Happy 2nd Birthday, Jolie!

Wow, what a day. It's been a doozy of a day, but a very good one as well. Today my baby girl turned two.

I stayed up late last night stressing about everything from potatoes to cupcakes. I made a detailed schedule, a list, of what things needed to be done on the big day and when everything needed to be completed in order for the day to work smoothly. In order for the party to be a huge success.

I'm so lame.

I tend to make far too much fuss over nothing. Except I genuinely feel that these things are not nothing... so the trend continues. For example, Jolie's birthday. It was important to me that I made her day special, that it was a day that she felt kind of honored, a day when she realized just how wonderful we think she is, a day when she was the center of attention. So I fussed about it, and fussed about her. In the end, I think our efforts were successful.

(One of the cupcakes I made and decorated last

night as a practice run- to alleviate stress. Not

bad, eh? Thank you for being a hand-model, Derek.)

Derek stayed up last night helping me, and I love him to pieces for it. One thing we did was wrap up (and assemble) her presents and put them on display in the living room. That way, when she woke up she could see the festivities and realize that today was a special day. I think it worked. When she woke up and hollered for me (she's now in a "big girl" bed and can therefore get down by herself, but her door has one of those child-safety things on the knobs so she cannot get out herself), I went in and started smooching her and singing "Happy Birthday" sweetly. She got all happy and seemed pretty pleased. Then we came out into the living room, and she saw her gifts. She was pretty excited about them, especially the baby stroller that wasn't "actually" wrapped but basically out in the open. She was thrilled about that one (as was James) and couldn't even eat her breakfast. Instead, she toted her baby around in the stroller and had a grand ol' time. Oh well, cheerios can wait.

After breakfast, we had to leave the toys and festivities and take James to preschool. We dropped him off and then ran a few errands, a few last-minute party-ish errands. We went to the dollar store to pick up balloons and came home with confetti and party hats (crowns) and blow-celebration-thingies. Then we went to Macey's to get groceries. We were feeding about thirty people, so we had a bunch of stuff to get. We had fun. The bakery people gave her a cookie (which they do routinely, I think, but it felt like a birthday treat), the bagger gave her a Smarties, and would randomly break out in "Happy Birthday" song... I think she felt a little special. (She's too young to feel embarrassed... lol)

We finished shopping just in time to go get James. We picked him up at 11:30, and then thought what-the-hey... and we went to McDonald's for lunch. Hooray for Birthday Lunch! :) It was lots of fun. Just my two kiddos and me. Two Happy Meals and lots of tunnel-and-slide fun later, we were ready to come home and nap.

While the kids napped, Derek and I worked- washing potatoes (we served a potato bar for dinner) and baking cupcakes. But we also had time to relax a bit and even doze. Then the kids were up and we went to the clubhouse to decorate and set everything up. We finished setting up about ten minutes to six (party time), ran home, changed clothes and freshened up, and went back.

Then we partied. It was lots of fun, and a definite success! I love parties like this, because regardless of the stress before hand, it is so much fun to see a person realize just how many people love them and how much effort they are worth. Ya know? Even at her wee age of two, I could see that she felt that. And it made it all wonderful.

We had a great time with so many of our friends and family. We ate delicious loaded potatoes and nummy salads. The kids ran around and the adults talked. There was a good deal of laughing and a whole lot of smiles. Yes, it was great. Then our pretty princess blew out her candles, and we ate delicious cuppie-cakes and ice cream. Finally, Jolie opened her presents, and the party was over.

Several people (thank you!) stayed afterward to help us clean up. Then we brought our precious babies home and put them to bed.

What a wonderful day, and what a wonderful girl. We love you, Jolie baby! We're so glad you're in our family. You're so funny and sweet and fabulous. Happy Birthday, sweetheart.