Bella's 2nd birthday extravaganza!

So talk about a long, busy weekend...the party just did not stop! This is for everyone that couldn't make it...I hope you can understand how adorable my now two year old is from the pictures and videos below. She kept us all laughing...she had so much fun. Friday, Bella got up and showed me how old she was .... TWO! So we put on her tutu and did up some pig tails for school.
She started with her "Dad-Dee" Friday morning but then was funny because she kept wanting to see the video after she did it...as you can tell at the end of the clip she says "I see"

I took her cupcakes to school Friday afternoon. She was so cute passing them out to her friends. She was being very careful and took time to pick the right one for everybody. She tried to get the whole thing in her mouth and would open as wide as she could - her lip was quivering she was opening it so big...it was hilarious.

Here she is picking out her cupcake and Nana's (who didn't want one but Bella got her one anyway). We then took one to Papa and saved two for home that night so she could share with Daddy. He walked in the door and she said Daddy, cupcakes! She also woke up Saturday morning wanting them.

Friday night she opened a few presents from us and Gabby. I'm not sure if the Little Mermaid brush, word puzzles or her noisy instrument set was her favorite.
Saturday morning (at 3:00 am) I heard Bella coughing...so I finally went in after I figured she wasn't going to sleep to give her some medicine (surprised she hadn't gotten out of bed)...however, I opened the door and Granna was sitting with her. She had woken her up to go potty in the middle of the night and then kept getting her up. Finally she came in and slept with us so Granna could get some sleep (since their flight got in at 11:30 that night). I woke up to feed Gabby and Bella was sideways with her toe in Joel's eye...he said he didn't feel it but I'm not sure how that was possible.
Party time. We had so much fun with just family. The weather was perfect in the 70s. I even had to change the girls after awhile because it was getting chilly.My babies.
Gabby's new outfit...good thing Nana had bought her this fall outfit with pumpkin hat! She was so cute. The pants by the way are 6-12 months! Joel borrowed a bouncer from the receptionist at work...which everyone enjoyed (Joel, Chad, Steph, Phoebe, Shannon, Nana, Papa T and I all got in we were worried some wouldn't make it out)



Pizza time...she kept opening her mouth like she did for her cupcake--loves food just like her daddy!



Granna, Pappa and the little pumpkin
Daddy and Uncle Chad helped Bella open her presents! She didn't quite understand that when we told her who it was from...she kept trying to give it back to them...instead of thinking it was hers to keep. Our living room looks like a toy store now!
Great Grandpa and Grandma Shotton gave her a keepsake from Mexico.
Papa T bought Bella an indestructible digital camera. She kept going around saying cheese and taking everyone's pictures. She actually got some good ones, but of course there are many of her toes and the grass!

Blowing out the candle.

Our pumpkin
The birthday girl
Happy Birthday Bella B! After everything was cleaned up we decided to let the balloons fly. Bella cracked us up. She loved her balloons all day (so did Gabby) so we thought she might cry, but she loved it. She would say bye-bye and blow kisses and then run in for more. Here she is letting go of two balloons.

This process was taking forever so we thought we do the rest all together...but Bella wouldn't let them go. She would count but wouldn't let go. We finally had to do one at a time again.

This morning Bella lived in her ball pit from Nana and Papa. Gabby even had a blast in there.

She decorated pumpkins with Granna and Daddy.

We decided to have a tickle/tackle daddy moment.

Tonight we headed to Red Lobster for dinner. They even took a lobster out for Bella to look at...they asked her if she wanted to touch it and she said "no".

We had so much fun this weekend and Bella was so excited that Granna and Pappa came from Ohio to visit on her special day (weekend). She became obsessed with her Pappa this weekend and was very concerned when she didn't know where he was!

A few other funny stories (not that this hasn't been a long enough post)! During the week Bella got a few cards in the mail; however she thought they were broken because they didn't sing. A few weeks ago we gave my mom a singing card for her birthday and then my aunt gave Bella a singing Tinkerbell card last week...so I guess she thinks they should all sing now. She opened a few up and kept saying help...it took me a while to figure it out!

Lately Gabby's been working on her grasp...she is one strong little girl. Well she got a good grasp of the little hairs on the back of my neck the other night, which hurt. Soon after that I was sitting holding her and Bella was next to us and Bella screamed Baby's pulling my hair! Sure enough she got a good chunk of Bella's too...I'm sure that's just the first of many sisterly moments.

Bella has been doing great at Potty Training. She's been telling the teacher at school and they have only had to change her once a day. Even this weekend she told us some of the time when she needed to go. I haven't completely focused on it so this week is potty training week! We are going to start with big girl panties so we'll see how that goes.

I just have to finish up saying how much I love my family. Joel is great with the girls and Bella and Gabby give us so much Joy. It is so over whelming when you can see your child so happy. She is so loving and kind to everyone and now loves Gabby so much. She loves holding her and was so cute playing with her today. Bella gives great unexpected hugs and kisses and thank yous...and Gabby's smile can just light your heart. I just love them to pieces. Anyway...this one could be a record for length but I wanted everyone to be able to experience a little of our weekend since I know we have so much family far away that we miss!