Happy 4th Birthday Karla!

We had lots of fun today. Jason took the day off so the 3 of us could have the whole day together. Karla started the day with a little cuddling with Daddy, then Barbie's with Mommy. Then she had the breakfast of her choice - bacon and grapes. Next we had to get ready for dance class. Daddy finally got to see "Karla's studio." She gave him a tour when we first got there. I was proud that Karla was brave enough to tell her teacher it was her birthday...I thought she might be too shy. She wasn't! Karla came out of dance class first (the teacher let her be the line leader since it was her birthday) and ran over to Jason and I and said "My whole class sang Happy Birthday to me!" She got a special sticker from her teacher too. I thought it was nice the teacher made such a big deal of Karla's special day.

We asked Karla where she wanted to eat lunch after she was done dancing. We were expecting something like McDonald's or Chik-fil-A so we gave her a few "nicer" options. She surprised us both when she said "the restaurant with the fish tanks." It is our favorite Chinese place and she has never asked to go there before! So she had Chinese for lunch. After we got home she opened one gift - a 5-pack of "high heel" shoes.

After her nap she opened one more present - a book, "Caps for Sale" from Daddy. We went to the park for a little while since it was nice and sunny and unseasonably warm. Grammy and Pap-Pap met us at the park. She got to open another gift - stick-on earrings with 2 matching rings. (Yes, I may have gotten carried away with gifts but I couldn't help myself...i don't think Jason could either!)

We all came back home and had tacos (K's choice) for dinner followed by chocolate cake! After eating Karla announced that her stomach was "packed." She was full! I haven't seen her eat as much as she ate today in quite some time.

Then she got to open MORE presents. She got a big, pink puffy skirt with matching leggings, an Aladdin and Princess Jasmine playset (little figures/little castle/clothes for figures), the "Beauty and the Beast" movie, and a Princess stamp/activity set with matching tea party.

Karla got several phone calls and watched some of her new movie before bed. She cried when it was time to go to bed. She said she didn't want her birthday to be over! We promised we'd celebrate for the next few days. Her family birthday party is Saturday so the fun WILL continue.

I will post pictures from today when I am not so tired. I wanted to post these pictures though...pictures of her on each birthday. Today I am reminded of just how blessed I am to have her and how very thankful I am for her. I even feel like being with her on her birthday is a treat for me...I guess because I missed her BIRTHday and her 1st birthday. I don't want to take birthdays for granted after that! I am also thankful that she is mostly healthy this birthday. I say that because I think she has a little cold now AND because last year she was recovering from a sinus infection and the year before she was in the hospital. So "YAY" for healthy birthdays together!! :)
BIRTHday (3 days old):

1 year old:

2 years old:

3 years old:


Today!

TWO YEARS

Two years ago today Karla arrived home in the U.S. with us! I feel like this is another milestone (for me anyway) because she has now been in the US longer than she was in Guatemala! Finally!! I am as excited about this day as I am about her birthday next week! Although I guess I am really looking forward to giving her presents next week. :)

I had signed Karla and I up for a zoo class today a few months ago. I was not happy when I woke up to the sound of pouring rain this morning. Luckily it did not rain while we were at the zoo! We went to our class about animal sounds and then went to see Karla's favorite animals. So of course we went to the reptile house first to spend time with the bats, tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes. Then to the aquarium where she labeled and told me about many of the fish there. I don't know how she remembers them all! Next we went to the monkey house to check on her favorite monkey - the one armed monkey. Once when she was at the zoo the monkey wasn't there and she has been concerned about it ever since.

We started to get cold so we left after only 2 hours of walking around. :) That is short for Karla...perfect for me.

Other fun things we did this week:
*Karla had a great check-up on Monday with her allergist and asthma doctor.
*We went to vote. Karla, Oso and I all got stickers.
*Visited the library
*Went to her first gym class called "Itty Bitty All-Stars." This week they learned about soccer and also attempted to kick a football. It was interesting because there was only 1 other girl in the class and 9 boys! Karla isn't used to so many boys. When they were all kicking soccer balls into the goals for practice she was kind of standing there with her ball waiting for her turn. She didn't realize you kick whenever you want and as many times as you can! I also noticed that she likes to be precise. She would take aim and look at where her ball was supposed to go before kicking it. It should be interesting.
*We went swimming. She loves swimming so much. I wish I did... I just don't like the "get out of the water and be really cold' part. It is fun to watch her try to keep her mouth shut (to avoid swallowing water) when she is smiling so much.
*She had dance class - and wouldn't give me any details.
*got together with church friends
*AND of course we spent hours playing Barbie. I remember she started liking Barbie's right before her birthday last year. We've been playing for over a year now..........


We took the rail off of Karla's bed this week and she was quite excited about that. She loves thinking that she is "big." In fact, all she wants for her birthday is cake and to be as tall as Mommy. I have had to try to explain more than once that it takes years to grow "tall." She was hoping she would wake up on her birthday and be "big."
Here is a picture of my big girl from a couple weeks ago.

Halloween Festivities

The past week has been so busy! We had several parties and Halloween celebrations. The real fun began on Wednesday at Karla's dance class. They were allowed to wear their costumes to their class and then at the end of the class they were going to "perform" for the parents. I have only seen her dance once since she started this new class so I was really excited. She did the "Monster Mash" and was of course very cute!

