TWO!

So my little Selah Faith is TWO! When did this happen?!

From this:

To this!

Cupcake Daze at her birthday party

Selah is currently about 25lbs and 34.5 in tall. She has all of her teeth with the exception of her two year molars. I think. We never know when she is teething so they may be in or coming in. As you can see, she has blue eyes and blonde hair that you can usually find in pigtails. No first haircut yet, but probably soon. Selah never meets a stranger. Everybody is an immediate friend to this little social butterfly!

Selah likes:

• My Little Pony
• Curious George
• Making muffins and topping them with sprinkles
• Pink
• Doggies
• Playing drums
• Babies (aka dolls)
• Bedtime kisses on her elbows
• Roaring like a tiger
• Minnie Mouse
• Animal from the Muppets
• Tea Parties
• Bath time
• Eavesdropping
• Knocking down towers
• Balls
• Story time at the Library
• Playing Fetch with Ellie (though she pronounces Fetch with a B)
• Flowers
• Dresses
• Swinging at the park
• Seeing her friend Holden
• Singing and talking to herself everywhere and anywhere. Even as she falls asleep.
• Getting in your face while speaking Selah-ese, just to end with nodding of her head like she has convinced you of something.

Selah dislikes:

• Vacuums
• Bubble wrap
• Being told No and to Sit Down

Favorite foods:

• Cheese
• Applesauce
• Pretzels
• Strawberries ("Strawbees")
• Popcorn (aka Bubbles in Selah-ese)

Favorite phrases:

• Ha-cha-cha (a la Shirley Temple)
• Whoa!
• _____, Where ah yoo?
• Jah Ta dore.
• SITDOWN!
• Ah-mmy? Ah-mmy? Ah-mmy! Hi, Ah-mmy!
• I wuvwooo. (From us saying "I love you" silly like that)
• Night night sleepy? Go night night? 
• (while patting you on the back) Good job! Awesome! Nice job!

Favorite songs to sing:

• "A B C D A B C"
• "Happy day to you"

All in all, she is a pretty awesome little girl that is growing more and more amazing everyday. These past two years have been some of my absolute favorite and I look forward to so many more with her.

Happy Day to You, little bunny. Happy day to you!

Happy birthday, Lauren!

My niece is FIVE today! I just can't believe it.

Lauren is the best big cousin I've ever seen. You can seriously see how much she loves "baby Selah". When we saw her just a few weeks ago, she wanted Selah to have whatever she had. No refusal to share toys/food/treats/attention/space with a little one much younger than her. No jealousy. It's pretty obvious that I'm not the only one who thinks she's the best. Selah agrees.

Picture of the girls together. Hard to stop them from playing.

I heard this song recently and it made me think of you, my dear.



Always be yourself
But if you can be a unicorn
Always be a unicorn

Happy 5th birthday, Lauren Olivia! Aunt Beth loves you so, so much.

29

Today is my birthday! I like to say that this is my 1st 29th birthday since I may be celebrating my 29th for a few years. ;)

Me through the years (minus those awkward preteen and teen years since I don't have any of those pictures easily accessible):

29 years ago!

We still have this outfit for Selah to wear!

This shot shouldn't surprise anybody.

 

 

Rainbows and Sunshine (With Pictures)

Rainbow baby- a baby that is born following a miscarriage or still birth.

In the real world, a beautiful and bright rainbow follows a storm and gives hope of things getting better. The rainbow is more appreciated having just experienced the storm in comparison. In the case of a rainbow baby, the storm (pregnancy loss) has already happened and nothing can change that experience. Storm-clouds might still be overhead as the family continue to cope with the loss, but something colorful and bright has emerged from the darkness and misery.

 

I think I started planning (and pinning) Selah's first birthday probably before she was even born. You see, I knew she was a rainbow baby and wanted her first birthday party to reflect that. As we got closer to her birthday, our friends and I realized that it would work best for everyone involved to have a joint first birthday party for their son Liam (who was born a week before Selah) and for Selah. Since Rainbows and Sunshine is a pretty non-gender specific theme and I had already done a bunch of planning, we decided to stick with the theme. Works out well because Liam is a rainbow as well. :)

 

I'll, pretty much, let the pictures of the party speak for themselves.

 

"Happy Birthday, Liam & Selah"

Selah and Liam, throughout the year

Handmade felt birthday hat

two 1s for the two one year olds, not an 11 year old

Selah and her friend A with the adopted grandparents

Liam's so serious, but check out that attempted hand holding

Rainbow birthday tutu! (See, Meg? It wasn't that big!)

 And now it's time for a ton of cake smashing photos. Selah LOVED it (hence all of the pictures). Liam? Not so much. I think he ran from the cake and the icing and his crazy little girlfriend who was covered in the cake and icing.

Smash cupcake (from Blushing Bakeshop)

 

 

 Though the ground outside was covered in snow, the party inside was full of love and warmth, courtesy of our rainbows and sunshines and everybody who loves them.

I have a One Year Old

As of 9:47am on March 6, 2013, I am the mother of a One Year Old. And, wow, has that year flown by!

Selah says buy: Red Stamp iPhone App

I was recently introduced to the free Red Stamp app via Pinterest and I LOVE IT. It's such a cute way to send a quick note or message to somebody, especially personalized thank you notes for gifts for your baby.

The app isn't just for thank you notes. You can also send notes of congratulations or quick hellos. These can be sent electronically (free) or through the mail ($2 for 1, but the price goes down to $1 if you want to send a lot).

I wish I had this when Selah was born for quick thank you notes for meals dropped off or gifts mailed (before I forgot to send them in a timely manner). I'll definitely use this with the next.

Go get it now. You'll love it even if you don't need it for kid's thank you notes. :)