TWO

My babies turned TWO!!! People often ask me if it goes by too fast, automatically thinking my answer is yes. But it's yes and no, actually. Every loving second I spend with them is a gift from God, truly. I don't know how else to explain how I got these precious miracles and what I ever did to deserve them. But it's also the hardest work I've ever done in my life. To be honest, I don't miss the round the clock watch over them when they were newborns, the total loss of sleep along with all the feedings and new mom worries. I'll never forget then and still now how I'm endlessly on my A game measuring out the two different formulas, medications, ointments, specific foods and snacks, making sure each has their certain need at any given moment. But I'd do it all over again for these two and I try my hardest to keep my head sharp every day to be the best Mom I can to them. It's pretty much my calling, what I choose to be one of my very favorite purposes in life these days. 

We've had such fun celebrating birthday #2 with everyone these past few weeks. As you'll recall, it started when they went down to Texas and had their first birthday party with Mimi. The next weekend Nana and Papa were here and we had more birthday cake. Approaching the real birthday day, they got to have a little party at school and then a full Labor Day Weekend celebration with Uncle, Grandpa, Grandma, and Jenny. Whew! Who would've ever thought one would be ready to have birthday cake out of their house for a while?

Here we are the morning before they had their birthday party at school. We brought cupcakes and Thomas the Train stickers for all their friends. Getting them to pose "properly" was quite a challenge. As usual.

 (As I've texted out and posted, here is one of Cole's "Papa's Expressions" that come out every now and then. To me, at least, this is an exact face my Papa made and it warms my heart when I see it and others suddenly show through on Cole.)

 Coming home from school, they were still proudly wearing their birthday crowns.

 Saturday morning--September 1st--we headed out to the zoo. They talked about going to the zoo on their birthday for several days. It was finally here! I told the front gate people it was their birthday and they each got Mimi the Elephant Birthday Buttons to wear (which they wore for about 5 minutes total) along with tickets for free ice cream and merry go round rides.

 We saw all our favorites, the giraffes, the zebras, the elephants, the hippo, rhinos, and a variety of monkey--a couple of them dangling and playing around right above us, and then our favorite of the day: 3 monkeys "burping". In the rain forest, we heard this loud, low, belching type sound. Robby and I thought it was some piped in animal sounds to add to the ambiance of the "rain forest", but we soon discovered it was 3 adorable monkeys perched up in a tree basically "burping" from the sounds of it. To this evening even, the kids are still fondly recalling the burping monkeys.

We soon headed over to one of our favorite spots in the zoo--the grassy hill next to the merry go round. All you have to do is say the words merry go round to Cole and he gets crazy excited! He immediately went running ahead of us to stake out a great spot on the hill while he so nicely waited for me to get the merry go round tokens and lunch. He ended up riding the merry go round 4 times. Cam even "rode" it twice too. I use the word "ride" in quotes because she wants to be held the entire ride. If you even try to put her kind of on an animal, she squeezes her legs around you even harder and won't let go. Of course, she tells you all about how she rode the merry go round once it's done and she's running off it. But Cole was so happy riding with Uncle and Grandpa, I'm so glad he got to do one of his favorite things on his big day. It was a nice day in the shade riding and lunching...

 But then we dealt with yet another Camryn melt-down. I guess it had been 30 minutes, so we were due another one. Poor girl, she's a ball of emotions lately and we all get to be on her roller coaster ride of moods. When she's happy, she's the life of the party and you won't find a more lovable girl. When the tiniest thing sets her off, look out. Literally, look out--she's probably throwing several things at your head. Lordy.

The zoo was a great time. Cole really had a great day birthday day there, he was in good spirits the whole time. We left right as the heat of the day set in, and the babies got in a much needed nap. Later that afternoon it was time for presents! They got lots of really cool things this year--things that needed assembly the night before. So down to the basement we went for their "display" gifts and present opening. Thomas the Train Bike and Minnie Bike! Thomas the Train table!!

They are in love with their bikes! We've been riding them every day both outside and down around the basement.

Cole can pretty much reach the pedals, he just needs to get the motion down and he'll be set. Camryn is just a little too short for full range of the pedals, but it won't be long...

Here, she's showing Uncle which buttons to push on her Minnie bike to make the different sounds.

They are so proud on their bikes...

Moving on to present opening, Camryn is also excited about the "Coley and Sissy" dolls from Mimi. They loved every present they opened--and then would have to take a break and play at the table or on their bikes. Then they'd come back for more presents (spoiling!).

Let the golfing begin! Right now, it looks more like he's playing hockey--but after all the golf we all had to watch (endure!) this weekend, he's probably got the idea of how to play better now... ;)

Here's our half Thomas, half Minnie cake. It's pretty huge--had to get a bigger size to fit the half and half. I randomly ordered it from Super Target a couple days before. Not only did it look awesome, it tastes awesome too! We still have a ton leftover we keep in the basement fridge. Each night we work on it a little more. Tonight we put out the thrash, though, so I'm thinking it's a good time to say farewell to what's left of it. We've all had so much birthday cake these past couple weeks!

They each got a "2" candle, they blew it out perfectly right when they were supposed to.

Playing with our sugar highs after yummy birthday cake and ice cream. Cole photo-bombed our picture, then started quite the crazy playing with Uncle!

One of Cam's favorite things to do is color. Coloring with Grandpa is even more fun to her!

...And so is monkey-ing around on Uncle--for both of them!

A couple days later we enjoyed a gorgeous Labor Day and went to Boulder. The weather and atmosphere were just right to stroll up and down Pearl Street.

The night before my family left, Mario was sure to get all his loving in that he could. Actually, he soaked up quite a bit of love like no other while everyone was here. He really didn't want his Jackie to go!

And then here's a common sight every morning now since we opened them on our birthday---These two sit at their table and "check their email" first thing! Aunt Carol got them these awesome leap pad "puters" as they call them. They have so much fun with them. Plus, they can be personalized so after I set some things up online, their "puters" now say their names, read them emails from Mommy and Daddy--and Mario, they play them songs they like ("Row, Row, Row your boat, ABC Song, Mary Had a Little Lamb) and they get to play an animal sound game on them too. They're sure to get updated on all the latest every morning as they sit down and prop them up while they have their milk!

What a difference a year makes from their 1st birthday party we had for them right before we moved to Colorado last year. Although the "Terrible Two's" have definitely set in, I love spending time with my kids and am amazed, touched, humored, impressed, and just all around in love by what little miracles they are every day.