Miscellaneous January Pics

I think it's so cute that they all sit REALLY close to each other when they watch TV.  Everyone loves the middle spot!

Karly Baby Turns 2!

How is my baby already 2?!!  It's crazy to me how quickly the time is flying.  It's also crazy to me how I both celebrate and mourn every single milestone as we officially say goodbye to the baby phase in this house.  Bentley wasn't quite 2 when Olive was born - Olive wasn't quite two when Karly was born.  So at this point, I should have a newborn by now.  Weird.  Sad and so incredibly relieving all at the same time.  ha ha

Anyhoo - back to this cute birthday girl. She woke up so happy and loved every second of the intense love and smothering she was receiving every time someone was around her.  She kept saying, "What?! Today's my birthday?"

She specifically requested a purple and green cake and also insisted that she help make it.  Fortunately or unfortunately, she typically runs the show around here (or at least she thinks she does), and this was especially true on her birthday. She loved that she was getting her way all day long.  Lick the bowl?  Why yes, you may.

After the cake finished baking, she wanted to go to the park.  Because the kids were all so excited for her, they followed her around and wanted to do everything she told them to do.  I love being right in all the action with them, but I also love stepping back and observing them together.  Siblings are the best.

She loves her sparkly backpack from Christmas and insists on taking it everyone. It is the perfect accessory for her.

It was such a warm and beautiful January day.  Even the weather wanted to spoil this adorable little birthday girl.

That afternoon, it was very important that our birthday girl got a little nap in order for us all to enjoy the rest of the birthday festivities.  While she slept, I had lots of helpers to decorate her cake (in purple and green as requested!). 

Once daddy was home from work, the most exciting birthday celebrations began.  She was so excited about all her presents most likely because they were all covered in her favorite "Shimmer and Shine" characters.  Because Christmas wasn't too long ago, she knew very well how to upwrap quickly and see the goodies inside.  I couldn't get enough of her squealing and giggling.

There is so much personality in this tiny little body.  She is so much fun.

She got to FaceTime with grandma and grandpa Justice.  Later that week we got to go to Toy's R Us and pick out a present with some money they sent her.  She LOVED that and ended up coming home with a baby doll that talks and sings.

She was so excited when she saw her birthday cake.  She loved the colors and the sprinkles.

She got some great instruction from Eden on how to properly blow out her candles.

She loved all the princess confetti in her card from grandma and grandpa Malarsie.

These toys eggs were probably the biggest hit out of her presents.  They have been really fun!

We ended the night with our tradition of marking the height of the birthday girl on our growth stick.  You could tell she felt so big and grown up, just like her siblings.  She looked at me so intently as I measured her - I couldn't help but kiss that tiny, cute face.

Karly you are the sunshine in our family!  You are goofy and silly, and you love spontaneous dance parties.  You know the lyrics to so many songs, and your nursery leaders tell me every week how amazing you sing at singing time!  You are sassy and full of personality, and you make so many people smile.  Thank you for being the perfect little caboose for our family.  We love you baby girl.  Happy birthday.

Basketball Stud

Over the past couple months, Bentley has been REALLY enjoying his first season of basketball.  He has three buddies from church who are on the same team, and these guys are so cute to watch.  Bentley has absolutely loved every minute of it.  He is small, but he is competitive and fast and he has played so awesome!  Having never really handled a basketball before, he totally rocked it.  I love all these fun action shots that capture him out there on the court.  He had some amazing shots and was a really good and intense defender.  I LOVE watching him play.

At the beginning of each inning, they would line the kids up and have them identify the "man" they would be defending.  I loved watching Bentley stare down his competition.  These pictures of him pointing to his person make me laugh.

Go number 14!!!

I love cheering my boy on.  He is determined and excited to try new things, and so far he has been naturally pretty good at the sports he has tried.  I love watching him play and have fun.  It will be fun to see how this little athlete develops.

And here's his whole fan club:

Hide N' Seek with Karly

Karly loves to play hide-n-seek.  She'll say "Ok count mommy!" and then it's the pitter patter of her little feet as she runs to the place of choice, game after game.  I love those cute little baby toes hanging out, and her squeal of delight when we find her.  She can never get enough.

Ice Skating Date

Brad and I had such a fun date night at the ice skating rink!  We were definitely a little wobbly for a while, but by the end of it we had some pretty sweet moves.  It was tons of fun to do something we haven't tried in years.  

We love date nights!!   And we are definitely on the countdown for Eden to come of age for babysitting her siblings!  Bring it on!!  :)