I finally made it to the big day!  Friday, July 18, we celebrated TWO precious years with our darling Millie Janalee.  I cannot believe how fast time has flown!  Our all time favorite moments in Disney World was when Millie Janalee met Minnie Mouse.  She absolutely loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and "Nouse" and "Mick." So, naturally, I decided on a Minnie Mouse theme.  Everything was perfect for our small family birthday weekend!  Don't get me wrong.  We did it up BIG!  We just didn't have a large guest list this year. Ha!

Susu, Pawpaw, Kay Kay, and Hughes made the trip a day earlier than the rest of the crew to be here on Millie Janalee's actual birthday.  We had a big day planned including a day at Magic House, the children's museum in St. Louis.  Susu and Pawpaw also wanted to take her by the American Girl store.  So I woke my little sleepy head up early for her birthday donut.  As you can see, she is much like her Mama in the morning.  It takes a second to wake up good.  She immediately found the life-size "Nouse" balloon in the living room.  We sang "Happy Birthday" for the first of many times after I lit the candles on her donut.  She needed a little help blowing them out, and she actually preferred her cereal bar over the donut.  Haha!  So I ate the donut, of course!  Yum!

After breakfast, we were all gathering our last minute things before heading out for a fun-filled day when Millie Janalee came around the corner.  She had found her birthday stash and wanted the gift inside the Minnie Mouse bag.  Susu told her of course she could open it!

There was a gasp and a sweet "Oooooh!"  And then there was the moment she asked to wear them.  The sparkly red Minnie Mouse shoes.  So I let her.  She wore them proudly.  Along with the old lady purse.  Susu and Pawpaw sure know how to make this girl smile!

"Pwease!!"

One happy Minnie Janalee!

We loaded everyone up for our first stop at the American Girl store.  It just so happened that we walked up on the movie premier of Isabella!  Red carpet treatment for our birthday girl.  Just more reassurance that the world actually does revolve around her.  Haha!

[I kid.]

[Kinda.]

Celebrity status!

Inside the American Girl store, it was a full-size room with lots of little girls for Millie Janalee to talk with and wave to.  Flitting from one doll to the next and landing at the tea set exactly like the first time she visited.  She and Susu carefully chose a Bitty Baby for her birthday.  Susu and Pawpaw even stuck in the tea set and treats just for fun. Oh, and matching pajamas too!

Her Bitty Baby came with a special book too, and we all know how much Millie Janalee loves a book!  She was in heaven.  Until it was time to leave.

Thankfully her little fit didn't last too long since there was a full out block party outside the doors!  Radio Disney was there blaring music, hula hoops were everywhere, and there was dancing in the street.  Millie Janalee and Pawpaw did some hula hooping.  Susu gave it a try too.  Hughes pretty much tolerated the whole American Girl store dance party morning.  Which still makes me giggle actually.

It was the perfect way to start our birthday celebration!  It's like they knew it was her birthday.

We eventually made our way to Magic House just in time to grab some lunch at the little cafe there.  The food was tolerable, but Millie Janalee didn't care. She enjoyed her grilled cheese and lots of other snacks we brought from home. Then she was ready to run and play!

There were so many different directions to go and lots to see and do.  We followed the map and hit up the areas I thought Millie Janalee would enjoy most.  The special exhibit of Sid the Science Kid was one of her favorites though.  Also, she may or may not have had her first date in the car by herself in that exhibit too (see the yellow car).  They look very serious. Ha!

Another favorite area was the area specifically for ages 0-6.  There weren't older wild kids running over her or knocking the little ones down.  Everything was age appropriate, and she had a ball!  The water table was too fun.  Just look at her face!  Pawpaw and I stared as she showed us that she actually knew what to do when she cooked.  She put all the tops on the pots and pans and poured condiments on her foods before taking a bite.  It was the cutest thing!  She and Susu went shopping in the market.  She bought all the plants that were on sale.  Ha!

We came across a baby weigh station, and I couldn't wait to see how much she weighed.  25 pounds!  My 6 pound 13 ounce baby girl is now 25 pounds y'all!

We made our way through the various rooms and exhibits.  Susu and Millie Janalee enjoyed their first proper tea party with Raggedy Ann.  She's pretty much been obsessed with tea parties since.

The day was long for some of our crew.  When Susu and I brought Millie Janalee downstairs, this is the view we came up on...

Worn out.

It was a long day, but it was just beginning!  Just the beginning of a wonderful celebration!  I am so glad Pawpaw, Susu, Kay Kay, and Hughes were able to spend the day with us loving on our two year old sweetie!

Since Russ had to work all day, we saved her big gift from us til he got home.  It worked out well since she was napping.  Russ got home and set up her new fancy little kitchen.  I placed Minnie Mouse close by to greet her, and we anxiously waited on her to wake up from her nap!

Surprise!

Wakey wakey!

It honestly could not have gone any better in my head.  She was so happy and surprised with every little noise and accessory.  There were lots of "Ohhh!" and "Whoa!" and giggles.  She found the phone and had a very serious conversation with someone very important.  It went something like this:

"Heeyyyy! Huh?  Okay.  Huh? Byyyyeee!"

Chit chat

Cooking Daddy a strawberry

We spent the next few minutes pulling out all her goodies from the American Girl store.  We served tea to Minnie Mouse, her new Bitty Baby, and even to Hughes!

She tried on her cute dress from Susu and Pawpaw before continuing her work in the kitchen.  Lots of frying the strawberries and microwaving the grilled cheese.

