2nd Birthday Train Party

Wow... it's really taken me a while to post this!  We have a lot going on, but I wanted to share with you how blessed we were to have such a wonderful 2nd birthday party for Miss B.  She loved every minute of it.  I especially want to thank our parents who made the trip from Illinois to share this day with us.  They act like it's no big deal and expected - but we think it's amazing and completely awesome how special they make Bianca feel.  

Here's the party details.  Big THANK YOU to Loren who took almost every picture of the party for me.  I was so busy setting up, running around, and trying to keep my contractions to a minimum.  Without you shooting so many photos, I would have been so sad!  Thanks a mil!

The party train.

I made hats for all the little people.

 "conductor" (aka - parent) treat bags

Look at this awesome train set Miss B's babysitter, Brooke, got her.  We're gonna save details about our Miss Brooke (aka - lifesaver) later for another blog.  We love her. 

This is my favorite pic of Miss B that day.  Her face and tiptoes are PRICELESS. Behold.... the kitchen she loves more than anything!

She loves to pretend call people all day on her kitchen phone.  

Boys love kitchens, too.  We need a playdate at Bianca's house!

The boys eat so dainty with forks.  My daughter plows her head face first into the frosting.  Girl likes her sweets, what can I say?  And she blew out her candles on one puff!

I dread cutting the cake.

SHE HAD A GREAT DAY.  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WISHED US BLESSINGS ON HER 2ND BIRTHDAY!

She's 2

Dear Sweet Bianca,


Your father asked me this morning to write something to you that was heartfelt with emotion and showed how we felt.  But I'm afraid there are no words to describe the depths of our love.


Your 2nd year of life has passed.  It seems time is flying.  Your dad and I enjoy everyday we are blessed with you.  We can no longer remember life without Bianca.  Our world is so much better with you in it.  How we deserve someone so sweet, smart, and beautiful is beyond us.  Each and everyday we pray you grow to be a healthy, intelligent, independent, and good Christian girl.  The things you do each day amaze us.  We could not have asked for a more perfect little person in our lives.  And while we know the days ahead are going to be times of trial and tribulation, we also know God will be there to help guide us as parents.  There is nothing you could ever do that would make us stop loving and supporting you.  You have grown to be more and more independent everyday.  Speaking in sentences, counting, ABCs.... everyday you learn something new.  


You never cease to amaze us.  


We love you more than you will ever know.  


Momma & Dadda


Today I took Bianca to the Children's Museum of Atlanta - Imagine It!  She really had a blast.  I can't believe I had never taken her before.  It is a really cool place with everything possible to do there.

Papa would really have enjoyed this one.

You put the balls in here and they travel up to the ceiling and around a conveyor.

The conveyor system.

The water play/fishing pond was her fave.

Too bad I didn't see the neat rain coats before she was soaked.

 

If her father would have been with us, there's NO WAY he'd let her get on a piece of green equipment!

You can even milk a cow.  Water comes out.  

Strange... but she loved it.

Plant a garden if you so choose.

Now... that makes Dadda happy.  Yellow equipment.  Show 'em how it's done Miss B!

She loves painting.  We even took some paint home... in her hair.

Quite a masterpiece, I must say.

Bianca's town.

Moon sand table.  Moon sand everywhere.

And Miss Bianca Dee's premiere tap dancing event.....

Big Girl Bed

After much hesitation, we moved Miss Bianca into a toddler bed this week.  I did not want to do it.  I won't lie.  The thought of her being able to get up in the middle of the night and have a "play session" in her room, or be able to walk into our room, and/or walk to the baby's crib makes me a bit nervous.  But, our little was was attempting to lift herself out of her crib and the risk for falling was too great.  So, onto the big girl bed we went.

I chose a small toddler bed simply because of room size, price, and wanting to wait to get her all new furniture someday when we move.  IKEA had what I thought were the cutest beds - not to mention $ friendly.  The linens are all from IKEA, too.  Derek and I had a "Cisel Team Building" night last week and we spent an evening putting the bed together and reminiscing about how our little girl is growing up.  I teared up.... it was emotional for this momma.  

Bianca had a great first night.  We were shocked.  We put her in bed at her normal time and within 10 minutes she was snoring.  She never woke up/got up all night.  She did GREAT!  But.... at 6:30am..... we had a knocker at our bedroom door.  I just put her down for naptime and had to tell her twice to stay in bed, but I hear her sucking her thumb so I'm sure she's out.  What a good big girl!

We wanted to share with friends and family what the big reveal was like:

She keeps wanting to go upstairs and lay/look at the bed.  She really loves it.  When I ask her if she wants to go back in the crib, she says, "Noooooooo!"  I guess maybe it was mommy who was not ready to get her out of the crib.  Bianca seems to be doing fine without it.  Guess sometimes we mommas aren't ready for the babies to grow up.

Almost there... boy or girl?

