Family Fun Day!

We had such a fun Saturday! Alex has been asking to go bowling so we decided to take her today! She LOVED it! She bowled with bumpers and a ramp...and she beat me...TWICE! Kind of embarrassing, but still fun!




We went to Fudrucker's for lunch and had cookies when we were done. Alex wasn't ready to go home so we went to Toys R Us to look around. I figured it would be a good time to get Christmas ideas! Alex loved trying all the bikes out. She was soo good and never asked for anything until she saw the Calico Critters Manor. She tried picking up the box and said we needed to go pay. I have a feeling this will be on the top of her Christmas list this year! It's perfect because there are soooo many accessories that go with it so we can continue to add to it!



Alex still wasn't ready to go home so we went to Barnes and Noble. We sat and had coffee (and milk) then we played with the train table and read some books!

I love days we get to spend as a family doing fun things!

Pre School Prep

We are getting my sweet girl ready for pre school! She starts 2 weeks from today. We have been talking about it since the Spring and I know she is more than ready. I LOVE her school. They do several activities prior to school starting so the children are familiar with their teacher and their classroom. Today we had our in home visit. Ms. Mary, her teacher, and Ms. Kristie, the assistant teacher, came by. They had a folder filled with helpful info that Alex was very excited about! Ms. Mary brought Alex "Clifford Goes To School". She read it to her and let her keep it. I love that the teacher and assistant meets each child in their own environment for the first time! Our next activity will be open house in the classroom next week.

Not long after I registered her for school, we dropped by a little boutique and they happened to have all the backpacks and lunch bags 50% off. Alex picked a cute striped pattern and we had them personalized. During our teacher visit today, she informed Ms. Mary she wanted to be called Alexandra. Good thing I chose Alexandra for her lunch bag and backpack months ago!

Alexandra and I took a little Mommy/Daughter shopping trip 2 weeks ago. We went shopping for school shoes since she has to wear close toe shoes. She picked some containers and ice packs for her lunch bag. It was so much fun to spend a day just hanging out with my girl. She thought the little stockings she had to wear to try on shoes were funny!

The perfect ending to our shopping date was a ride on the carousel!

Valentine's Projects!

Alex has been asking to make crowns lately. In honor of Valentine's Day, we all made Valentine's crowns/headbands today! Since Alex has been on a Mickey kick lately, she covered hers in Mickey Mouse stickers and asked me to write Mickey's Clubhouse, Minnie and Daisy on her hearts! When we were done, we had a dance party! I have to brag about Josh, he knows all the words to the Beauty and the Beast songs since we listen to them about 500x a day! I guess it's part of being the daddy of a girly girl!

Birthday!

On Friday, I got up early and picked up donuts so I could be here as soon as Alex woke up on her birthday. Josh and I put together her kitchen the night before, so I wanted to see her sweet little face when she saw it for the first time! She absolutely loved it! So much that she didn't even want any donuts because she wanted to keep playing. We finally talked her into sitting at her kitchen counter to eat a little.

Alex hates getting her hands dirty when she eats sweet stuff for some reason, so she ate the top off part of her donut and decided that was all she wanted.
After breakfast, we had a Lady Gaga dance party. Alex loves her some Lady Gaga! She showed off her jumping skills!

We all got ready and went to see Toy Story 3. We weren't sure how she'd do, but she was great!!! She sat in her little booster seat and munched on pretzels and goldfish. About 20 minutes before the movie was over she started getting antsy and went back and forth between Josh and me. After the movies we went out to lunch. Alex's favorite...Pizza!

Nomi and Popi got to our house around 7:30 so we went to dinner. We went to Chili's so Alex could have some chips and "sauce." She loves salsa, which she calls sauce.

I love that Josh took off the entire day so we could spend Alex's birthday together doing her favorite things! Seeing my sweet girl so happy just makes my heart smile. Josh and I had so much fun on her birthday, especially because we could tell she loved her special day!

Happy 2nd Birthday

Happy Second Birthday

Alexandra Rae!

Dear Alexandra,

I can't believe you are two years old. It seems like just a few months ago to me...

From the day I told your mommy that if we had a daughter I wanted her name to be Alexandra, I knew that I would love you. I cried the day we found out your mommy was pregnant and I cried the day you were born. You were beautiful to me then and you are even more beautiful to me now.

