TWO.

Dear Brooklyn,

You turned two over a month ago, this letter is long overdue. Blame your little brother, work, or your father for anything related to the delay in writing you this.

In the blink of an eye, literally, you have grown up. You speak in full sentences and you know exactly what you want. If you want juice you simply find your cup, go to the refrigerator, open it up, move a wine bottle or milk out of the way, and grab the juice. You then proceed to walk over to me and say 'open mama, taaaaank you mama.'And then you pitter-patter away to your next adventure.

Speaking of adventures - you are having many of them. You love to sing, dance, play in the dirt, wash Daddy's car, play with Barbies, play tea party with mimi or mama, "cook" with mommy in the kitchen, feed baby Ty, swim in your bathtub, play trains, paint pictures, rock and put your babies to bed (sometimes in timeout), pretend to be an animal and sometimes even a dinosaur, play princesses, dress up, put on makeup (chapstick)...your little imagination is always on. I cherish it. I want to snatch you up and freeze time as watching you grow is nothing short of amazing. I tear up a lot when no one is looking as I realize the moments I am having with you are some of the best times of my life.

You are VERY dramatic these days, "I stuck mommy" (while under a throw pillow), "WHOA, I fall down" (on purpose), "It's slippppery mommy" (you just have socks on), "Oh no, wah are we gonna doooo." (I have no idea what you are even talking about with that one), "Oh MY GOSH!!!!" (again, most of the time have no idea what you are referring to), "Is to heaby mommy" (It's just your blanket B, you can lift it), and my favorite "WE HAVE TO GET OUTTA HERE!" (as you run from something that I clearly cannot see). My little damsil in distress, how you melt my heart.

You're not off the hook though Miss B. You are starting to show your Daddy and I all of the traits that make up who you are. You're persistent, creative, competitive, demanding, and can be quite the diva - full of attitude. Remind me when you're older to tell you about the MELTDOWN you had in Central Park while in NYC. That was a fun one. So much so that a cop stopped your father and asked him if that was his child since you were screaming so hard for mommy. That was either before or after you hit your dad in the face. He can tell you about that one too. :)

"Terrible-two's" aside you are the most remarkably loving little girl, intelligent and observant beyond your years. You make us laugh so hard we cry, and you bring an energy into any room that makes everyone light up. Your mimi, papa, grandpa, and nana love you. Your uncles are already scheming on how they will be protecting you as you grow, and your little brother looks at you with eyes of adoration.

You are my B, my B-sker, my angel, my Brooklyn. I love you more than any mommy could ever explain to the world. Happy belated birthday my love.

The Mama.

On my birthday we...

Looked adorable...

Ate lots of yummy food...

Enjoyed delicious cupcakes!

Opened lots of presents...

Enjoyed time with friends and family...

Had an awesome day!

Don't be tardy for the party!

If any of you watch Housewives of Atlanta (and if you don't, omg what the hell - start watching now!), then you'll understand the reference to the title and we can talk about the awesome hot mess horridness of that later.
This weekend I'm throwing Brooklyn's 1st birthday party. Even though her actual day came and went, girl still needs a celebration, right? And, with scheduling conflicts like opening day of dove season (yes, that's my family), and football (priorities people, priorities!), the 19th seemed to work for everyone.

Enter, operation overboard.

Starting with the invitations. Of course I had to custom make them with her sweet face on them, right? Duh. Well, and the Evite thing was out the door because some of my grandparents, etc. will be there, and you ask them to do the whole Evite thing is like asking your pet to send a text message. Say wha?

On to the food and drinks. I simply cannot just go pick up something easy for snacks and order a grocery store birthday cake now can I? No, because I am a freak excited to do this right I will be preparing all the food myself (which I will share post party with pics), and I've decided to go with cupcakes rather than an actual cake. But here's the overdoing details there, I'm having them catered by L's Cupcakes and I have ordered 8 dozen mini cupcakes in 4 different flavors, and one jumbo cupcake for B. It's important to be excessive prepared.
They are so cute and delicate! I'm sure all the men at the party will totally think they're ridiculous awesome.

Drinks. Must have the basics for my friends and family covered. Beer and wine, check.

Now, what to wear?

This was a tough one for me. I'm going for a hot mama look, with a lot of mobility and room for beer drinking when this is all over. Brooklyn has to be the bell of the ball right. So, cute black tutu it is, with a pink monogrammed tank top that is of course, being bedazzled! I can't show you yet because it's still being done, oh, and let's just tell my hubby that it all cost around $20.00, ok? Wink, wink.

Speaking of hubby, he has a little honey-do list himself that I have been constantly occasionally reminding him of:

Mow and trim the yard, including potting two new plants.
Clean back deck.
Move grill.
Order and pick up chairs.
Sweep garage.
Clean coolers.

