Ivy Jane is TWO!

These blurry pictures were the best I could get of my excited little two year old the morning of her birthday, August 5th. She woke up saying, "It's my happy birthday!" 

Proud big sister wanted to get her picture, too! 

Seriously...where did the last two years go?! Ivy Jane has been a DELIGHT...at times she's strong-willed & definitely loves her momma & wants me to hold her A LOT, but I know these moments will be gone before I know it. So, for the time-being I'm going to hold her as much as she will let me...and put her in time out when she needs it! 

My family came to Louisiana for her actual birthday...we all went to church & came home for lunch & a little birthday celebration! I love this picture of the birthday girl with her two candles...

She was so excited when everyone started singing to her!

In action...she got SO close to the flame!

We headed to Shelby's parents' house this past weekend for birthday celebration #2! We spent Saturday morning at Ft. Worth Children's Museum where the girls had a BLAST! Their favorite part was grocery shopping...Georgia Claire is STILL talking about it!

Working the cash register...

Interactive Dino Labs with Aunt Heather...GC was really good at it!

A GIANT lite brite!

Julian, Georgia & Heather made Ivy Jane a birthday hat in the art area...

I love this little angel...

I thought this was a hilarious picture of Granby...deep in study at the "Grandparent Resources" table!

That night Mimi cooked a delicious supper! Afterwards we had cupcakes with a whole bunch of toppings from which we could choose! Ivy Jane chose a gummy worm, candy hearts, sprinkles & nerds!  Here she is getting extremely close to the flame AGAIN!

Georgia LOVED picking out all of the toppings!

This was the tired baby after our morning at the museum! 

During her well-check last week the nurse asked me several questions on a checklist. One was, "Is she saying two-word phrases?" To which I replied, "Um, yes...she's saying 5-6 word complete sentences!" Some of our favorite things she's saying right now...

"I go to the store! I buy milk & juice & betchables!"

"I can't right now. I'm eating breakfast!" (or something else to fill in the blank)

When we ask her to do something or if we can have something she says, "Sure!" or "I sure can!"

She comes into a room and says, "Hey guys!" and sometimes "Whatcha doin?"

In our big tub she likes to lay down in the water, look up at us & announce, "I swimmin!"

She loves to give BIG hugs, she loves to dance & sing, she LOVES "Veggie Tales" & playing with her babies. She knows her colors, shapes, several letters & all of her numbers 0-9! So big! 

God has blessed her Daddy & me with these two baby girls--each little miracles in their own special way. Yes, it's exhausting & yes, there are days when I wish I could just go shopping by myself or even go to THE BATHROOM by myself, but I am reminded by their sweet little faces that THIS LIFE is the life that I prayed for...for many years! Thank you, Lord! 

Busy Bees

I'm skipping a nap while the girls nap, forgetting about the piles of dirty clothes & the bathrooms that need to be cleaned & I'm going to TRY to catch up on my blogging! 

We've been busy bees around our house lately...I'm just trying to keep up with our now 3 year old & 2 year old! It sounds crazy to say that...I feel like I no longer have babies! It makes me sad, but is also exciting at the same time!

Last week my nieces Mary Katherine & Caroline came to visit...they stayed two nights and these 4 girls had a BLAST! Shelby was out of town so it was the perfect time to do lots of GIRL stuff! At the end of the 48 hours I was worn out, but it was such a sweet time! 

Georgia Claire & Ivy Jane had their well-checks while they were here...it was so nice to have a distraction & some helpers while being at the doctor! Ivy Jane was too busy to stop for a picture, but I love this one of the 3 big girls...

After the doctor we headed to the park before it got too hot. Georgia LOVES the slides...

 

This picture cracks me up. Shelby finally got to move into an office so we hung a few pictures & moved some furniture around. The girls immediately got busy "working" at his desk!

 We love to play hide-n-seek!

 Cuddling with Daddy on the "chouch" as GC calls it...

 And helping Grandma in the kitchen is always fun!

 Swinging in their gowns & Crocs at Grandma & Paw Paw's house!

 Talking to the cows...

Riding in the car Ivy Jane fell asleep like this...

 Riding the carousel in the mall was a HIT!

 And today at nap time I took these pictures...finally "CONKED OUT" (as I call it)!

 I think Ivy Jane is laying hands on her little baby...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of my life, but I have to be honest...I am EXHAUSTED!