on the eve of your 2nd birthday...

to my beautiful, headstrong, cuddly little girl,

you cannot believe all that you have taught me in these two short years. i have learned a bit of humility, which comes in handy when there is a meltdown in public and no matter how much i plead with you your tears seemingly overshadow everything. i have learned take a step back and enjoy each day even if it means there is dirty laundry in the basket and crumbs to be vacuumed (just a little though, because i cannot stand the thought of things needing to be done and just sitting there). you have taught me to hold on tight to every step you take developmentally because i know all too well that in the blink of my eye you will be all grown up and no longer want or need me to rock you a little bit before bed each night. although i try my hardest to remain steadfast in my parenting and not let you get away with more than your brother ever did, once in a while you catch me at a weak moment and i cave.

i love how each morning you insist on sitting on my lap while you watch your show. how even though i would never not give you the same thing i gave jack, you make sure to let me know you want it too over and over until i finally give it to you. how you play so nicely with your dolls, always making sure to cover them with a blanket and feed them. how despite my thinking i could fool you, you are no fool when it comes to your lovey and you immediately knew the imposter, threw it down and said "wrong one!" how even though we drop jack off at school all the time you still ask where he is and when he'll be home. how you sing along to all the songs and make the cutest little face while doing it.

happy birthday daley olivia!

i love you to the moon and back....

love, mama

christmas take two!

daley was a lot of fun at christmas this year. she really seemed to understand a little bit of what was going on and certainly made it clear that she wanted to be included! of course i have zero nice pictures of her in her dress because it was too late and she had a meltdown over something ridiculous, but alas i can't remember at the moment!?

however, i had so much fun watching her get to experience all the mayhem:)

waiting to come down christmas morning...i have very fond memories of waiting on those steps with great anticipation!

she really likes her chair apparently....

pint-sized super hero!

daley loves to play pretend these days, so when jack suggested super heroes (even if she has no idea what that is) she was totally game! she is also obsessed with wearing jack's sunglasses, and it has made for some interesting outfits these days.

she had so much fun at the museum, and unlike jack who was very reserved and kept asking me if he could touch things (poor kid, i guess i need to let him live a little), daley went right for it. she didn't even think twice about it which is so indicative of her personality.

she has such an imagination these days, and can often be found singing along to the music. of course, we have to go through 15 songs on the ipod before she will agree to it, but at least its not the wiggles or fresh beat band-lol!

batman and robin

sugar and spice...

naughty or nice!

i have been practicing a lot on daley and jack...it has gotten to the point where i need to bribe them so they let me take their picture!? i had daley convinced she could try the candy cane we used as a prop, if she would sit in a certain spot and just let me shoot away. i knew that once i let her try it, she wouldn't like it, and sure enough she told me it was "too spicy!"

some cute pics did come out of it, and some of my favorite are with the piano. you can't actually tell, but she was pretending she was schroeder from charlie brown and was singing jingle bells--too cute!

my *almost* two year old...

i took daley out this morning after we dropped jack off at school to take some pictures of her for her upcoming second birthday. i am going to completely breeze over the fact that she is going to be two and share some of the pictures from this morning...how can we not get outside when it is 60 degrees here!?

i have been frustrated as of late with my "focus" issues, so i have vowed to practice, practice, practice...only time will tell if i'll get it right! alas, some cute pictures did come out of said frustration...

two balloons for the two year old!