Last day as a 2 year old!!

Layla knows that tomorrow is June 1st and that means it's her BIRTHDAY! She has been requesting me sing all day, even though it's a day early.  She would listen to the whole song and then at the end say, "Thank you mom!".  In fact, as I type this I can hear her singing it to herself from her room:).  We have a big play date at the park planned.  About 20 of her little friends have RSVPed.  There is about about a 60% chance of rain in the morning but I am hoping that it will miss us. Although, it wouldn't be the first time it has rained at her party:) She is most looking forward to her daddy flying in from NY to spend this special day with her.  Happy Birthday Eve to my baby girl!

Last meal as a 2 year old...PIZZA!!

Some decor for Layla as she comes down the stairs in the morning:)

Memorial Day Weekend

First Cousin Sleepover where they all sleep in the same room:) 

Layla's first night in a big girl bed!

Layla's TN Birthday party cake

Princesses and Minnie Mouse...what more could a 3 year old girl ask for??

CHEESE!

Blowing out her candles

AWESOME scooter from Aunt Robin and Uncle Jason

Trampoline from Grammy and Granddaddy

CAKE!!!

Back at home, babysitting Annie.  Layla grabbed her hand and held it...so sweet.

Testing out her scooter

Tim's Ford Lake

Passed out on the way home of from the lake.  We had a GREAT weekend!

2 Year Old Dance Recital

Layla has been in dance all year at Decatur School of Ballet.  As a two year old, her and I went together to a Mommy & Me class. She had her recital yesterday, which they actually just call a "demonstration" since 2 year olds often don't do well on a big stage with a long performance.  It also saves us money on all the costume fees.  Instead, they offer old costumes that the kids could choose from throughout the demonstration.

Layla has improved so much over the year.  She is definitely ready for the next step and ready to go without me!  We can't wait until September when she begins Creative Movement I with Mrs. Jessica!

Daddy made sure he was in town from NY to see her:)

Her first costume choice.

with friends Eliza and Gabrielle

waiting for instructions from Miss Dee

Knees Up Farmer Brown in costume choice #2.

Getting ready to stretch

Pointing to her eyes because the song said so.

Stretch!

Stamp time after class!  Everyone loves this part.

We have had such a FUN year together!

STAMP!

All the girls and their mom or grandmother.

Ballerina bear from Miss Dee and flowers from daddy:)

What's to come...

Lucas and I have had many conversations about this season of our lives. We are very much at peace with where we are and the things we are doing. But there is something that is happening that neither of us can put into words. There is something more that is at work, yet neither of us can quite put our finger on it. Through different circumstances, different relationships, and different whispers from the Holy Spirit, there seems to be something working in a realm that we can't quite identify. We both just keep saying, "God is preparing us for something bigger".

So pray with us. What I love about my Father is the unknown is not a scary place with Him. I can wait patiently, in expectation, because I know that He has nothing but the best prepared for us.

Lord, we are willing. When you say "Go", we will go. When you say "See", we will see. When you say "Listen", we will hear. When you say "Learn", we will gain wisdom. And when you say "Wait", we will trust.

Psalms 27:13-14
Yet, I am confident. I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be strong and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Absent

I have been avoiding this area like the plague.  When I come, it just makes me feel so far behind on everything that I have failed to record.  So let me just tell you the trend in my life right now: SIMPLIFY!

Lucas left Sunday, a week ago, and will be gone for 2.5 weeks.  So this puts me about one week in.  After this week I have realized one thing.  I have got too much on my plate!  Lucas and I are a really good team when it comes to this whole parenting thing and with us entering another season of life with him going back and forth to NYC, I am realizing that I cannot keep up everything that him and I make work together.

So, I am letting some things go.  I have taken a step back to reevaluate my priorities.  It means sacrifice in some things that I enjoy but it means securing the most important things on the top of the list. Jesus, unchallenged time with my husband and daughter, and time to invest in my friendships are the areas in which I want to be my best.

So, excuse me in my absence.  I will be back soon to catch up on life.  I really do enjoy this spot. It is often a place to get things off my mind and I hope for it to be that again very soon.  Life doesn't stop, even when we feel like we need a break and I hope to get back to remembering it here.

Busy

March has been a crazy busy month for us as I suspected it would be.  I just wanted to document a very important event in the Kairdolf household tonight: Layla is spending her last night in a DIAPER!  She has been napping in panties for a few weeks and has been waking up dry from her night time sleep for some time now.  So, I decided and have been telling her that when these diapers were gone, they were GONE! Tonight we put on the last of the pack.  I am resisting the urge to be sappy and sad about it and just choosing to embrace the lifestyle of NO DIAPERS before we add #2.  I am so proud of my baby girl. This has been something that she has totally initiated on her own. I guess since she is ready I better be too:).

More pics and stories to come on what we have been up too!
Happy Sunday, hope everyone has a great week!

Another doctor visit

After going back and forth, I finally decided to take Layla to the doctor today. She has had a cough that sounded worse and then has also had a fever. I just wanted a peace of mind before she went to TN with the grandparents for a couple of days. After looking and listening, the dr concluded that she had an extremely red throat, with a temp of 101 but her lungs and ears were clear. She then sent us for a strep test which was also negative so now we are just to treat the fever at night. Fortunately, the fever OR cough doesn't seem to bother Layla for the most part. She is still sleeping, eating, and playing like a healthy child. I figured that she was okay but wanted to make sure. We ARE talking about a kid who has thrown up in her sleep twice and I didnt even know until the morning. Hopefully, in the next couple of days she will be symptom free.

In other news, my Otterbox arrived today which means I will be replacing my beat up phone tomorrow. Sure hate to spend money on a new phone but mine is almost useless.

Looking forward to a great Friday to kickoff the weekend.
Happy March 1st everyone!
3 months from today, I will have a THREE year old! Wow!