Each and every day of your life, you have made mine more special. Without your hugs in the morning, my days are empty. Without your laugh, my days are sad. Without your smile, I am missing a part of myself. Without you, there is no me.

Your mommy and you have made me complete. You have both changed my life for the better in every way possible; I know what is important now. I wake up every day and look forward to what the day holds for you. Your excitement is contagious; your love is infectious.

I watch you grow up every day with a blend of happiness and sadness. I will always treasure each day because they are fleeting. You're becoming a little girl now, but you'll forever be my baby. I just hope that as each year goes by, you still let your daddy hold you...even if it's only for a few seconds. I love you Alexandra Rae and I always will.

Forever your daddy.

Alexandra Rae,

I can not believe 2 short years ago you were a tiny little 5 pound 12 ounce baby who decided to surprise everyone by making an early appearance. The first time I held you in my arms, I knew my life was complete. Every day since, my love has grown even more that I ever thought possible. You went from a sweet little baby to a beautiful toddler in the blink of an eye.

You make me smile and laugh a million times a day. You melt me when you snuggle up to me and plant big kisses on my mouth. You are the sweetest little thing. I love experiencing life through your eyes. I am so lucky to be your Mommy.

There are so many things I want for you, but more than anything I want you to know every single day how much I love you. You bring so much joy to my life!

Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet baby!

Love you today, tomorrow and always,

Mommy

Girls Weekend

Alex and I had a girls weekend! Josh flew to Chicago Friday evening for his grandma's 90th birthday. We were hosting ort HOA meeting that night so Alex and I stayed. Alex played the little hostess serving everyone tea with her little tea set. She got to stay up late and have milk and cookies while we were having our meeting.

She woke up at 7:30 Saturday morning and I felt hungover because I stayed up late reading. Is it sad that lack of sleep can make me feel hungover? Must be a sign that I'm getting OLD! I got Alex and put her in bed with me so she could drink her milk, then she hopped down to play. I decided to go ahead and get up and make some coffee. I quickly realized we were out of coffee beans! :( So I threw on some clothes so we could grab breakfast. When I came back in the kitchen, I found Alex with a bag of Pirate's Booty in the middle of the floor eating and sharing with Cooper. I guess that meant she was hungry! We went to Kolache Rolf's for breakfast (and coffee) then to the grocery store for milk and a few other things. It wasn't until I was in the car that I realized I forgot the darn coffee beans!

We met Katie and Abby at Target after Alex woke up from her nap. We are hosting a baby shower in 2 weeks and needed to get some supplies. Alex decided to give some attitude and demanded juice. I don't know where she gets it from, she has had juice maybe 10 times in her life. I offered water, NO, Cheerios, NO, then she decided she wanted everything off the shelves. By the time we checked out, I had a pile of stuff I had to tell the cashier we didn't want.

We had a quiet night . I let Alex stay up until a little after 8 because she was being so sweet and snugglie. We sat in her glider for the longest time just talking. Every few minutes she would reach up and kiss me. It's those moments I know I am the luckiest person in the world. I have a beautiful, sweet, caring little girl who loves and adores me. I love and adore her too! Friday and Saturday night she fussed and cried some when I put her down. I really think it's because Josh wasn't here. We both always put her down. Every night we have some snuggle time, we hold her between us when we sing to her then she says "bye-bye Coo Coo, bye-bye, night-night Daddy." She knows it's just not the same when he's not here.

She has asked for Josh about 100 times since Friday. We have called him several times and she loves talking to him. It is so sweet hearing her excited voice when she realizes it's Josh on the other end of the phone. The conversation usually goes something like, "Daddy. Love you. Bye-bye. Baby." The background pic on my phone is a pic of Alex so she gets distracted by the baby on the phone. She loves pushing the red end call button when we are done.

I am so ready for Josh to get home. He should be home at some point during Alex's nap so when she wakes up she'll get to see her Daddy!

I was planning on transitioning Alex to a toddler bed this weekend, but decided to hold off a bit. We are going out of town 2 of the next 3 weekends and she will be sleeping in a pack and play so I don't want her to be too confused going back and forth between a toddler bed and the pnp.