Addie's 2nd Birthday - Pancakes & Pajamas

We decided on a "Pancakes & Pajama" party theme for Addie's 2nd birthday party.  Addie loves "cake" as she calls them for breakfast and who doesn't?  I mean they are so yummy, come in all types of flavors - chocolate chip is Addie's fave, and are topped with whatever your heart desires.  The breakfast food wouldn't be complete without adorable toddler pajamas, so that's just what we did.  This party was so much fun to plan (and also so easy!) and was so perfect for our pancake loving, pajama wearing, crazy little girl!

So let's start with the basics:

• The food - pancakes (obviously!) - 3 different kinds - plain, blueberry, and chocolate chip.  Pancakes aren't the same without bacon and sausage.  I added a fruit and yogurt parfait bar for something a little healthy.  Then topped it off with the cutest little "eggs & bacon" candies that doubled as favors for Addie's little friend.  We served coffee, juice, mimosas, water, & chocolate milk.  Our donut cake was a hit with guest of all ages! 

• The decor & more - I went with a super girly pink and gold.  It was so pretty and so perfect!  I kept it simple and actually found a lot of stuff in the Target dollar bins (thank you Valentine's day!)  I put together some adorable and super yummy favors for Addie's little friends.  They said "You're the bacon to my eggs!" Last year, I had all of our friends and family write a little note to Addie in a book for her 1st birthday and I decided the keep the tradition going.  This year I bought "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and it is now filled with love notes from a lot of amazing people in Addie's life.  I'm hoping to continue this for the next 18 years and then give them all to her one day. 

• The activities - Let's be real, 2 year olds don't really have the attention span for too many activities.  I printed a few breakfast themed coloring pages (which I don't even think were used) and other than that just let the little ones have a free for all with Addie's toys.  I put together a fun and very, very cheap (I used 3 plastic tablecloths that were $1 each and bought some cute props from Michael's) photo booth for us to use to document all of our friends and family at the party.  I think the adults actually had more fun with it than the kids :)

We had so much fun at Addie's party.  It was absolutely perfect.  The pancakes were a hit and who doesn't love showing up to a party in pajamas!  After we ate, we opened up presents.  Addie was much more into in this year compared to last year which made it a lot of fun!  She was excited about all of her gifts, from the M&M's to the new tricycle that Grandma & Pap got her.  She loved the art easel from Eric and I, along with all of the art supplies she got.  The Doc McStuffin & Minnie Mouse gifts were favorites, along with the huge stuffed pink unicorn from Uncle Brian and Carla.  Addie is a very spoiled girl and we are so thankful for all of the gifts our little girl received at her party.  Each and every one of them brought a smile to her face and so much excitement!  After gifts, we sang Happy Birthday and then enjoyed some donuts.  Addie licked every last bit of chocolate icing off of her donut and ate every last sprinkle.  After "cake" it was time for more playing and more fun in the photo booth.  Shortly after that Addie's party came to an end.  Our friends and family may have left, but the memories we had with them at Addie's very fun and very perfect party will last a lifetime!  

Dear Addie - You're TWO

Dear Addie,

Happy 2nd birthday!  It's crazy to think that it's been 2 years already since you've entered this world, and not a day has gone by that you haven't brought a smile to my face.  Life with you is an adventure!  You are the sweetest, craziest, full of energy, happy little girl and I feel so lucky that you call me Mommy!

At 2 years old, you are ON THE GO...literally!  You run around the house smiling and laughing all day long.  You are so active and I love that about you.  Even though I may deny it at times (especially when I find you on top of the kitchen table) I really do love how adventurous you are!

At 2 years old, you are the sweetest big sister to Bella.  You make her laugh like no one else can and I love watching the two of you interact, it makes my heart melt.  You are protective of her and very caring.  The second she cries, you come to the rescue with a hug, kiss, and her pacifier.  I can't wait to watch you continue to teach her, play with her, and be the sweetest big sister to her.  The two of you are already the best of friends, even at only 2 years old and 6 months old!  It only gets better from here!

At 2 years old, you are obsessed with your friends.  Huds has your heart and you ask about him all day long.  Addy and Emerson "Mimi" as you call her are also your best buds.  We have play dates often and you are a social butterfly so you love every second of it!  Since we live away from family, these friends have become family and we love to do fun holiday things together and even take trips.  Speaking of family - you absolutely LOVE to Facetime these days!  I can't open up my laptop without you wanting to talk to T (Aunt Kristen) or Pap and Grandma.  Technology is pretty amazing and I love that you get to see them on a regular basis, but nothing beats when they come to visit!  You smile from ear to ear and ask about them constantly when they leave.  The next time we are all able to get together, you pick up right where you left off!  I love that you already know how important family and close friends are and that makes me a very proud momma!

At 2 years old, you are a Daddy's girl!  The second Daddy comes home from work and you hear that door open, you drop what you are doing and sprint around the corner to greet him with a big hug.  I love watching the two of you together!

