Audrey's Second Birthday Party

Audrey's birthday festivities started early this year as we celebrated with David's mom's side of the family in Alabama on June 11th.  There were several other family members that had June birthdays, so we spent the day honoring AJ and them the way Southerners do best - with lots of food and cake.  She got her own miniature Publix cake with a lavender rose on it and soaked it up with a grin as we sang Happy Birthday.  The day only got better as she opened her presents - a slide from Grandma and Pawpaw, Play-doh and tools from Great Aunt Pat, Great Uncle Keith, Katie, and Cameron, a sand and water table from Grandmom and Granddad, and dress-up clothes from Great Aunt Barbara, Great Uncle Don, James, and Kimberly.  We thought she'd never go down for a nap, but she finally did and we restrained ourselves from playing with all of her stuff.  After she woke up we let her visit for a few minutes before loading up the car.  As we were leaving she said, "This is the best birthday party ever."  I thought her Great Grandma was going to melt.  

On her actual birthday, David took the day off of work and we played ourselves silly.  We gave her her present first thing after breakfast - a toy kitchen.  She loved it!  She just stood and stared at it for a solid minute.  Then we ate plastic waffles, cupcakes, and practiced setting the table for the better part of the morning before heading down to the neighborhood pool.  She's still not a huge fan of the water, but she enjoyed sitting on the steps and playing with some toys.  After lunch and nap, we headed out to Hobby Lobby to grab a few more things for her birthday party and then over to the pet store so she could look at the animals (cheapest zoo around.)  As we were driving home, we passed the hospital where she was born and out of nowhere I started to cry.  I couldn't believe that two years to the minute earlier I'd been in the labor and delivery room having her.  Now she was in the backseat talking loudly and excitedly about the birds and turtles that she'd seen.  I asked her what she wanted for her special birthday dinner and without missing a beat she exclaimed, "Pizza!"  Fortunately, I'd planned on that being her answer.  We ate that, played some more, and then at 7:29, we sang Happy Birthday and let her blow out the two candles on her miniature cookie cake.  After she'd fallen asleep, I went in to check on her and cover her up.  I prayed over her and asked God to protect and bless her as He'd done this past year.  I called David in with me to watch our "little" girl sleep.  We went to bed with full, thankful hearts that night.

The following Saturday we woke up early and got ourselves dressed and ready.  We got Audrey up and finally, after several days of asking "When my party is?" we got to answer her with "TODAY!"  The Noah's Ark themed biggest two year old party of the year was finally here!  David set up the tables and chairs outside as I fed her breakfast and then I went to the store while the two of them played.  I picked up her balloons and cupcakes and came home to finish setting everything up and get her dressed (a light blue A-line dress with a Noah's ark and her name embroidered on it.)  Stuffed and wooden animals, real sunflowers, rainbows, and pictures of Audrey decorated the downstairs.  We'd transformed the china cabinet into a gigantic Noah's Ark scene made of felt and the handmade centerpieces held little porcelain arks with pictures in them.  There were two banners, a window cling scene, and an animal-themed dessert table.  Months of planning, shopping, and creating finally came together.  The poor girl was so excited she didn't know where to look first.  

Family arrived early to visit and play and by 11:45, all of the guests were there and the hot dogs were on the grill.  We ate around noon with a two year old's dream menu:  hot dogs, chips, fruit, and goldfish.  We threw in some potato salad for the adults.  Everyone ate and played before I finally gave in to Audrey's begging and let her open her gifts.  She got so many fun new things!  I'm not sure who was more excited - her or us.  She was lured away by the promise of cupcake and as I sat in her highchair I knew it would be the last birthday she'd have sitting in that seat.  She blew out her purple #2 candle and scarfed it down.  Everyone helped themselves to cupcakes, ice cream, animal crackers, gummy bears, and zebra cakes.  She played with her cousins and friends a little more before I snagged her for a few pictures and people started heading out.  She was asleep in my arms before I laid her down in the crib around 2:30, again realizing that after her 3rd birthday party she may be done with both the crib and naps.  *Sigh.*  When she woke up (rather, when I had to wake her up at 4:30), she played with her cousin Annelise, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Kim who were up from Savannah before they had to leave and we went out to dinner.  What a great day.  Such a sweet celebration with our loved ones for such a sweet girl.    

I've just now - a week later - put the house back together and caught my breath long enough to reflect and write about all of it.  Hopefully I'll get my act together to post pictures in the next few days.  I'll let you know when they're up, but in the meantime, have a great 4th of July anddon't miss her birthday letter below!