"birthday birthday, Katherine" :) {part 1}

for a few months, K and i have been practicing the "happy birthday" song in the bath tub... it's actually the only way she will sit still and let me brush her teeth... we sing 4 times (2 for the top, 2 for the bottom :)), at least...and she chooses who we sing happy birthday to each time...
but she doesn't say "HAPPY birthday" - she says, "birthday birthday" :) it makes me laugh b/c she has a "northern" accent as she says it... "bir-dayyyy bir-dayyyyy" - stretching out her ending...
on 10.23, my sweet girl had her 2nd birthday. we had both sets of grandparents here (yay!), the Knights (including her pal Thomas :)), the Strongs, and the Weigles... we had a full house, but it was fun... :) we decorated pumpkins and played...and ate...and talked... :) it was a FULL day... :)

i have a lot of pictures...so i'm posting a few tonight...and of course, they're posted incorrectly...backwards again! :- grrrrrrrrr....
anyhow, i will probably take care of the birthday pics and stories in a few posts....

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we were blessed by so many wonderful and thoughtful gifts from our friends and family... books, crayola artsy stuff, a bowling set, a dancing/Disco Mickey Mouse, spongebob pictures, clothes, a little leapster laptop...so many good things!
but, at the END of the party, K got her "big gift" - a "pink Harley rocker" bike... :) she LOVES this bike, but i think she's still a bit too little for it... it will be perfect for warm stints this winter, and surely, next spring... :) she sat on her bike for 3 days after she got it...with her helmet...but those pics will come later :)
another important gift was her baby doll...obviously, i wanted something for her to "get ready" for being a big sister... it's funny b/c my mom and i BOTH got her the same exact doll (mine is still in the toys r us bag to return! :) we don't want TWINS!)... it took me 15 minutes to figure out what doll i wanted for her... so many dolls now are so...adult looking... they have teeth and stuff...weird... anyway, i guess my mom and i have good taste... K loves her baby and even takes her on the bike... :) she's not too gentle with her yet, but we're working on that... :) oh, and her name is "Suzie" - thanks to my dad :)

in the middle of the party, we had cake! K was really excited this year (probably b/c her cake was edible! :)).... she LOVED to hear everyone singing "happy birthday to you..." :) i made strawberry cupcakes for the kids and strawberry cake for the adults... :) it was yummy... K, of course, in typical fashion, just took swipes from the icing... :) (i'd like to say this is from her momma's side, but my mom told me that i didn't eat icing when i was a kid...just have been a love i developed later in life! :))

here K is just playing...mostly with Thomas... they were having a BALL with the balloons... :)

here, K is holding her balloons (which she managed to get ALL tangled up)... she loves "boons" a lot.... :)

it's hard to believe that she's 2 already... and while i know this age can be a bit trying, i am loving almost every second of the challenge :) she's so funny, and she provides us with joy EVERY day... i can remember being so scared to be a momma...and not sure that i wanted this change in my "comfie" life... but in all honesty, being blessed with her in our lives has been so indescribeable... she is, without a doubt, the most incredible gift we have ever received...

and we are looking forward to see what the next year holds for this sweet little girl who has A LOT of personality and is loved in ways she will probably never fathom... :)