My baby turned 2!

On September 10th, 2011, Lauren Elisabeth turned 2 years old.  We celebrated with a family party, pink and green, cake and ice cream and lots of presents.  I haven’t written much about Lauren, and looking back I think it’s mostly because this last year has been a rough one for her and for me.  She is strong-willed and very “spirited”.  She has loads of personality, but she will stand her ground like no other child of mine has before her.  We are making our way though, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say she has made me want to pull my hair out a lot this past year.  At age 2, she is a chatter box.  She talks all the time.. 2,3,4, 5 word sentences.  She is still addicted to her paci & nani (at bedtime only).   She is a vegetarian… with the exception of bologna!  Ha.  She also refuses to eat bread.  So.. her diet is generally yogurt, granola, apples, peaches, grapes, bananas, string cheese.  I know, it’s wonderful.  She is feisty and very independent, but still freaks out and puts on a huge show when I try to drop her off in the nursery or with a babysitter.   She throws tantrums ALL THE TIME.  Since turning 2.. I have seen a drastic improvement in her temperament.  She is starting to connect her behavior with consequences, and will actually say.. “Ok, Mommy” .. “I do it”.   “Sorry, Mommy”.   As is the case with each one of my children, she has taught me a whole new side to being a parent.  She has humbled me, and made me realize I don’t have all the answers.   With all of that said.. she is still the most adorable 2 year old I know.  I love her with every part of me.  Below are a few of the pictures from her party.

This girl was ready to go for her party!  Showing off a little princess notepad.  Never have I had a 2 year old get so excited and enjoy being the center of attention so much!

I could seriously eat this picture up. 

Pure Cuteness.

The Birthday Girl!!

Our traditional family pic!  As you can see.. she was hamming it up a bit.

Looks so much like Daddy!

Zach and Grandma Terry

Lo & Mommy.. not looking so much alike.

Eating with Grandma Lucy.

Opening presents! Mrs. Potato Head!

My little pony & Remote control!

Her first Princess Dress!  She immediately requested to put it on!

So excited!

Lauren loved her cake!

Jumping up and down! Yelling, “YAY!”

Blowing out her candle!

Enjoying her cake!

I think this picture best sums it up!  A great time was had by all!

The first grader

I can’t believe it’s here!  The night before 1st grade we read the book, “The Night Before first grade” to keep up with tradition.  Taylor was so excited.  She had been saying she wanted to go to school for weeks.  This was a big year- school ALL DAY for the very first time.  Kalamazoo Christian for the very first time, and new classmates.  Big changes were up ahead, and we had talked about it, analyzed it and prepared for it for months.  Last week we went to her school’s open house to meet her teacher, Mrs. Heyboer and she was warm, affectionate and nurturing.  Exactly, what this 1st grader needed this year.  Our outfit was picked out, bag was packed with the appropriate supplies and it was off to bed at 8:00 for an early wake-up!

Taylor beat us all up, as she was in our room at 5:45 a.m. ready to go to school, then 6:00, then 6:15.  She couldn’t sleep.  She was too excited.   At 6:30, I let her get up for the day… and she was talking a mile a minute.  So excited!   Here I a grabbed a picture of her eating breakfast.

Here she is in her back to school outfit; and after much debate about shoes, these were deemed her outdoor shoes for fall.  Her school requires outdoor shoes and indoor shoes.  The kids actually have to remove their shoes when they come in the building and put on their indoor shoes.

Take a picture of me like this, Mom.

It was a cold morning.. so Zach was not super happy about being dragged out front in his short sleeve shirt to take a picture.

This was going on behind the scenes…   Let’s just say I’m glad I waited until it was about time to leave to get Zach & Lo out of bed.  Lauren was not happy about the early wake up and she was clinging to me and whining for most of our morning.  I was so distracted.. I didn’t even realize she still had her paci in her mouth until we got to school!

Our big first grader!

Getting things packed away in her locker!

Time to say our goodbyes.  She was holding it together when we left, and thankfully she had a sweet little girl whose name is Rachel sitting right next to her.

When I picked her up from school the first thing she did was burst into tears.  She said she didn’t have a good day, but after we got out to the car and talked about it.. it turned out the day had been great.  She was just overwhelmed at the end because she couldn’t find me, and was scared I would forget her.  She then spent her first half day afternoon home playing tea party with a few dolls and animals.

So far, she is LOVING school. Seriously, this is our best transition to school yet.  Her main issue seems to be the playground, or anytime she is without her teacher.  Not a big surprise to me, because she is kind of going through some fear about this kind of thing at home too.  So we are yet to go a whole day without tears, but she recovers quickly.  On her first full day home we sat outside on the front porch, and I enjoyed her non-stop chatter about every detail of her day. She made me laugh and she made me smile.   I especially loved hearing about how she started a girls club of 1st grade girls.. which only means they call themselves a club (any girl is invited), and they say a little chant (1st grade girls- YAY!).   The very things I so often wish I had a break from… her constant chatter, and her need for interaction were the same things I had missed all day long. I truly enjoyed listening to her.  Zach and Lauren are having a tougher time.  Zach misses Taylor so much..  I miss how well they play together and the sound of their conversations.  Our mornings are LONG.. they start about 2 hours earlier than they did all summer, and we are without our recreational director.. Ha.   I can’t believe we are here.  When you are up all night with your firstborn, you think those years will last forever.  You think it will be SO long until they are gone and not needing you every minute.  The truth is, don’t blink…   you will be in a different season before you know it.  I am now left realizing she was my constant companion.  I’ve longed for quiet.. and now that it is here ( in the afternoon).. I sometimes wish I could hear her little voice.