We have been planning for weeks that Karla would be Princess Jasmine for Halloween. She has also wanted a Jasmine birthday party for months. But when we found out she was allowed to wear her costume to dance, she said she wanted to be Belle because the costume was easier to dance in. It was fine with me since we already had a Belle "costume" that she has for dress-up.

Waving to me when I came into the classroom:

Waiting in line:


The next day we drove to Ohio to trick-or-treat with the cousins. I knew Karla would enjoy trick-or-treating with other kids! Last year she t-o-t (yes, I just made up that abbreviation) in our neighborhood with 6 adults. :) I teared up when she started t-o-t with the girls because she would run with them to the front doors and back down the driveways and then she shouted "I'm having so much fun, Mommy!" For some reason seeing her with other little girls I love "gets me" every time! And I love seeing her so happy! It was neat to see how she is more brave this year and would actually say "t-o-t" loud enough to be heard and "thank you." She even liked the fact that I stayed on the street with her aunt, uncle, and grandparents. :) Tio Eric did pull Karla and Audra from house to house in a wagon...we t-o-t'd for a long time! I was glad he had the wagon!



Saturday was our neighborhood Halloween parade and party. We had a good time visiting with neighbors and eating lots of good food.


Sunday was trick-or-treating in our neighborhood! This year it was Karla, Grammy, Pap-Pap, Mommy and Daddy. Karla, I mean Princess Jasmine, was brave again...but not quite as outgoing as earlier this week without other kids to keep up with. :)

Karla really is a very sweet girl. Tonight, at one of the first houses we went to they had big candy bars...and I knew which one Karla was going to pick. Butterfinger - because it is my favorite. Sure enough she did. I didn't say anything about it but thought it was cute. Then later, when she was all done t-o-t and we came inside she said she wanted to dump her candy out on the family room floor because that is what Mommy did when she was little. (Karla is always asking me and Jason to tell her about stories of things we did when we were little. I wish I could remember more! But one thing I told her about is how I dumped my candy out on the floor in the family room along with my brother and sister and how we'd pick some things out to eat, etc.) After she dumped all of her candy out and looked at a couple things she got the big Butterfinger bar and gave it to me. She said it was for me! I hadn't really thought she would give it to me...I thought SHE would eat it. How many kids give their mom their favorite candy before eating any of their own!?!? I don't think I did that when I was little. :) She does nice things like this quite often. I feel so lucky to have such a loving girl.

I think this month is going to fly by! We've got Karla's birthday celebration(s) and Thanksgiving. Karla is also starting a new gym class that goes for 6 weeks at the Y. It'll be Christmas before you know it!!

Another important date is this coming Friday...look for another post then...or the day or two after. :) Anyone know what we celebrate then!?!?

Cousins

Last weekend we had 3 of Karla's cousins come to stay for two nights. We all had a great time! Friday night we played at home and then watched a movie and ate popcorn. Saturday morning we made "snails" for breakfast....a tradition when they spend the night at my house. Then we went to the zoo. I hadn't thought about it being "Boo at the Zoo" weekend.... Traffic was awful and the zoo was packed! We finally made it into the zoo and thankfully all the girls had fun and enjoyed seeing the animals. I felt bad I didn't know it was Boo at the Zoo and didn't have the girls dress up. Shayla, the oldest, said "That is okay Aunt Jennifer, it is just fun to see all the kids in their costumes." :) I was really impressed with how polite and well-mannered those 3 little girls were the entire weekend! :) We went to CiCi's for pizza after the zoo and didn't get home till about 7pm! Whew!

I was going to have all the girls go to church with us but Sunday morning they were all playing so nicely in their PJs that I decided we'd stay home. It was odd because no one was asking me to entertain or play with them. I almost didn't know what to do...but the pile of dishes called to me. :) I got to listen to Audra and Karla playing Barbie's and singing and Shayla and Angelina coloring, joking and laughing with each other. It really was all music to my ears!!

It was the first time Karla had a "sleepover" in her room with a friend. She LOVED that part! Luckily the girls were so tired at night they went right to sleep.

TWO years ago today

One of the best days of my life:

Smiling at a picture of Daddy:



To see the post from Oct 13 last year, click here. Or click here to see the post I wrote the day I held Karla and never had to let her go ever again!!!

I should have taken a picture of all of us today!! Maybe tomorrow. :)
I am so thankful God gave us Karla....what a "good and perfect" gift!

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to the pumpkin patch. It was an unbelievably warm and sunny day! Karla had fun picking out the perfect pumpkins. A big huge one for Daddy, a medium-sized one for Mommy, and a little one for her. I'll have to take a picture of the 3 she picked out. The "mommy" and "little" pumpkin are pretty much the same size. :) We took so many pictures you will have to click here to view them all.

Picture Post

Modeling before dance class yesterday:

This girl does love to accessorize. She was disappointed she couldn't wear all of her "jewels" to dance.

I had to be sure to get a picture of the new shoes that SHE picked out last week when we went shopping. She HAD to have these because they have a little heel and look like Mommy's. :)

Hiding from me today: