Where does the time go?

I think it is lost in a whirl wind of colorful shapes, Elmo, running, jumping, drawing, singing, time out's, pretending, reading, museums, running, Elmo, jumping... well you get the idea. Each day ends before I even feel like it begins! We are always busy and Lula is growing up so fast that I feel like if I sit down to write on the blog I might miss it.
I have filled out an application for her to start preschool in the fall at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. A REALLY big step for me and if she gets in to the class and ends up going, a big fun step for her.
We definitely have cabin fever this winter. It has been very cold and we have been buried in snow so Lula and I are beyond ready for Spring and some more outside time.
Let's see what's new the last 6 months:
Lula got a big girl bed! She loves it and stays in it until we come to get her in the morning. She sleeps a million times better too!
She's SASSY, but that's not new.. just a new intensity.
She knows how to say hello in 3 languages and can say good bye in 2.. she sounds like she was meant to be French, oui!
She is drawing a lot and can make a perfect little smily face, head, eyes, nose and mouth. Some of the lucky one's even get hair.
She is getting into all the disney princesses and loves to watch Beauty and the Beast.
When you ask her who sings her favorite country song she says " Johnny Cash" !
She loves to sing and dance. On Sunday mornings you can hear her singing "Good Day Sunshine" by the Beatles and dancing in the kitchen while we make breakfast.
She LOVES to play with her "Doctor Things" and gives everyone a check up. "Boom Boom" "Sounds Good" " Breathe Deep" "Sounds Good".
I know there is a lot I am leaving out.. but when you have a two year old you're lucky enough to get most of your thoughts out when you need to and have them coherent.
Lula says" ADIOS!"

Thinking outside the...fort?

Our ever so clever and curious little two year old has been up to "NO" good. Something happened to our sweet little princess about a month ago.. she started saying "NO" and "MINE" every chance she got. I guess it's "terrible two's" or " self expression" or "affecting her environment" or "testing her mama" etc. but to me it is a challenge and a sign of my little baby growing in to a little "GIRL" as she says. When I ask her,"Lula are you a baby?" She responds "No, Mama I'm a Giiiiirrrrlll!" and that is sad and joyful all at once. She is singing her favorite songs, which are You are my sunshine, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle, The Number 4 song, The alphabet and a new one is Home on the Range. She loves music. Listening to it, making it and dancing to it.
Today while we were playing Lula asked me to build her a fort, which we do all the time but today was different. Instead of playing in the fort she decided to play on it. She is her mama in that she loves a cozy comfortable spot and can pretty much find them anywhere. So like a little wood nymph she made herself a little hammock nest and snuggled with Lovie. She is her Daddy in the way that she thought outside the "fort". :) She is the reason we are thankful this season.
Here are some pictures from her little adventure.

Two going on Four.

Lula turned two this month and had a wonderful birthday. We celebrated her birthday with a trip to the Strong Museum of Play and all kinds of goodies! She was so overjoyed to see all of the Sesame Street characters in person. When we walked in to the museum she put her hands on her cheeks and squeaked,"OH MY GOODNESS!". Then she was a tornado or excitement. We ended our time at the museum with a visit to the Butterfly exhibit. We were the only people in the exhibit which was an extra treat. It was so much fun to see the Museum through Lula's eyes and feel so excited and happy for her to have a place that is so special right her in our town that we can visit with her as she grows. This year we gave Lula Play-Doh and lots of hugs and kisses. To end the day she enjoyed some Mac N cheese from Dinosaur BBQ, and a yummy vanilla cupcake.
For her party this year Erin and I made butterfly decorations and Magnoilia's cupcakes with Blue frosting.. just what Lula asked for: "What should we do for your birthday Lula?" "Butterflies Mama." "And what kind of cake would you like; a big cake or little cakes?" "Little." " And what flavor?" "BLUE!".
Lula's 2nd Birthday Menu:
Appetizers, Guacamole , Pimento Dip and Fresh Fruit.
Dinner: Cam's Pizza and Manpa's Wings
Dessert: Yummy butterfly cut out cookies handmade Chocolates from Auntie EnEn including the "Sweet Lula" and Cupcakes
Drinks: Homemade Iced Tea
Lula had a wonderful time at her party. She opened her gifts, played with everything and was a very very sleepy toddler when the end of the day came.
Here are some pictures of our little toddler..

Last day of being one.

Well, it is here.. Lula's last day of being ONE! Another year has flown by and another is waiting to be explored. I can not believe that my little tiny baby is now an independent, self aware, smart, sassy and caring little toddler. For Lula's last day of being ONE we had a nice breakfast, went to the zoo with her Mia and her favorite cousin Michael and had a nice picnic lunch. After nap it's off to Wegmans for shopping and a cookie from the cookie club. Lots of reading, playing with toys and playing hide and seek with Daddy.
My dearest Lula, the past two years of your life have been the best two years of mine. I love you with all my heart. xo Mama.
*Lula's little hands now...and little hands the week she came home.*

July

We had a nice Father's Day! Lula gave her daddy a soccer ball, so he can teach her how to play when she gets older. She loves to rough house, play hide and seek and dance with daddy.

Brag Brag Brag...

Once again I have taken some time to chase our little Lula and have forsaken my blogging duties. So, here is my bragging mommy post of all the things Lula has been up to and how amazed we are of this little ever changing and always growing little girl we have the pleasure of loving.

New Lula facts:
She is starting to have more interest in the potty. On Mother's Day she did a "poop" in the potty for the first time.. Lula I am sorry I am publicly talking about your poop. There is a reason to share this with everyone.. it was HILARIOUS! She went, like it was nothing, turned around to see what she'd done, turned back to us and with her shoulders shrugged and a question in her voice said "Cookie?". HAHAHAHA. Nope. Those aren't biscotti.. well, not anymore!

She can name all her letters and can sing some of the Alphabet.

She loves to sing Rock a Bye Baby and Twinkle Twinkle Little star and can do a good Row Row Row your boat. Her favorite song is a song she made up. She is amazed that we know the words now and can sing along :)
Sing with us now.." Dabba Dabba Dee, Dabba Dabba Do". She loves to sing as she plays and instantly starts dancing when she hears a song she likes. She knows Mommy's Music and Grooves to Daddy's Music too.
Of course there is always the request for "BE BOP A LULA!".

She is counting to 13, sometimes it is jumbled but always good effort.

She knows all her shapes and finds them in every day objects. "Napkin is a shape mama. Napkin is a square." yep. Sheer Genius ;) hehehe.

She calls out letters and numbers she sees while we are in the car and loves to go over bumps in the road.
She is quite the dare devil. She loves to spin and then try to run and went out on her Papa's boat on Memorial day and LOVED the waves and the wind. " WOW!"

She is learning "lady", "man" and "girl","boy". "Mama is a Lady" "Daddy is a Man". We started teaching her this after she was pointing to people on tv and telling us they were Mama and Daddy.. I was a beautiful black reporter for ESPN and Mike was Matt Lauer :)

Lula loves to go to her Music class and to interact with other children. She shares all the toys and makes sure everyone is happy. She doesn't like when the babies cry. With a pouty lip she will say " Baby Sad". It's really sweet. She would rather share all the toys with everyone then to have one for herself. So far the only thing she won't share is Lovey.

She makes silly faces and loves to make everyone laugh. I think she gets that from her Daddy.

Let's see..... what else to brag about.. I guess just how proud we are of her. She keeps us on our toes and fills up our hearts and for that we are thankful to her each day.

It's going to be a crazy, busy, fun summer!