Life.Is.Good.: Kinsley Turns TWO!

Well, after months of talking about it, it finally happened...we have officially left behind the first years of Kinsley's life and have entered the TWO's! Hard to believe that 24 months have come and gone, with lots of great memories, photos, stories, laughter, tears, hugs, kisses, sleepless nights, good nights of sleep, "first" after "first," friends, family, holidays, parties, playdates, you name it...we have made the most of these first two years, and we plan to continue that trend for the next several years!

As Kinsley turns 2, I can only smile when I think about some of the fun things I have to take note of her doing these days: clasping her hands before each meal to say her blessing and shouting "Aaaa-maaan!" at the end with her hands in the air, just like a Baptist preacher would say it; helping mommy & daddy unload the dishwasher or helping put clothes from the washer into the dryer (seriously, it's so cute); playing along to her favorite songs "Ring-Around-The-Rosie," "Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes," and "If You're Happy and You Know It"; mimicking everything that we say - on vacation last week, I said "OMG" and the next thing I know, she is saying "Oohh-Geee"; crawling out of her pack 'n play - twice - but so far not attempting the same thing in her crib; dancing - sort of a combination of stomping her feet and shaking her arms back and forth; saying "Guys!" to get attention and "Ohhh gosh!" for no reason...we have no idea where she got this from, but it sure is funny.

We headed to Amelia Island for a few days with my parents last week during school's Winter Break and had a great time! Kinsley found a renewed love of the beach from last summer. Still not crazy about the sand on her hands or feet, but loved the ocean, feeding the seagulls, building - er, I mean destroying - sandcastles, collecting shells, running up and down the beach, and digging in the sand with her shovels. (Photo's to follow in a separate blog post). Definitely can't wait for the rest of Spring and the Summer!

Today we headed to the pediatrician for Kinsley's 2 year check-up. I knew that she was getting tall and heavy and her stats backed that up! She checked-out great, and over the next couple of months, we will begin the potty training and dreaded paci-elimination process. Goodness, help us all. Anyway, here are her stats, trending about the same as we were the past couple of check-ups!

Weight: 28.15 lbs = 75th percentile
Height: 35" = 75th percentile
Head: 51 cm = 95th percentile

For now, though, here is a look at the fun we had this past Saturday for Kinsley's 2nd birthday party! It was a perfect day!

Welcome to Kinsley's 2nd birthday party!

The party favors!

The back deck was all ready for a half-dozen 1 to 2 year olds!

The birthday girl ready to have fun in her party outfit!

Mommy-Kinsley photo pre-party!

Getting final decorations ready. Party hats? Check!

Playing in her new Pottery Barn playhouse...that papa, beebe, mommy, and daddy all put together the night before with no directions. It was comical, to say the least, but we did it!

Kinsley and her buddy Brooks cooking in the kitchen.

Eloise, Lindsey, and Kim.

Kelly, Mom, and Angela.

The proud parents of a TWO year old!

Mom, Danny, and Grandma all sporting their pastel pink.

Somehow the guys always congregate down in the basement around the beer, I mean, the fridge.

There was lots of static electricity in the ball pit!

"2" versions of my favorite homemade sugar cookies!

Kelly's delicious made-from-scratch cupcakes!

Getting ready to blow out her candle!

She did it all by herself - I didn't help at all!

Happy birthday to you Kinsley!

Yummm...licking the icing off the candle.

Aunt Eileen and Grandma sneaking a kiss from Danny.

The whole gang ended up outside for most of the birthday party...can you believe that we had beautiful, sunny weather in the upper 60's in early March?