Birthday Thanks!

Me, Delaney, Dana, Steph and Kat

A few weeks ago I had a birthday... a big one... so my friends and family threw a big surprise party for me! It was a lot of fun but being a surprise I didn't take my camera and therefore do not have any pictures... apparently I am the only one who ever takes pictures! I had a blast visiting with everyone and drinking from my birthday glassses...eating my 80's candy, laughing at the cake and opening presents. I don't exactly like surprises... but I appreciated the party! Dana and Kat weren't able to make it to the party so Steph organized a brunch. We went to the boathouse in Forest Park and lucked out with beautiful fall like weather! Delaney was not being a very good little girl to start the meal but she settled in finally! It was a lot of fun!

Just wanted to say thank you for all my birthday celebrations! I've been writing thank yous, but with Delaney's birthday, and the start of school... I'm creeping along! I have such wonderful friends and family! I am such a lucky "old" lady!

Mary Poppins- Delaney's First Visit to The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Checking out the View

Having a snack before the show started.

The stage

We were so lucky to get get tickets in a box to see Mary Poppins at the Fox. Delaney has been very into musicals lately... It all started with the Wizard of Oz.. then Annie and Mary Poppins. I don't mind a bit because I'd much rather watch a musical than Sesame Street or Yo Gabba Gabba! Delaney was amazed by the decor of the Fox. When I took her to see the Lobby she just kept saying "Look at that mama" or "Woah! Pretty!" A man even pointed out the elephants on the carpet to her... (I never even notived there were elephants on the carpet) She of course LOVED the lions in the lobby and when looking down into the lobby from where we were she told me it was a party down there (I guess all the people and music...?) It was good we had tickets in a box because little miss musical wanted to dance (and sing) along. The show was at nap time so she did drift off to sleep for a bit but she saw most of the show. I knew she'd like the Spponful of Sugar song but she really got into the Step in Time song! It was a fun day with Delaney, Mimi and Granny at the Fox! I look forward to taking Delaney again sometime! Thanks mom and dad for getting the tickets!

Birthday Celebrations

Delaney opening presents at her party

Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Delaney!

Blowing out the candle.
Enjoying the cake and ice cream.
Playing stick on Abby's pumpkin...and she was the closest!

(no we did not practice ahead of time)

Getting a birthday hug from Ajdin
Family and Friends

Making visors and Princess crowns. (Thanks Aunt Jeannie)

Hudson and Delaney showing me their hats.

Katie, Jack, Hudson and Camden checking out the football toss game.

Delaney following Hudson everywhere!

Daddy and Mommy with the Birthday Girl!

Birthday Girl!

Jumping with Caden and Hannah on her real birthday.

Sharing her chair with Hannah.

Helping Mommy make cupcakes on her birthday!

Playing with balloons from the Birthday Fairy!

Delaney had a wonderful birthday week.. and yes almost a week of birthday fun! We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family. Thanks so much for helping us celebrate our little girl's second birthday! Delaney is loved very much by many!

We can hardly believe it's true... our little princess is TWO!

Dear Delaney Grace,

In some ways it is really hard to believe you are TWO... and in others I feel like you've been two for awhile! You are a perfect mix of sweet and sassy! You never stop amazing us with what you can learn and understand!

Mommy has really enjoyed being home with you the last few months. We have had so much fun playing with your toys and going on adventures with friends. You are really getting into pretend play so the babies and kitchen as well as the little people have gotten a lot of use this summer. It's fun to watch you make the people talk to each other! You have also grown interested in dressing up a bit, you love shoes, necklaces and hats especially! When you saw the princess dress ups in the Disney store you screamed "Woah! Mama! Look at that!" Mommy is looking forward to this pretend playing... it's so cute!

Your vocabulary is quite extensive these days and you speak in 4 to 5 word sentences most often! You can repeat just about anything you hear so we all have to be careful what we say in your presence! Like once when MiMi said something to me and called me Dawn, you looked up and yelled "Dawn! Look at me!" Some of your other favorite tried and true phrases...."That's how I roll", "Sweet", "I want to do it myself", "I want a nunny" (see there is that NUNNY word!) "c'mon lets go", "I love you "mo" much!".... I could go on and on. You change your voice and use different tones when you talk and it cracks us up when you will smile slyly and say " I want a paci" in the sweetest softest voice.... like it's gonna convince us to give you one!

The paci has been a good friend to you. In fact you not only sleep with one in your mouth but usually with one or two in each hand. We meant for you to give it up long ago... you usually only get it at naps and bedtime...but we really had to put our foot down when you turned two. So, the paci fairy has been visiting you this week and taking your pacis one at a time each night and in turn leaving you a present in your bed. More about that in another post!

