Betty B wannabe

My Grandma and the Cuties' GiGi (maker of the famous security blankets the girls are always seen with) is not just a knitter. Actually, knitting is a side hobby that she just happens to be good at. 

What GiGi (aka Betty B) is really spectacular at is making cakes. My Grandma is a professional cake baker! She has made all of her grandchildren's wedding cakes and countless birthday cakes for her grands as well (not to mention the thousands of cakes she's made for customers and friends!). 

The twin and I used to love to watch her decorate and she'd always let us decorate our own 8" circular cake when we visited. 

Sadly, I should have paid more attention to her lessons because now I have daughters that would like decorated cakes for birthdays and special occasions!

I know you're thinking...uhh, didn't they have  Cutie Cakes' cake made by a bakery?

Yes! BUT 2 days later, Cutie Face turned 2 and that oh-so-crucial "half". 

I signed up to bring snacks for her preschool class on the day of her half birthday. Since she's a summer baby, she won't get to celebrate her birthday in school with friends so I figured a half birthday cake would help make up for that.

the tricky part was making this cake without eggs--

one of her classmates has a severe allergy to them 

which is why this eggless cake looks...a little flat

That didn't stop Cutie Cakes from being super excited about it!

but maybe that's just excitement about the lollipops

oh and as much as i adore polka dots 

and as much as the ones on the cake looked planned...

they're really just there to make up for my sorry attempt at decorating!

clearly I could still use a few lessons from talented Grandma B!

Though not planned, Cutie Face had a present waiting for her when she returned home from school.

I review products for a natural baby goods blog and one item arrived on her half birthday--Zylie the Bear--a stuffed bear that doubles as a dress up "doll".

As Cutie Face told J later that day, she is a very lucky kid. Looks like Zylie is a lucky bear, too!

Cutie Cakes at ONE

Dear Cutie Cakes,

You are ONE!

No one can believe it, definitely not your mom.

You are so animated and absolutely into everything. It is strange to have to actually babyproof a house. Your curiosity for life and quest to accomplish your mission gets you into many...precarious adventurous positions. 

For example, this is where I found you when I accidentally left the door open to our laundry closet:

You're too much but I love it!

I could watch the way you slide open the play car door, climb in, stand up and squeal with delight all day long. The joy and wonderment you get from a sense of accomplishment is very fun to witness. 

You are very much a ham and giggle just like your sister--i love that.

you're really not into walking yet even though i know you can do it

The reason: you're smart enough to know that walking means

 you'll be toted around less!

Musical! Oh! you LOVE to sing and you really can!

You are very blessed to possess that attribute of your Daddy's!

We swore we wouldn't do it but we did--we've somehow been more lenient with you than with your big sister. You get away with crying for something. For example, you still cry out in the middle of the night--with Cutie Face, she was sleeping 12-hour stretches at 4-months old. You, my dear, still end up in our bed for a midnight nursing session. It's baffling and understandable at the same time--we don't want our baby to grow up just yet!

While that baby rearing aspect of your life is very much part of the baby phase, we've given you more mature options when it comes to food, DVD watching, and the like. You've eaten nearly all finger foods since 9-months old...an attempt to keep with the baby weaning philosophy and give me a break from making and feeding you pureed food. It was NICE! 

We let you watch Little People DVDs with your sister and Curious George episodes. I really can't believe that we do that but I think you'll be okay :) The great thing is, you get the most enjoyment out of Baby Signing Time DVDs just like your sister so I know you are processing and understanding something that we put in front of you!

You know exactly what you want and you definitely get frustrated when you do not get it. I swear at times we're already going through the "terrible 2s" but then your dad reminds me that you don't know how to express yourself yet...which is why we need to practice our signing! Though there are some key words that you do know: mama, dada, ball, BA (balloon...definitely different than ball), more (more like "mawh"), and a few words that you've only said once and probably by accident (dog, thank you, etc.)

Like your sister, you L-O-V-E the blanket that your GiGi made you. You're quite taken with dolls as well as stuffed toys--and your newest lovey is a Kitty Cat from Grandma

it gets dragged around with you everywhere

I love that you're a love bug like that! I pray that you continue to show love and empathy and kindness toward people and animals!

You're also such a joy that we didn't even know you had your second double ear infection! We found out at your 1-year "well" checkup visit with your doctor :(

of course...there might have been signs...

but as the second, slightly more neglected child, you've found an amazing way to thrive and be joyful while doing so. As your Poppy says, you are an absolute delight and we praise God for your presence in our family!

9-month cutie cakes

today (4 days late) we had Cutie Cakes' 9-month appointment. At 19lbs (and 12 oz) and 28.7 inches, she's quite a bit smaller than Cutie Face was 18-months ago. But she's living up to her name and that's kind of cool.

waiting in the dr's office

She is no longer the toothless wonder (having broke her first tooth on the 25th of October).

