Tolina's birthday cake is very blue. Licking off Nemo's tummy, Hmmm! that icing is so yummy.

Tolina, get ready to blow out some candles. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Tolina, Happy Birthday to you!










Tolina that confetti is so much fun!
Blow hard to get all those candles blown out! I know mom put four on there but you know that you are two!!

Frosting so so good especially when you lick it off the bottom of the decorations, Tolina's favorite character is Nemo!

Tolina's Second Birthday!!

Tolina does not like to have her hair done, but she looks so cute with those pony tails.

The first time Tolina was able to swing on a big girl swing!

Surprise! Tolina, Happy Birthday.

Before I could get a picture of the cake Tolina stuck her fingers in the cake.

Tolina's hair is finely long enough to put into pig tails. They are not long and when it dries it will all curl up, but it is cute for now. Tolina and I were getting ready to go to church when Daddy wanted to take pictures of her hair. She is getting so big wanting to do so many things herself which makes a bigger mess for mom. This particular morning she would not put the dress that I picked out for her on she had to where the pink one she has on.

Lena and Mom 2-14-06

"Pretty moms"
Before I was a Mom –
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom –
I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a MomI never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a MomI never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
Original Message Becky Kountz

A special mom sent this to me through my dad. It does not matter how many times I read it I still get teary eyed because it is what I, as a mom, feel. I close my eyes and still see my 9 pound 2 ounce baby stuffed into a felt heart on that Valentine’s Day two years ago when she was brand new. I think about how she has grown and changed all of the things that she has learned I am amazed how fast time has gone. I look at myself and I have changed and grown in ways that I never realized. I worry about the strangest things, instead of buying clothes in the women’s section I frequent the clearance rack in all of the stores I go in. Instead of staying up late to watch a movie, I go to bed early to read the same book over and over and over and over just waiting for Lena to drift off to sleep so I can watch her sleep so peacefully in my arms, so I can trace her perfect little lips with my finger. My living room no longer has endless breakable treasures they have been replaced by endless toys rows of Elmo’s, balls of every size, dolls with clothes, dolls with no clothes, and a wooden rocking horse made for my little girl by my Dad and Grandpa. College books have been replaced with board books. I would not change it for the world; I love the changes that have happened to my home. My Grandma once told me that you could always love one more person because you heart would just grow, there is always room for another, and she was a very smart lady.

It is a Tricycle not a bumper car!

This is the tricycle Papa Mickey sent to Lena for Christmas, she loves it although she can quite make it go with peddles she does have a great time running it in to all of Mama’s furniture.
Mom came up with the worst game she could think of with this trike though to push Lena around the house, Yep now all she wants to do is to have mom push her from the living room to the kitchen, then the dining room down the hall back to the living room, all the while saying “fast fast.” It is all great fun for the two year old but it is quite difficult on the 30 year old bent over pushing this small trike! Mom is still nervous about letting her take the trike to the drive way, but that is what is coming the only thing is Lena will make it go in her own just like she says “I do it.” So she can do it, Mom just has to figure out how to blockade her from going into the street. Just like Lena, Mom and Dad love watching her play on the Trike her Papa Mickey sent from Wyoming.

Chocolate Pudding is so good and even better when it is all over my face!

Since I did not take a picture of the Oat Meal this morning I had to look for another picture although this mess is not nearly as big as this morning it is cute.

Lena wakes up this morning at 6:30, only forty five minutes early, tells her daddy “um I want breakfast.” Daddy said lay back down we will get up in just a little bit. “No get up I hungry!” So an early start for Daddy, when I get home at 7:15 Lena had been left to eat oat meal, a very easy although messy breakfast, she had oat meal in her hair, eyes, clothes, floor, counter, cupboards, and her big smile saying “Mommy! Good morning!” She was as happy as could be, so mommy cleaned her up, then the kitchen, while Daddy headed off to work. Well I know my parents cleaned up enough of my messes, I guess I get what I deserve, along with the best blessing of all a healthy, happy, and loving little girl!