Delia's Birthday at the Zoo

The morning of Delia's birthday, we bundled up and went out early to make sure we got some good animal time in before lunch and nap time. I guess January is not a busy month for zoos, because we practically had the place to ourselves. It was great! Uncle Gerald and Aunt Sarah drove over to meet us too!

The very first animals we saw were these monkeys and they were LOUD. They were hooping and hollering and swinging from rope to rope.

They were making so much noise it was cracking us up. Delia did not think it was so funny. It made her a little nervous at first, but she relaxed when we got a little farther away from them. That night after she fell asleep, I heard her say in a scared voice, "Monkeeey!"

Delia loved the giraffes.

REALLY loved them.

We also saw elephants, lions, tigers, otters, ducks, chickens, and turtles. When we saw the tigers, Delia screamed "C'MERE KITTY!!"

There was a carousel that ran every hour on the hour, and we just happened to find it at 11:57! They ran it around an extra time "for the Birthday Girl, Delia!"

Aubrey, Regan, Emily, and Aunt Jennifer all found a horse they liked for the ride.

While we were riding, Delia said "I ride horsey!"

Then we went to Cantina Loredo for a Mexican brunch. They brought out a birthday brownie with a sparkler on it!

For the record, Delia did not want any brownie. So Mom took care of it.

Happy Birthday to our big girl!

Birthday Weekend in Little Rock

I decided that throwing a 2-year old birthday party did not sound fun to me, so I wanted to do something else that would be just as special for Delia's birthday. I REALLY wanted to take her to the zoo because she loves animals so much, but the closest thing to us is the Tupelo Buffalo Park. It sounds fun (I mean, they have modified school buses with tractor tires!), but I just wasn't sold on it. We thought about the Tuscaloosa Children's Museum, but Delia's birthday coincided with the Alabama National Championship celebration, so that idea was out for sure. Then Grady's family in Little Rock invited us to help them get moved in to their new house by taking about 8 boxes of Baby Gap clothes and Pottery Barn bedding hand me downs, plus a toddler bed. So Little Rock it was! And they have a zoo! Happy Birthday Delia!

This girl had a BLAST with her cousins. Aubrey is 3, Regan is 6 and Emily is 9. In this picture they were playing hide and seek.

Delia hanging out in a tree with help from Daddy.

Regan in a tree!

Aubrey in a tree!

Running wild!

The girls had a great play room which we spent a lot of time in.

Emily showed Delia how to use their toy camera, so Delia took my picture while I was taking hers.

The playroom even had a built in "concession stand" as Uncle John called it.

Aubrey takes our order and brings out drinks!

This is the playhouse where Delia and Aubrey would hide out.

Delia would say "Come on Mama!"

Cutie pie Regan helping unpack boxes.

First Haircut!

Delia got her very first haircut Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. Her hair was halfway down her back and kind of scraggly, so we just got it cleaned up a little. We went to Erin's Salon, which is about 20 steps from my office. As the world's worst mom, I forgot to bring my real camera, and all I had to capture the moment was my camera phone. I also forgot to grab a chunk of hair to keep and put in Delia's neglected baby book (the blog is our baby book!) under "Baby's First Haircut," but Erin helped me make a nice neat bundle from a little chunk we rescued off the floor.

Delia was very hesitant about getting in the chair, so I got in the chair first and put a cape on.

I kept her distracted with a bucket of 300 foam stickers (thanks Dollar Tree!), which we stuck all over her cape, my cape, and Erin's apron.

After it was all over, she got a sucker for being so good. Don't worry Papa - her hair is just caught up on her shoulder in this picture. It is not as short as it looks. What a pose.

Delia is TWO!! Grady is 32!

But you will have to be patient for birthday pictures because I get uptight if my pictures are out of order. So for now, you must be content with pictures of the big freeze we had on Jan. 9.

We had some record-breaking cold temperatures this month, with lows getting down to 13 degrees! Grady took Delia to see a frozen pond at our neighbors' house.

If you look closely, you will see Miller and Buddy running crazy on the other side.

Delia is wearing little hand-me-down ski pants from her cousins!

Wesley's 2nd Birthday

We had Christmas with Grandma Amanda, Wesley, Uncle Wes and Aunt Jennifer the night before Wesley's party. The babies both had great fun opening and playing with their new toys.

Delia really loved Wesley's toy tractor that played the chicken dance, so of course, we taught her the motions and she picked it right up!

The chicken dance is serious business...

And wrap it up with a clap - and a look to make sure the tractor is right where she left it.

Wesley's Thomas the Train party started with hot dogs and hamburgers and ended with cupcakes AND a train cake! There was also a train running on a track around the presents, which entertained the kids as well as the grown ups.

The birthday boy digs in!

"MMM - MMMM!"

Uncle Wes helped Wesley blow out the candle right before fearless Wesley tried to touch the flame!

"What Daddy? I have a little icing where?"

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day at our house with Nana and Papa. Forgot to get a family photo, but they are moving back to MS this month (finally!), so we will get some new pictures soon, I'm sure! Uncle Gerald and Aunt Sarah got flooded into Little Rock on Christmas Eve, but they made it to our house by 2:00 Christmas Day. We had grilled pork stuffed with duck and Sarah made eggnog cupcakes!

Delia got this sweet sweater dress and fur vest from cousins Hannah and Rachel.


"Here's my 'over the shoulder' pose."

"Hey!"

"How do you like this face, Mama?"

"Will you stop taking pictures if I do this??"

Not too dressed up to throw the ball for the dogs.

OK, NOW we're dressed up. Thanks to Nana for the princess dress up set. Delia also got a tea set and grocery buggy full of plastic groceries that she loves.

I can't believe we didn't have a copy of Goodnight Moon before we got one this Christmas! Pictures of Wesley's birthday party coming next!