Big Girl Bed Party!

So I created this great, fun event of excitement for Gracie tonight of her having a big girl bed. Todd and I took down the front of her crib & turned it into a toddler bed and let Gracie help. She took over the screw driver and would chant "down, down!" Then we went to Target to the sheet section and found the cutest little Monkey pillow, it even has a pink flower on it's head! We asked if she'd like a bed buddy. She screamed "Monnnteeey" and was so excited, then we found cute sheets with butterflies, lady bugs, hearts & flowers, all things she loves and so little girly. We got ice cream, came home, washed the sheets and as I pulled them out it was like she saw them for the first time. ""WWWWOOOOOWWWW, PRETTY!! YEAHHHH!" We read a few stories and I showed her how she could get under the covers and she started kicking, grinning, then full out laughing. She wanted to find her toes, so she dug under the covers to find them. So cute! Shelby likes the Monkey, too and I think she even likes Gracie's new bed. She kept jumping in it and grabbing the Monkey and Gracie would yell in this authoritative voice, "no no Shelby, no no!"
So to be honest I shed a few tears during our prayers tonight. :) I'm a little sad, I think every mom gets this way when the crib goes. The days just melt into one another and I feel so blessed to be at home with her the majority of the time. She's changing right in front my own two eyes. In the middle of all this the thought of another one came into my mind...so this is how the siblings evolve! I'm getting it.
Gracie did awesome, we said prayers and I left the room to get Shelby out and thought well I'll just wait and see what happens. She laid there, sat up, looked around and laid back down and went to sleep. So I guess this is what she's been screaming & fighting for the past month! I'm thanking God for such an easy first night and pray it continues tomorrow! :)

Gracie's last night in crib.

I'm breakn' outta this crib, it's for babies!

"OUT...OUT"

"I helping!"

"Daddy, I helping!"

Bed buddy MOnnntteee is waiting!

Shelby likes Monntteee!

Big girl in her big bed!

"I see you, mommy!"

hee hee!

Sleeping Beauty snoring, really.

So Gracie had quite the birthday extravaganza for turning 2. Below are 3 slide shows for the 3 parties she had, which just evolved that way. (I haven't posted 3 slide shows in a row, so I hope it works out okay)
First, we kicked it off in Arizona at her grand parents house, we had a princess party for her Aunt Lindsay & Gracie, which was nice having our "west coast" families together hanging out! Then the Wonder Pets party with her little friends, the kids made it so adorable. They ran around singing the theme to the show and rescued animals in the yard with their capes on. And then a slide show of her actual birthday & celebrating with our "east coast" family, haha. Every cake Gracie blew out, she said "again again" and wanted to blow them out all over again. By the 3rd cake she said forget the candles and started eating the cake!

Gracie's Birthday

Wonder Pets Party

Princess Party for Lulu

In Loving Memory

In the midst of all the celebrating, I felt it necessary to stop and remember one of Todd's best friends since 3rd grade, Greg Williams, who passed away 3 years today. This is what blogs are all about, reflecting and remembering, not remembering the death but the life lived.
I am thankful for the time I got to know Greg, he stayed with Todd and I for 3 months after moving to Florida in our first year of marriage, which was pretty brave of him! Greg actually helped Todd and I through our "first real married fight." :) I always remember his kind words and voice, very mellow and always looked so cool with his dreads. He had such a sweet & giving heart and his smile lit up a room. I learned about seasonings for cooking, music, good sushi and he taught me how to salsa dance.
He is greatly missed by so many countless others. My memory is just a small fragment, but for the small amount of time I knew him, he was wonderful and fun, and he made my husband so happy.
We love you & miss you, Greg.

Happy Birthday, Gracie!