At 2 years old, you are obsessed with baby dolls.  You take care of them just like I take care of Bella.  You take them for walks in the stroller, feed them and burp them, give them a bath, and even put them "night night."  You are also the most amazing artist!  You love to draw and paint and I think you would do it all day long if I let you (although our house, couch, and walls would probably become very colorful!)  "Mixing" aka cooking or baking is also one of your favorite things to do and you've become my #1 taste tester in the kitchen!  You are obsessed with everything about animals!  We go to the zoo a lot and you have perfected most animal sounds.  You love lining up your Little People animals and we go through all of the sounds that they make.  Also, you love to build towers with your legos and blocks (Daddy is your favorite assistant), you could sit and read books for hours before bed, and the number of stuffed animals we have keep multiplying (partly to Uncle Brian and Carla!)

At 2 years old, you've got a lot to say.  In the last few weeks, you have started talking a lot!  I think you talk from the second you wake up to the second you go to sleep!  Some of it I can translate and other times I think your just making up your own songs.  You are a sponge and I love watching you soak up new words.  The words that come out of your mouth really do surprise me on a daily basis.

Addie, you are pretty much the best toddler ever and so much fun these days.  I absolutely love this age, the good, the bad, and the ugly (can you say picky eater and temper tantrums!)  I know a lot of people say "Terrible Twos" but there really isn't anything terrible about it.  I love every second of every day with you and I can't even put into words how much I love you.  Being a mom changes your life and your first born always holds a special place in your heart.  You gave me the gift of being a mom and no matter how old you get you will always be my sweet Addie girl.  Happy birthday!  I love you to the moon and back!

Love, Mommy

Toddler Tales

I recently read a post on a blog that I follow called "Toddler Tales."  She dedicated a post to share some of the crazy, off the wall things that her toddlers say and do and I absolutely loved the idea.  Addie is hilarious these days and although she is still developing her vocabulary, she really does say and do the funniest things and as we are approaching her 2nd birthday I am constantly reminded why I love this age.  Addie makes me laugh, she makes me smile, she makes me proud, and at times she may even make me a little crazy - but she continues to amaze me on a daily basis and being her and Bella's momma is by far the most rewarding job in the entire world.  With that being said, here is my version of Toddler Tales, Addie Edition, volume 1:

Anyone who knows Addie knows that she has become quite the picky eater.  Usually if it doesn't come in a pouch, she isn't a fan.  Enter Ketchup - who would have known that ketchup could be a universal condiment.  She eats it with the obvious things chicken, grilled cheese, eggs, but then she sneaks it in with some interesting things as well, bananas and gold fish, and sometimes just uses her finger to eat it solo.  Not to mention the times she's asked for it and we've turned her down - I think that girl would eat ketchup with just about anything!

Addie plays with her nursery from Grandma and Pap constantly.  Since we had Bella, that girl always has a baby doll in her hand and it seems like recently they have multiplied.  She loves to put her babies and stuffed animals "night night" and sometimes I turn around and poor Bella is surrounded by 3 baby dolls, her froggy, and her puppy - all tucked in, given kisses, and ready to go "night night."  Luckily, Bella is a trooper and plays right along with a huge smile on her face!

Her british accent - I'm not really sure where it came from, but when Addie says certain words I swear she sounds like she's from England.  The word "sock" is my favorite, but "Pap" has become a close second.  I guess if we ever venture overseas she will fit right in.

In the last couple of weeks, Addie has become the most polite toddler I've ever met.  Every time I give her something she follows with the sweetest little "Thank you Mommy" and any time I thank her for doing something she says "Welcome Mommy."  I'm not going to lie though, her politeness makes me pretty proud :)

Sometimes I think Addie has turned into a frog because she is constantly jumping around the house saying "wicky wicky" which translates to ribbit ribbit.  It's hilarious.

The most famous celebrity in our house right now is Frosty the snowman.  Addie is obsessed!  She got her Frosty movie on Christmas eve and I think we've watched it at least 1000 times since then.   That girl has the movie memorized!  She knows when to march around the room when the kids do on the movie, she says "hot" before the fire even appears on the screen, and she's get's very upset when the girl on the movie is about to cry.  Luckily, Frosty goes "night night" in our house for most of the day because for real, mommy can only handle the "jolly happy soul" one time per day!

Her dance moves - not sure where she got them, but they are awesome!  She wiggles, spins around, and loves to move.  We often have dance parties after dinner and she is always the star!

Addie is one smart cookie.  If we ask her to do something she doesn't want to do, like change her diaper, she runs away and lays down to pretend she is sleeping.  Smart girl!

I can't right a post all about Addie and not include her best friend Hudson.  She asks about her buddy Huds as she calls him, about 100 times a day.  Everything we do and everywhere we go she asks about Huds.  She is crazy about him, luckily his parents are pretty cool too!

That's all for this edition of Toddler Tales.  Our toddler is pretty awesome, what can I say :)