Our 2 year old Malia Joy

 Our 2 year old Malia Joy celebrated her 2nd birthday on July 16th, 2012!  She wanted to get a donut and put a candle on it.  We happen to live across the street from a donut shop which made it easy to do:)  She wanted to sleep in her Princess jammies the night before her birthday, so she got to do that too. 

 Our 2 year old Malia is a good friend.  She loves her friends and loves having play dates with them.  She is learning to play with others and gradually understanding concepts of "sharing" and being "gentle"

 Our 2 year old Malia loves the carousel and pretty much any other ride she can go on.  She embarked on her 1st roller coaster the other week at Disneyland and loved it!  Our 2 year old Malia is learning how to smile for the camera but usually just likes to make funny faces. 

 Our 2 year old Malia gets camera shy.  Granted she almost always has an over zealous mom taking videos or pictures of her and is probably just sick of that.  Our 2 year old Malia shouts, "no mommy, no pictures now!" when she's had enough.

 Our 2 year old Malia is a ballerina princess.  She LOVES to sing and dance and especially loves to play dress up.  We are in the dress and skirt wearing section of her life where all she wants to wear is princess attire.  Our 2 year old Malia is a funny girl and we love watching and hearing her performances.  Her favorite fan:  Keely.  Malia will make Keely laugh and smile for days.  They love each other like no one else could!

 Our 2 year old Malia is TALL and SKINNY!  Off the charts for her height (39 inches) and barely hanging on to the lowest % for weight (27 lbs.) she is a nonstop ball of energy.  She LOVES to run up and down the beach (something I learned I loved to do at her age too.  So cute).  Our 2 year old Malia LOVES the beach and playing outside.  She also sports a nice golden tan in the summer months regardless of how much sunscreen I put on her.

Our 2 year old Malia is taking swim lessons and loves to play in the water.  She is getting good at "swimming like Ariel" under the water and will hopefully be completely water safe soon.  

Other things worth noting for our 2 year old Malia:

-She still sleeps in her crib and uses a blankie and "beebee" to go to sleep.  We will have to break that sometime this year.

-Her favorite food is cheese, peas and broccoli, mango, chicken nuggets, fruit, pretzels, gogurts, edamame, green juice (green smoothies) popsicles, spam, toast, icecream, and SUSHI.  She would live off of sashimi if she could.  She's a good sport for trying just about anything.  

-loves princesses, mermaids, painting, coloring, bubbles, going to Disneyland, the park or beach.  Loves her movies in the morning while she wakes up.

-loves to sing her ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle and princess songs from her Disney movies

-She still loves her whole milk heated up in her baba (another thing we'll have to break this year) She only gets it when she wakes up and when we are reading stories at night getting ready for bed.

- She talks in full sentences and paragraphs!  I can't get over the vocabulary she knows.  The other day, after watching Rapunzel get married (her current favorite movie) she told me this:

Malia: Mom, I get married to my husband.

Me: Yes honey, you will get married to a husband one day.

Malia:  My husband o-ing to love me so much.

Me: Yes he will baby.

Malia:  And we o-ing to live in a new house together.

Me: Oh you will? 

Malia:  Yes, a new house and it'll be awesome.

Where does she come up with this stuff?? 

We sure love our 2 year old Malia.  She is spunky, opinionated, confident and a good girl.  She has a good heart and doesn't ever want to hurt anyone or their feelings on purpose.  She is a girl which means she DOES have her diva and attitude moments where I almost lose my mind.  But I think it's normal.  And it's good for me to have that sort of obstacle of maintaining my patience.  We are getting used to screaming and tantrums mixed into our days of fun and laughter.  Every day is an adventure with this girl.  She is my sunshine.  I love to sing that song to her at night and she sings it right back:)

Malia's 1st day of Preschool!

I will never forget this day.  It was Malia's first day of (pre) preschool.  You cannot tell by her face, but she does in fact like going:) Yes, I realize she just turned 2.  And yes, I realize this is more like a "daycare" than a preschool since she goes all day long.  But do not dare tell Malia differently because in her perfect little 2 year old mind, she goes to preschool 2 times a week.  

I had Kirk go with me for moral support, and come to find out, he needed me there for moral support!  He got teary eyed dropping her off which I am glad I did not notice or else I would have lost it.

She nervously cling to my hand for about 15 minutes as we cruised around to meet all of her new friends.  There were some tears shed right when we left.  But, I was happy to see that the crying had stopped by the time we got back out to our car and peeked over to check on her.  

Malia needed this.  She is such a smart girl.  With her lunch bag in hand, she walks up to school and she tells me about what she will do that day. "Mom, I'm onna sing da ABC song with my friends." "Mommy, dare was animals that come to my school.  I saw sheep and pig and cow and chickens. I idn't ride pony cuz I was scared.  Next time I ride the pony."

These are the conversations we have now.  I am so impressed with her every day and how well she has adjusted.  We are on day #4 of preschool and each day is getting better.  Last time I picked her up her teacher approached to confirm that she was in fact 2.  "Yes," I said, "she just turned 2 last month."  Miss Lindy mentioned how advanced she was and how her language was far better than many of the 3 year olds at the school.  She asked if she could check to see about getting her into the 3 year old class this new school year. 

Brag moment: Of course, this was a proud moment for me.  I have been working with Malia since she was old enough to talk.  I assume it's because of my education degree and the fact that I love teaching and she loves learning. She  has always been a sponge to things I tell her and teach her.  It's nice to see that my 4 (well more like 5) years of college to get my degree is paying off somewhere:)  

So, this is where Malia goes twice a week now.  I miss her when she's gone, but I still have Keely to keep me company and busy.  It's a nice "break" to only have 1 kid with me then.  