Your memory is amazing to us... you now can remember things that happened months ago! This summer you have also started singing all of the songs we have been singing to you since you were a baby, but now you can sing them all by yourself. You love to sing and you sing songs as you play throughout the day.... what's best is when you make up your own songs... I love how you use a tune you know and make new words to go along with what you are playing. I think that means you are going to be a song writer or composer! You love to sing and dance but it is all better if you can see yourself in a mirror...but the stove or dishwasher reflection works okay too! Daddy and I do believe you will be a lover of the performing arts.... we'll see right? You do love to watch musicals... especially The Wizard of Oz and Annie!

You can climb up just about anything you put your mind to, so playgrounds are exciting to you and they make mommy very nervous... you used to let me help you but then you learned that sentence.. "I want to do it myself"..... and well that was the end of me helping you... so now I stand at the bottom with my arms bracing for your fall... but heaven forbid... not touching you!

You have gotten much braver in the water this summer too! Some days you'd like for me to just let go of you! It's fun to watch you kick your legs so fast, blow bubbles and jump happily in the water!

Well Delaney Grace... Mommy could go on and on for hours about you. Your smile brightens up our days together and we love you so much! We're looking forward to what TWO has in store for us! Keep shining baby girl!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

P.S. A post will follow later with videos to show off your SKILLS! Mommy is already 2 days late in posting this letter to you so the videos will have to wait!

Two Years Old- Videos

The Little Einsteins are hugging,kissing and telling each other how much they love each other!

Delaney being a dare devil in the back yard!

Delaney dancing to the Any Ooh Song

Singing the Delaney song...here are the words in case you can't understand her (to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle)

D E L A N E Y Delaney is as sweet as pie, loves her babies and her shoes, some they call her Laney Lu, D E L A N E Y Delaney is as sweet as pie.

The paci fairy brought the microphone so she had to sing into it first thing!

Hope you enjoyed these videos of our TWO year old!

Delaney on her first Tube Ride!

Here is a video of Delaney tubing for the first time. She liked it a lot... and even waved with both hands! Enjoy!.. and thanks to Rachel for taping for me!

Table Rock Lake-Pictures

Alex and Delaney eating Captain Crunch and drinking from the Flinstones cups! (they have been around a LONG time!)

Chillin in her camping chair and snacking on grapes.

Delaney caught a fish! But she let it swim away...

Her hair was all curls from the humidity!

Waving to Uncle Andy while he was skiing. Every time someone got in to ski Delaney would say "Ready Andy, hold on tight!" It was so cute!

Mommy and Delaney riding on the tube.. here she is waving with both hands.

We were going pretty slow but she was yelling "faster"!

Andy and Rachel

My Daddy (aka The General)

The kids in the water... Rachel, Andy, Alex, Delaney, Dawn and Jerry.

Delaney helping the General drive the boat!

Played with the settings on my camera as Delaney played on the shore at sunset...

I didn't do so well!

Delaney dancing at sunset!

Delaney and Daddy playing with the flashlight. She loved chasing the light!

Just a few stickers.....

This horse and this penguin must be in love... they were kissing all week!

She loved playing with her animals.. lining them up, counting them, making them race and kiss!

Delaney and Daddy cooking Delaney's hot dog over the campfire.

Delaney sitting with MiMi while she eats her mashmallow!

It's been a few years... but we made it back down to Table Rock Lake for our family vacation. Growing up I don't remember a summer we didn't pack up and head down to Table Rock witht he whole family. Many years Andy and I were lucky enough to get to ride down in the motor home with Granny and Papa. This was so much better than riding in a car! We could move around for one! We played cards with Granny and she fed us practically the whole time too! We loved sitting up in front with PaPa in the big seat where we could see up ahead... or lying in the back bed where we could watch our parents following in their car! We went out in PaPa's boat and everyone skiied or was pulled on the ski horse. We went fishing off the cliffs or in the boat and sat around the campfire everynight roasting marshmallows. I especially liked the years when everyone went.. Granny and Papa, my aunts, uncles and cousins too. Memories of my childhood are filled mostly with camping at Table Rock.. so I was looking forward to starting that tradition with Delaney! After bugging mom and dad some they finally agreed to go back this summer. Delaney was a great camper and being the only kid she had our attention most of the time. She loved playing outside so much, so much in fact she didn't take many naps... just a snooze on the boat here and there.... but she did quite well considering. She loves boat rides and they make up for the fact that she HATES her lifejacket..... what can you do? She even rode the tube with me for awhile..... She got pretty brave jumping off the boat to MiMi too! Delaney taught everyone her word for other or another.. "nunny" and everyone had to try to use it in their own sentences! It was a great week being out in nature with our family. I love hotels and pools and resorts but there is nothing quite like camping at Table Rock Lake. I don't think anyone will forget this trip... and hopefully we'll go on a "nunny" camping trip next year! Next year Delaney wants everyone to go just like the old days.... so if you are reading this and you've ever gone with us... plan on it next summer! A special thanks to MiMi and the General... I know camping is a lot of work and I appreciate you doing this for us! A post with soem videos of the week will follow later! Enjoy the pics for now!