She started babbling with consonants about three weeks ago, as well. The cute thing about her is that she practices and practices her skills. Cutie Cakes had been pushing her tongue against her lips for a month or so, trying to push out those consonants while making hilarious attempts. Now everything is dada, baba, and gaga.

never met a puzzle she didn't love

Today she waved for the first time (!) and played along with "How big is Cutie Cakes?" "Soooooooo BIG"--raising her hands whenever we'd say that. Sooooooo big AND so cute!

didn't love to eat, that is. Gotta love germy doctor toys. Gross

Still not technically crawling, she half crawls, half army creeps herself wherever she wants to go in record time. Cutie Cakes loves to pull herself up on everything and squeal with delight and pride when she accomplishes her goal.

kind of Norman Rockwell-esque if only you could see Big C!

She's such a happy baby who smiles and laughs at everything...unless someone she knows starts crying, and then she'll cry along with them. We hope that means she'll be a sweet empathetic lady as she ages. We are so blessed to have her in our family!

Cutie Face is...TWO?!

how is it possible?

I cannot tell you

but I can tell you that, on the calendar, it proves our Cutie Face is TWO. 

i know, i can't believe it either.

In some ways, she seems much much older than two. In her speech, comprehension, and height she appears to an outsider to be at least three. In our eyes, we still see her like this:

but seeing pictures like this, taken just a year ago,

prove she's growing up quickly!

Now, be prepared for a TON of pictures of the birthday bash 

(and keep in mind that this blog is our family scrapbook so it will most likely be boring to all but us!)

Keeping in Cutie Family tradition, we procrastinated on birthday prep until Thursday. While we ordered the "real" cupcakes from Publix (can't be beat!) we counted the RSVPs and found that we were expecting more than the original count. So we whipped up a batch of carrot cupcakes...Cutie Face definitely liked helping us!

J cleaned the Little Tykes playset we found on the side of the road...back in January...and also cleaned a free rug...also found on the side of the road...that we placed under the playset. Have I mentioned we're frugal (some might say...cheapskates :0 but i prefer "eco-friendly"--we are recycling after all!)

Cutie Cakes helped me make an awning that would shield our guests from the blinding sun and hopefully lend shade and a cooler outdoor environ:

Grandma came to town and we put her to work making puff balls! She is now a pro!

The day of the party dawned bright and early. Thankfully we had amazing reinforcements come help us finish (START!) the party prep--Mimi, Poppy, Gramps and Jen-Gram came bearing gifts, props, and talent to pull all the loose strings together (seriously and truly can't thank you guys enough!)

Streamers were strung

puff balls were hung

party food was laid out

and made! (thanks Mountain Man for manning the grill and seeing J's vision of a grilled breakfast brunch played out in reality)

the first guests arrived

and even the cool, hip couple graced Cutie Face's party! (shout out!)

and the party got under way!

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

 

It appeared the play-doh table was the biggest hit of the day

with the bubble station (and favors) following close behind

 

J's cleaning efforts were not wasted, either, as the playset was also well used!

the Grandpas were finally fed

and guests seemed happy

(i hope!)

it wasn't a party to Cutie Face, though, unless there were cupcakes

That was, afterall, the unofficial theme of the party

Cutie Face has been talking about cupcakes at her "happy birthday party" since her cousin's birthday party--in March (no lie). With a custom-made cupcake dress...

...all she was missing was the real deal

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

it was finally CUPCAKE TIME!

Cutie Face was hoisted into J's arms

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

the guests started singing

someone turned very shy

but, with J's help, managed to blow out her "2" candle

we think she thoroughly enjoyed that "happy birthday cupcake" (as she called it)

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

other guests seemed to enjoy the cupcakes as well

all that partying wore sweet Cutie Face out...and off she went to take a nap!

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

meanwhile, the party wrapped up with car rides...

...and a little Cutie Cakes time!

 (both photos by Bob Schellhammer)
 
with the last of the guests gone, Cutie Face finally awoke to a roomful of presents

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

thankfully, she had her cousins to help her!

 (photo on left by Bob Schellhammer)

boots, (chair +) umbrellas, My Little Pony, Melissa & Doug, tutus, books, baby dolls and a play kitchen (complete with play food!) ruled the day...

 (photo on left by Bob Schellhammer)

 (photos by Bob Schellhammer)

PHEW!

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

After all that merriment, can you believe it was barely even time for dinner? The family stayed for a bratwurst cookout on the grill...and the cousins had an ice chip party!

finally, oh finally, it was time for a quadruple bath--all four cousins in the tub!

 (photo by Bob Schellhammer)

 

oh wow. What a funtabulous way to turn TWO!