Amelia's Family Birthday Party

Eric and I opted not to throw a big birthday bash for Miss Amelia's second birthday.  This holiday season has been super busy, and we decided that she wouldn't remember that we didn't have a huge party for her.  Eric's parents were coming for a post-Amelia birthday/pre-Christmas visit, so we decided that we could invite my parents over to celebrate Amelia's second birthday.  What a lucky girl to have all four of her grandparents there to celebrate her birthday!

 

We got another wear out of her birthday outfit and hat!  Again, Amelia was super excited that this day was all about her!!  We enjoyed a yummy dinner together.

My girls don't love cake, so I made brownies instead.  After Tuesday, Amelia was well aware of what to do with the candles.

Singing to the birthday girl

Sweet Sisters although the big one doesn't enjoy posed pictures right now

We waited to open all gifts at "the party".

What a special day for a super special little girl!

Amelia is TWO!

Amelia is two years old!  She's so proud to be two, and she tries to do anything big girls do such as make the number two with her fingers.  Amelia knew the day was all about her, and she LOVED it. 

Amelia had a really great day.  She started her day by celebrating with her friends at school with a special snack.  She loved her special birthday outfit - the pom poms and furry cake on her shirt kept her hands busy rubbing her belly all day.

Madeline was equally excited to celebrate Amelia's birthday, and she shared the limelight well.

 

After naptime, Amelia and Madeline decorated cupcakes which is always a huge hit in the Stewart household.  Amelia's birthday hat from school was also a huge hit.  She wore that hat all day.

 (You'll notice her black eye is healing nicely at this point.)

 Madeline enjoyed cupcake decorating. She took her job very seriously.

 

 The best part of the day: right after decorating the cupcakes, we sang to the birthday girl,

helped her blow out the candles, AND

had cupcakes BEFORE dinner!!

YAY!

 

What a sweet, happy, two year old!

Ouch!

I managed to make it four years of motherhood without any major injuries, but over Thanksgiving weekend, Amelia took that one off my "Mom Bucket List". 

 

Unfortunately, it was my poor judgment and total brain lapse that Miss Amelia looked like this:

 

However, bless her heart, it didn't phase her in the least bit.

 

The story:  We went out for lunch, and we were seated in a booth.  Eric and Madeline were one side, and Amelia and I were on the other side.  Amelia was happily perched on her booster seat on the outside seat.  Why in the world Eric and I didn't think anything of me scooting in first is beyond me.  Mama brain lapse #1.  Eric and Madeline left the table for a few minutes, and I was looking over the menu.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Amelia start to topple over, so I grabbed the booster seat, not her (Mama brain lapse #2), and she lost her balance and tumbled onto the floor.  Her orbital bone broke her fall.  She was hysterical, and I was a complete mess.  No broken bones, no stitches, just a BIG, FAT SHINER.

 

Unfortunately, the shiner got much worse before it got better.  Kids heal so quickly, and once it started to show signs of healing, it was completely gone.

 

I included this picture on my Happy New Year card to explain why the Stewart family was so tardy in the Christmas card delivery. 

 

Amelia was a little trooper.  Her shiner never seemed to phase her, and she healed beautifully.  I'm sure this won't be her last injury of this sort.  However, this Mama doesn't exactly remain calm in times of major wounds, so I hope we're good for awhile. 

Thanksgiving 2012

Eric and I are most thankful for these two sweeties.

 

 

These little moments of sisterly love make me especially thankful that I was chosen to be their mother.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, 2012

Wolfpack vs. Tigers

Eric and I are football people.  We spend many Saturdays at games, watching games, or attending parties surrounding games.  This past Saturday was BIG - Eric's NC State Wolfpack were taking on my Clemson Tigers.  We were excited!  The girls were all snuggled in with Daddy for an exciting gameday.  (Notice their lovely orange and purple attire.)

 Even though the Wolfpack couldn't pull a win, Eric was corrupting my little Tigers with the Wolfpack "woo woo" & finger motions.  They weren't into it, trust me.  :)

 Once we got the girls down for the night, we turned on the big screen on our porch and headed to the firepit for some adult fun.

 It was just our little family of four this weekend, and it was relaxing before the hub-bub of the holidays kicks life up a notch.

Two Sillies in a Tub

Trick or Treat 2012

Halloween was a big hit this year!  Madeline was very sure of what she wanted to be this year:

A PINK fairy, of course.

Grandma and Grandpa joined us.  Grandma likes to walk around with us.  Grandpa does a great job holding down the fort and passing out candy.

Grandma got into our stash of candy pre-trick or treating for quality control purposes, and where's there's Grandma with a treat, there will be two Stewart girls.

Amelia was going to be Blues Clues, but she wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the costume.  So I decided it didn't matter when you are 22 months old and cute as a button.  Luckily, we have seasonal clothes, and this spider outfit was perfect.  And, yes, she insisted on wearing this ridiculous hat.  :)  We went with it.  However, Amelia held her own like a champ out on the streets.  She carried her bucket, said please and thank you, and in some cases, weaseled her way through the big kids to get to the front door.  She had no fear.  She also had to learn that you only stand on the front porch.  I lost track of how many houses she wandered into about to make herself right at home.

Trick or treating at some of our closest friends down the street.

Mr. Shannon has been blessed with only boys, so he loves my girls like his own.

Our friends, Brian, Jen, and Holston came to the hood to trick or treat.  Brian wanted Holston to have a photo opp with the Clemson Tiger, but as you can see Holston wasn't exactly keen on the idea.

We had a fantastic night & two very tired children!  All in all, a great Halloween for the Stewart girls.