But I sure am excited to pick her up every day and see her smile and run to me and give me a hug.  "I love you sooo much mommy!"  And boy, do I love her back!

Malia's 2nd Birthday Party!!!!

I can't believe my baby girl is 2!!!!  Malia Joy turned 2 on July 16th 2012 and we celebrated her with an "Under the Sea" (Mermaid) party the following Saturday.  She loved it.  We all loved it.  I think everyone that came had a great time enjoying the sunshine, the beach (we did it at Baby Beach in Dana Point), good company and treats.  

We didn't get too crazy with party details and it actually turned out just how I wanted it to- good old fashioned birthday party fun!  The park, beach, cupcakes, pizza and a pinata:)

Here is a photo overload of the day highlighting some of the fun festivities we enjoyed! 

 The birthday girl herself.  She doesn't like taking pictures or making videos, so this is the best shot of her I could get for the day.  I think it's hilarious as she tells me, "no more pictures mommy."  Wonder if she is always going to shy away from the camera.

Malia playing with her bestest friend and cousin, Kamryn.  We love them sooo much!  They made it down for her birthday and we just love them to pieces for making that trek! 

 Malia and her dear friend Lola.  These gals like to play together and are so stinkin cute together!

 Pinata time!  And a group picture at the same time

 Malia and her buddy Jane (and mommy Michelle)

 The pinata was pretty durable!  We had to have the muscles of Auntie Brookie come in to help get the breaking of the pinata going.

 Malia was a little unclear on the concept of rushing to get the  treats that spilled from the pinata but had fun still the same.  Note that she doesn't smile all the time.  I think this fact is hilarious.  She will be having the best time of her life and keep a stone cold face.  It's funny to see her little personality forming.

 Pinata carnage :)

 Some of the party bystanders- Keely and Sunny!  Sunny is the sister of one of Malia's good friends, Pheobe.  I think these girls are destined to be good friends too

 Some of the party goers- the Andersons and Asays.  We sure love all of our friends!!

 Malia's Mermaid cake made with love by her extra special Nana.  Nana Freda happens to be a baking master and created the adorable cake and cupcakes for the party- thank you!  And Malia is super obsessed with Mermaids right now, and chose the theme of her party

 Our funny little family of 4:)

 Me and Kirk in the AMAZING art that Brooke made for the party.  The kids put their faces in it and we took pictures.  It was cute

 Even some of Malia's bestest aunties came down to the party.  These are some of my oldest friends, Auntie Dawn and Liz

 Malia's so lucky to have her Nana and Papa live so close to her to love and spoil her!

 The beautiful treats made by my mom

 

 And let's not forget the party favors:  Beta fish that the kids got to take home for new pets.  Malia got the leftovers.  A boy and a girl who she named Tammy and George.  She named them after 2 of her most favorite people in the world- Tammy and George Richards.  We sure love that family:)  They are like a second family to us and they LOVE Malia so much.  We are lucky to have so many amazing friends and family that live so close to us.

And there you have it folks.  The party play by play.  Our party was not Pinterest worthy, but we sure loved it and had a great time.  Again, I apologize for the boring commentary, but Keely is yanking at my hair and "talking" to me about her day.  Being a mom to these sweet babies is the best thing in the world.  I wouldn't change anything for the world.

Happy Birthday Malia girl.  You are so loved and appreciated for all that you do and are.  You are turning out to be a sweet, smart and funny little girl and we are so lucky to be your parents for eternity.

xoxoxo, mommy and daddy

Easter and My Birthday 2012

 Malia 21 months, Keely 2 months

 Saying "cheese!"

My blogging has gone seriously downhill.  I apologize for the photo dump and lack of very interesting commentary.  Life is busy!  

We had Easter and I celebrated another birthday on the same day.  I'm now officially "into my 30's" so there's not much celebrating going on over here.  I love where I am in my life, it's just that saying my age seems so wrong.  Aside from being so tired, I feel like I should be telling people I am 23 or at best 27.  Huh.  Well, it was a great Easter and a great birthday.  The girls were in their first matching outfits and I have to admit I thought it was pretty darn cute:)  

Malia's 1st chore

I had chores growing up.  I think all kids should have chores, and getting them started early is something Kirk and I feel strongly about.  I cringe at how spoiled some kids are around here. Chores teach kids responsibility, gratitude, obedience, and most importantly, hard work.

Malia's first chore is putting away the silverware.  She knows the drill when I am unloading the dishwasher that it's "chore time"  She likes it!  She enjoys helping me.  Among her other chores is throwing away hers and Keely's diapers as well as helping me hang up and put away her clothes.  I think it is amazing how much kids are able to do once you teach them.    

Anyway, we will be adding onto her chore list as she gets older and taller:)

Keely girl at 3 months

So now I am going backwards but I have to share these so I have them in the future.  Our Keely is quite the chunk!  One day when she is skinny (hopefully) we will be able to look back at these photos and laugh with her about how she was so chubby.  I plan on sharing all of these embarrassing ones to her prom date and at her wedding:)

Our 4th of July

A little late here.  Shocking I know.  Don't we take the most glamorous family pictures?  Well, one day when we don't have so many moving parts we will all be smiling and looking at the camera. Until then, it might become a funny family tradition to take pictures as a family on the 4th of July.  Independence Day happens to be one of my favorite holidays.  I love my county, I love where I live and I LOVE the summer.  It's a day spent with family and friends and almost always includes the beach, fireworks and some BBQ.  This year was no different except that we had Keely monster here with us to celebrate.  We sure love our Keely monster.  It's funny I call her that because she couldn't be any less of a "monster."  So now we have our bubbas and our Keely monster and a whole lot more holidays to enjoy together as a family.