You know, just a few things.

I've obsessed as to where we will put the presents, what to put on in the background (music or football), where to position the chairs, what time to do the cake, and on and on and on, which is why you all know now why said husband has frequently given me the look of death this week.

I can't explain why I feel the need to launch operation overboard, but it's my baby girl and it suits me. And I like it. And I'm the mom. It's what I do. I'm sure by year 2 and 3 it will be full blown Disney princesses (yawn), The Wiggles (shoot me now!), or Winnie the Pooh (I really hope not!), whatever she wants. But since she's too young to know or care, we're doing what Mama wants.

...and Mama wants, a PARTY.

One year!

Dear Brooklyn,

I started working on this letter to you awhile ago because I want it to be perfect. You know, because, You are perfect.

Today at 5:57 p.m. you are exactly 1 year old. Can you believe it? Me neither. Your very first birthday. I remember so many of your firsts, and luckily because I'm crazy, have 900 photos of them to reflect on.

You are the most beautiful daughter, with loving eyes and an independence I'm already proud of. In just one year you have accomplished so much. You are walking now, learning to communicate, eating the same food as mommy and daddy, building relationships with your school friends, touching your nose, building blocks, throwing little fits, loving to read, swim, dance, play with with puppies, climbing on our treadmill, going through my closet, cabinets, my purse, learning...and growing. Way to go girl, you are quite the accomplished one year old.

You have a sensitive side too, my favorite. You wake up sleepy and love to lay on my chest until you're ready to start your day. You see your blanket and you put your head on it immediately on daddy's shoulder. You give the best hugs, and open mouthed slobbery kisses. You seem to know when other people need a hug and almost always randomly give them one. You are strong, but soft. Stay that way for mommy, okay?

Daddy and I are so blessed to have you. We sit together and watch you constantly, commenting on how adorable you are or what kind of trouble you will give us when you're older. Your daddy still loves to sing to you, like he did from day 1, and he's still singing his made up version of Christmas songs. You love them, and almost always fall asleep to them. YOu still cover your head completely with your blanket, another thing you did from day 1. We were always waking up those first few weeks to check on you. Ah yes, those first few weeks and months. Mommy was blissfully happy, scared, and facscinated by you. I am still fascinated but you and I got our routine down now. You were so delicate, and were such a good newborn. You woke up a lot to eat those first couple of months but I didn't mind the mother/daughter time at 3:00 a.m. watching paid programming. You loved your swing, and eventually graduated to sitting in your bumbo chair, which was always placed on the kitchen counter so you could watch mommy cook. That little chair has been retired now, as you have obviously moved on to bigger and better things, like our treadmill and your singing table.

Just like your mommy and daddy, you love to travel. You were only six weeks old when you had your first road trip. We headed up to Abilene to see Uncle Richard play football. Thankfully, you slept the entire way there, and back. During the football game we bundled you all up in your pink polo jump suit and you lasted through the entire thing. Your Uncle Richard was so happy to meet you and you fell asleep on his big chest at the hotel room. When you were six months old we got your passport made and headed to Mexico. This is where you first discovered the swimming pool and had absolutely no fear for the water. Since then you've been back to the Texas beaches twice and love every minute of it. In June you took your first trip (well, technically 2nd because you were there when you were in my belly) to New York City. You rode in the airplanes, cabs, trains, on a bus, and the subway. You ate at our favorite Italion restaurant and made an awesome mess of spaghetti. You visited Central Park, Uncle Joe & Aunt Korine, Grandpa Johnny, ate in Chinatown and saw YOUR bridge. Don't worry, mommy has plenty of these pictures for you to see when you get older.

We look forward, and are grateful, for every memory yet to be made. You have given me absolute happiness and I love being your mama. Now if you could just work on saying 'Mama' for me I'd really appreciate it. You're great at saying ooooooooh, uh-oh, dada, and can almost immitate a rooster. But no 'mama' yet, I bet it's next.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, we love you angel.

Oh what a night!

Had a wonderful weekend. Managed to relax, be productive, and party.

Saturday night we got a babysitter and headed out for our friend Brian's bday. Started with martini's at Peche, apps & more drinks at Saba, then off to Kiss & Fly for ... guess what? More drinks. Mama was feeling no pain...

I am so grateful for good friends, life would not be what it is without them. It was fun for Dom and I to have date night too. We hadn't been out downtown together in awhile so it was fun to reminisce at some of our old spots, pre-baby. The night ended in classic fashion too, he and I stopped for taquito's at Whataburger. You know it's been a good one when you are sitting on your kitchen counter scarfing down potatoe, egg, & cheese at 2:00 a.m.

Happy Birthday Brian! We love you.