It's been quite a different experience NOT finding out what we are having.   Honestly... I NEVER thought I'd actually make it!  I figured I'd cave in and have to find out.  Derek and I have both stood strong and resisted the urge to find out.  A work friend of mine teases all the time because with Bianca I used to ultrasound almost weekly to say "hi" and see how she was doing.  This baby; however, I have never viewed.  I made a promise and I'm keeping it.

There are a few things I'd like to say about not finding out the sex of your baby.  First off, not everyone believes you.  Some people think you "secretly" know.  But really, this is only because they can't fathom not finding out themselves.  I only wish I "secretly" knew.  But Lord knows if I had a secret - like the gender of my baby - there's NO WAY I'd keep it quiet.  Derek teases me all the time and says, "I actually know what it is.  I emailed Garry (my OB) and asked.  He told me."  Yeah, right.  There's no way my ob would tell even IF he knew.  He doesn't know, either (or at least that's what he says!).  Derek just tries to tease me.  That's ok - even if he did know... I know he wouldn't spoil the secret by telling me.  He's the king of secrets.

Everyone over the age of 60 LOVES the fact that you don't know the sex of the baby.  They think it's awesome.  There are 2 questions everyone asks when you are pregnant: #1. how far along are you/due date and #2. what are you having.  When I answer, "We're not finding out" the gmas and gpas go nuts.  They think it's great.  "Old Fashioned" they say.  Yeah, I guess maybe we kinda are.  

People are going to touch you more and look at your belly more.  They want to guess the gender by the shape of the belly, I guess?  I never really understood that.  Everyone judges by your size/how you carry.  They also want to know if your symptoms are the same.

It's a lot more work at the end.  By more work, I mean more planning.  When you know the gender, you know what name you need (you can concentrate on gender-specific names), the nursery is easier to decorate, you can get your clothes ready, etc.  We have no idea on names - at least no girl names.  Just when we think we've decided, Derek changes his mind.  We do have our boy name.  But no girl name.  any suggestions?

I still think it's a girl.  Everyone else seems to think it's a boy.  I honestly think the main reason I'm thinking girl is because I really can't fathom having a boy.  I know what to expect with a girl.  I've had a girl, so it's all I know.  I'm comfortable with it.  And the biggest reason I'm secretly hoping girl: I want Bianca to have a sister.  I look at sister-to-sister relationships and it melts my heart.  Granted - I LOVE AND ADORE my brothers and wouldn't trade them for the world.... but I always longed to have that bond that can never be lost with a real sister.  I want Bianca to have that.  My mom is like my sister... and that's ok with me... so maybe Bianca would be alright with me as a stand-in if this is a boy!

I really need to get ready for a boy.  I realize I have not done too much to prepare for a boy.  I do have a boy "going-home" outfit Derek and I had purchased when we were in Italy.  It's too cute.  I think next week I'm going to go to Kohl's and buy a bunch of boy clothes to have on hand.  That way, I can return them if needed because Kohl's has an amazing 1-year-return-policy.  

Here's the 1 month count down belly shot.  Actually, I have a little over a month before my due date, but this gives you an idea of the difference in bellies.  The first pic is me at 36 weeks exactly with Bianca.  The second pic is me this pregnancy at 35 weeks.  I feel much smaller this time - but the scale says I'm the same.  I've gained a wee-bit-less this time, but not much less. We'll find out the last month because that is when I became pre-eclampic with Bianca and gained about 1/2 pound a day of water retention.  Yikes.    

seriously, liz... what hairdo is this???  i know i was pregnant, people... but somebody should have said something

ps

Stay tuned later this week for HUGE updates: the train party, grandparents come to town, turning 2.......

AND.........

the BIG girl bed.  Yes, we're doing it.  Bianca is begging.

Time for a little uplifting Fall-time blog.  

It may be fall, but it is still hot here in the ATL.  I don't care.  I'm rock'n fall.  I'm pushing the pumpkins, lighting the cinnamon candles, and making the soups.  

It's fall, baby.

And what better way to celebrate than to have a couple of my neighbor friends over for some pumpkin cake and iced coffee?  Of course, Miss B had to help prepare....

exhibit A: my spices, tupperware, and baking utensils.  all on display at her "window shelf."

the "not too sure if this is ok" look

this is my favorite... what is she hiding behind her back?

i need to move this spice drawer, ASAP

the original scene of the crime:

is it just my hormones or is anyone else obsessed with pumpkin-anything right now?

And I must admit, it was good company.  I LOVE my neighbor girls.  We can call, text, or email at any time of the week and just say, "You up to coming over?"  It's awesome.  Then, after our pumpkin treat we got to go to Michelle's house and snoop through her ever-organized kitchen.  So inspiring.  I feel a fall cleaning/re-organization in the air at the Cisel house.  The Container Store..... look out!

 I don't think you get more "kid-charmer" than this.  Sara - you are awesome and my bianca has a new buddy.