2 old years!

that's how Lofton says it, and that is definitely how it feels.  The difference between 1 and 2 is amazing.  She is definitely a little girl and not a baby anymore...

At 2 this is what Lofton is up to: 

1. Singing-Lofton has a pretty extensive vocabulary and has been using sentences for awhile now.  Her sweet nanny loves to sing and now Lofton does too.  She probably knows about 20 songs and her current favs are "The Farmer and the Dale", "The Hokey-Pokey", and "Ring Around the Rosies".

2. Sleep-we had a few months of difficult sleep, but I think we're back on track.  I will say for a baby that didn't drop her THIRD nap until her first birthday, she sure doesn't require a lot of sleep.  She goes to sleep between 8:30 and 9 and is up (and singing!) around 6:30.  She takes a 2hr nap in the afternoon.  I had big plans of a crib until her third birthday, but alas, we didn't even make it to her 2nd birthday.  She came strolling out of her room about two months ago and announced "Lofton got out by self."  So...we put a toddler rail on her crib for a bit, and she got a big girl bed for her birthday.

3. Eating-she does this occasionally, but it is not her favorite event unless it involves mac 'n cheese or dessert.  She will eat most fruits and vegetables, but only if she feels like it.  She doesn't particularly care for meat, but my pedi had great suggestions for protein and so far she likes them all!  I'll share in case anyone else has a picky toddler... Barrilla Plus pasta (make your own mac 'n cheese and there's as much protein as meat!),  Morning Star veggie burgers and veggie corndogs, and hummus.  L is allergic to the tahini seasame oil, but you can make/find it without. 

4. Play-L is very into make believe and loves to play with her baby dolls or in her kitchen.  She "makes" everyone food ALL the time and that often involves pizza topped with mushrooms and fruit loops.  Gross!  Not sure where she came up with that combo...

Size:  She's grown!  I officially have an average size toddler.  Thank you Lord for growing my scrawning infant into a healthy little girl.  My pediatrician shrieked with delight when she saw how far she's come in the past year.

Weight 24.1 lbs (34th%)

Height 34.5 in (64th%)  she was the 6th% at 15months which is what elicited the above mentioned shriek!

Head 18.5 in (44th%)

 maybe this has helped with the growth...

waiting for Dr. Terry.  Definitely looks tall and thin here :)

Chips and guac by the pool.  A favorite evening activity at our house.

Love you sweet Lofton Elizabeth.  You are truly a dream come true!

Party Time!

my little BABY is 2!  how can that be?  her birthday fell on a saturday this year so it worked out perfectly.  Lofton's favorite thing in the world is to play at our neighborhood playground so it just made since to celebrate there.  We did a morning party thank goodness because it was close to 90 by mid-afternoon.  We had lots of family, friends, and SUGAR!  fyi-chicfila nugget party trays are a huge hit for toddlers and parents alike.  We also had chicken salad sandwiches, chips, goldfish, a fruit tray with cake batter dip (yum!), squeezes, and homemade cupcakes.  It was a perfect morning and I could not have pulled it off without help from my mom and MIL setting up, Dad/Dewey hauling to and from running errands, Justin helping the boys take down, Marti for lending me a LOT of party things, and Tiffany for helping with the cupcakes!

My pictures are out of order since I lost the battle with this blog once more, but whatever.   There are also one million thanks to my hubby.  This is narrowed down from about a hundred...We have our well child visit tomorrow so i'll update more on Lofton at 2 then!

fun new outdoor playhouse from mimi and pop pop.  L rings the doorbell and yells "come in" to herself before entering every time.

piggies, and curls, and smocked little apron dresses, oh my!

first tennis shoes.  ready to run at the park!

L wasn't into face painting, but she loved the cupcake on her arm.

L's little mama, Kendall Claire

Snuggle break!  L was a little shy at first with all of the attention on her.  A cupcake and a juice box fixed that!

"blowing" out the candles.  The wind was WAY too strong for the candles to light, but we had been practicing so she blew anyway!

xoxo

yummy!

sweet friends

silly girls-Kendall Claire and Peyton

Cousins (sans Parker as he was at karate).  Thank you Abigail for looking at the camera :)

mitchells!

silly

a few friends (all the boys) had left by this point...

Presley, Abigail, Piper, Lofton, Kendall, Peyton, Maren, Jocelyn, Scarlett, Ryan

big girl!

cupcake cuties!- beautiful Scarlett with Lofton

saying goodbye to mimi and ready for a nap!

then (out of order time...) 6:30am on Saturday when L woke up.  I walked in singing "happy birthday".  She thought it was awesome!

then ran to her chair and yelled "Lofton flying!"

token strawberries (which were totally ignored) to help counteract the donut holes.

and the decor...

Mother's Day 2012

I am officially 2 for 2 with the Mother's Day calls, but what a difference this year was.  I had one patient to round on both Saturday and Sunday and only 3 calls!  It was crazy and such a blessing.  L pie even went with me to the hospital on Saturday. 

My morning started with chocolate chip pancakes (my fav) made by Dewey and Lofton, a sweet card, and an awesome new camera!  We have really just been using our phones, but I wanted an SLR (that's what it's called, right??) for my fast moving toddler.  Plus we have trips booked to Florida and Hawaii soon and I would love to get good pics of my angel.

We decided to have lunch at our house since I needed to stay close to the hospital.  Gigi, Papa J, Mimi, Tiffany, Justin, Abigail, and Kendall all came over.  Dewey grilled delicious chicken and steaks, made a great salad, and yummy potatoes.  I made super easy individual key lime pies too.

It was a wonderful and relaxing day.  Although I got a great new camera, I definitely forgot to get it out until after naptime when everyone had gone home.  It may take some practice...

It is no secret that I LOVE being a mama and hope to have several more little ones in the future to love on.  XOXO to all the mom's in my life, to the man that made me a mother, and to the sweet sweet child that I have the honor to call my daughter!