

And when you don't know "What's that?....Oh!..(repeat the word or phrase)"

In your eyes we can see that you love learning and sharing what you learn.

When someone's phone fell you immediately ran for help yelling "Oh no! Phone!"

No matter where you are, you are never too shy to ask a doll or stuffed animal to dance.

 

When it comes to your first job you are 100% doing a great job.

Yes, that includes annoying him.

You try to teach him everything that you know and try to (or what you consider) protecting him.

You get so excited sometimes even more than we do

when he does something new.

....and nothing can stand in the way

 



Keep being who you are and never change.

Yes, there are some things that we will get onto you for doing

but because we love you.

When I grow up I want to be like you.

You are everything a mother could ever ask for and way more.

I love you so much princess.