It wasn't long before Uncie Buck and "Bwee" arrived with even more gifts!  Aunt Nana sent Millie Janalee her very own slide!  It was all over after that.  She slid and slid and slid.  She's a pro now in case you were wondering.

Since it was her birthday and we had guests, Millie Janalee stayed up way past bedtime.  Not that we even pretend to actually have one of those these days.  She dressed in her matching pajamas and Susu put her to bed with her Bitty Baby.

Sweet dreams, birthday girl!  The celebration has only begun!

Sunday Funday

After our Fourth of July weekend, we were happy to spend a Sunday Funday at home.  Russ worked that Sunday morning, so after lunch we were able to all just hang out together at home.  We spent some time at the playground in our townhome complex.  It was HOT!  Millie Janalee never seems to mind the heat like we do.  Ha!  Her favorite thing to do is swing.  She could literally swing for hours.

Russ was able to talk her into checking out the big slide on the "big kids side" of the playground.  She is quite the cautious one.  Believe it or not!  Big personality...cautious to act.  With a little encouragement and a sliding partner, she did it!

At this point, I was dying from the heat and suggested we walk home.  Ummm...well...you can tell by her face how she felt about it.  But you can also tell by this face just how hot it was.  The girl was soaked!

The best way to end a sweet summer evening after a hot day outside is to sit outside and eat watermelon.  Millie Janalee tried her first bit of watermelon.  I kinda had a feeling it wouldn't fly.  She is such a texture person, and watermelon does have a different texture.  It looked promising at first...

But it was soon clear that she wasn't a fan.  Haha!

I got her to give it one more try so we could take a bite together...

But she much preferred sitting in her chair with a juice pack instead while her daddy and I enjoyed the fresh watermelon.  Sweet summertime!

Have I mentioned lately how big she's getting?!  Look at those sweet little legs and that big grin!  I'm obsessed, to be honest.

Sunday Fundays are the best!

Missouri Botanical Garden

Saturday morning after our big Fourth of July adventure, Russ and I decided we would take Millie Janalee to Missouri Botanical Garden.  The weather was beautiful, and I always hate to waste a good holiday weekend.  Ha!  Russ worked til noon, and we headed out soon after.  The last time Russ and I were at a Botanical Garden was in Memphis pre-baby.  In fact, it was the week before we found out about Millie Janalee.  We were looking forward to a beautiful stroll and some time for Millie Janalee to get out and play.

In the Missouri Botanical Garden, there is a Children's Garden area.  It costs money to get in after age two.  Millie Janalee barely made the cutoff!  She had a ball exploring the Children's Garden!  Oh my!  There were so many fun areas, and we didn't get to see them all.  I guess that means we need to make another trip.  The first thing she found was the giant beehive where our little "busy bee" raced around the giant flowers to pollinate them.  Inside each flower, there were bells and other sounds when the children "pollinated" or played with the ropes coming out of them.  And, as she does everywhere we go, Millie Janalee found a friend immediately.  They enjoyed chasing each other around the flowers for a while.

Finally Russ and I talked Millie Janalee into seeing what else the Children's Garden had to offer.  We found the General Store just around the corner where the children were shopping for fresh fruits and veggies, checking out with the "clerks", and putting all their food into baskets.  Millie Janalee did a great job of locating foods when we called them out.  Her favorite part was filling her basket!  Of course, there was another little girl who kept it interesting by shopping out of Millie Janalee's basket. Ha!  The carrots held her attention the most as she kept holding it up to her eye like a telescope.  I suppose she was trying to be like Olaf from Frozen.  It was quite funny.

Leaving this area took a little more encouragement.  It helped that she needed a diaper change, so I just picked her up and headed toward a bathroom.  We returned to a outdoor musical paradise for this girl.  She has music wherever she goes!  Nonstop singing.  I love it!  She loved playing the xylophone with her Daddy.  Russ plays pretty much everything by ear.  It has always amazed me.  So he showed out a bit by playing some Little Mermaid "Under the Sea" for us.

Of course Millie Janalee took the opportunity to turn hers into a microphone.  Probably singing "Let it Go!"  Everything can be turned into a microphone.  Didn't you know that?

While my musical talents spent some quality time together, I found a rock and took a moment to eat my lunch.  Since I was the one packing the bags and getting Millie Janalee ready, I was the one who didn't eat before we left.  It didn't take long for my sweet Miss Priss to walk over asking for "a biiiite."  So I had to share my little Uncrustable.

We found so many fun areas to play and explore, including a rope bridge that I volunteered to carry Millie Janalee across.  I didn't realize until we got on there that it was more like a tight rope walk with nets!  Oh my.  Ha!

The Children's Garden closed at 4 pm, so we left this area and began our stroll through the grounds.  It was beautiful and relaxing to see all the variations of plants and flowers.  We saw ducks, geese, and huge fish in the water.  We let Millie Janalee walk some and find her own special places along the way.  Her favorite thing to do right now is to sniff the flowers and make a big dramatic sneeze.  My brother finally figured out that she picked it up from Olaf on Frozen.  Little sponge!

We also found a wedding venue preparing for a wedding during our stroll.  We could see the guests beginning to arrive.  (We could tell by the way they were dressed.)  We also found the reception area. I wish I had taken a picture, because it was lovely!  Little to no decoration needed when you are getting married in the Missouri Botanical Garden!  A fabulous idea!  When we left, we saw the wedding guest checkin where guests picked up their own little wooden umbrella for the sun.  It was so perfect.

Our Saturday was full of fun and fresh flowers!  I love that we are able to experience these things with our little family...right here at our back door!