Happy Second Birthday, Sinclair!

Today we celebrated Sinclair's 2ND birthday!  Surrounded by a few of our very closest friends and loved ones. Unlike last year, we kept it much more low-key.  Sinclair has been obsessed with tea parties and cupcakes for about 6 months --- so we orchestrated a transformation at our local cupcake bistro.  We had a surprise visit from our friend Elmo and the kids loved it! Alas, the kiddos and parents alike went really wild over Alice in Wonderland.   "Alice" (aka Stephanie) truly stole the show.  She greeted everyone at the door (with British accent) and took a picture with each guest and never broke character.  Her Mom, Bridget,  is Sinclair's Godmother and I have known "Alice" since she was a week old and now she is approaching driving!!!  Assuming the "Alice" drives a car and she doe not travel everywhere through the "looking glass"   Between friendly fuzzy red Sesame Street stars and the face painting no one even noticed a few drops of rain.

Hard to recognize my best girl, Lisa Jane without a camera but she had precious granddaughter "Bella" in hand instead!! 

Elmo was a huge hit with the littlest party guests!

Sinclair loved Elmo dropped by ....she loved playing "Sinclair Sandwich" with both her Godmothers, Paula and Melissa even more!  Sinclair insisted to all "Group Hugs"

"The Muffin Man" passed out over 30 various different flavors (Red Velvet, S'mores, Forest Black Cherry and Boston Creme were the mentioned favorites) of cupcakes.  The "Dream team" (aka "The Flower Fairies) Richard, Hailey, Kirksey and "Auntie LeighBee" made it all come together like clockwork!

Later on that evening, GaGa whipped up fried veal cutlets, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, green beans, homemade rolls and......you guessed it, even more cupcakes!!!!

You can see behind Daniel is the amazing portrait of Sinclair that renowned artist, Shelly Shanks dropped by for Sinclair.  That was a very generous gesture!

Frank and Erica (conveniently known as "Auntie Cupcake") gave her this fabulous pink hopping horse (we all hinted if she would ride it down the isle when she was flower girl at their wedding.....it is only a matter of time....and "Big Daddy" John fixed them up).  We all knew what the  REAL highlight was going to be and it did not disappoint.....Uncle John got her this yellow excavator that her Uncle John got her.  She squealed with giddiness.  Now, she can be just like the construction crew at "Casa Chaos"  and I am sure she will be 100% more efficient!

Happy Birthday Our Sweet Angel......

My dear sweet Sinclair:


Can you believe that you are 21 months old today? Goodness! You're closer to 2 than you are to 1. You're truly a toddler!


Here's what you've done during this: your 20TH month of life.


1.) You can speak in complete sentences now! You say things like, "GaGa, Dogs go outside" "Mama, sit down," "Daddy, all done now," "Do it again" and our favorite is "More tea please" ....So cute! You can count to twenty four in English and ten in Spanish. You can easily handle all the letters of the alphabet and give a word that goes with each letter. You can spell your name effortlessly. You recognize your Presidents from photos - you prefer to refer to them on a first name basis such as "George, Abe and Grover" You can spell "Texas" and point to it with ease on the map and say "oil". Little angel, you continue to amaze us everyday.


2.) You're still a great sleeper (about 11 hours per night and 2-3 hours during the day), and a super eater (all fruits and you love your vegetables and especially, asparagus, green beans and spinach). You tend to eat on the run; you don't like to sit still so much these days.



3.) You love lady bugs, tea party, swings, slides, art (especially drawing on Daddy's oil well logs) Dora the Explorer, Big Bird, dump trucks, tractors, etc... You go completely drunk with giddiness every time you see or hear a plane in the sky. You also love to make towers out of blocks (I think 12 blocks is your highest-- and you had to stand on a stool to make that happen.)

4.) You have a memory like a steel trap. We can tell you something just once and ask you about it weeks later, and you remember.

5.) You continue to be full of zest and fun-- you have a charming character and vivacious personality. Your best friend is JAMP and "Hawk" but you make friends where ever you go and like to yell "Hi" and "Bye Bye" as you enter or exit. You are very good at sharing toys and like to meet friends when we go out.

6.) You are now such a great runner! You're fast and coordinated. You love to climb, build, slide, swim and swing! You love to jump and laugh and play, play, play!



7.) You love Daddy tickles and you let out this wonderful belly laugh that makes Mama and Daddy smile all over. you also love it when Mama says, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and juggles you on my legs. You love when your sissy "HaLa" teaches you how to flip and "Big Dee" your brother lets you ride his shoulders. Some of your favorite people are "Vee" and "Lucky" ....you have a special little routine you do with all of them. This is something special only share with them.




8.) You are great at holding hands and walking beside us now. You specifically love when Mommy has one hand and Daddy the other and then you like to be picked up on the count of three-- 1--2--3! Wheeee! :)


9.) Your bedtime routine has morphed into a long one. You like to jump on Mama and Daddy's bed, play your ipod, read a book or two, then read a book to the puppies, say your prayers, brush your teeth, and then have Mama give you "back pats" (long back rubs) while you drift off to your "sleepy songs" In the mornings, you play for about 30 minutes by yourself before you yell "Ready to up" for Mama in the the video monitor.


10.) The BIG GIRL transition was an easy one! We tried to let the crib go pieces at a time. We talked about the crib leaving, then it was disassembled in your room for a few days....each day you stood over the crib with your hands on your hips and said "bye bye, baby crib, no more baby crib"


11.) We are so proud how fast you took to the potty. You know exactly how to tell Mommy discreetly you need to go --- you took to this immediately. You are so bright!


12.) You know what rules are now, and you understand that rules have to be followed. Sometimes they are Mama's rules, sometimes-- Daddy's, sometimes-- God's rules..., but they are ALWAYS followed.


Sinclair-- you are so much fun! You are such a blessing to us. Our days are filled with laughter, giggles, and energy, energy, energy! We love you "more than all the fishes in the sea" and look forward to every moment that we spend with you!!! You complete us!

May God continue to bless you and keep you safe.
We love you,
Mama and Dada ;)

Happy First Birthday, Sinclair

This week we celebrated our little muffin's 1st birthday.... It was one for the record books!