Happy Birthday, Eliza!

One of the first things I woke up to was Ali coming in my room and whispering, "Mom!  I looked at Eliza and her legs are even longer today than they were yesterday when she was only one!"  The kids were also convinced that she would start talking in complete sentences today.  They kept testing her all day with new words to try like, "hyena," "blueberry" and "diaper."  They were pretty sure she could say a lot more words today than yesterday.  I agree; she's been getting better about talking, but only to the trained ear.

We started off the celebration with presents first thing this morning.  That's how we always do it - who wants to wait?!  I found this old play high chair at an antique shop at Christmas and wanted to fix it up for Eliza then, but I really couldn't add one more thing to my plate.  I went back to see if they still had it and they did!  So it went from this:

To this:

I am very happy with it and hope it lasts a while.  It's big enough that by the end of today Eliza was climbing up and sitting in it herself.

Then it was a breakfast of waffles with whipped cream and sprinkles, complete with a candle and a little "Happy Birthday" song.  She got to go on a date with Daddy while the other children stayed and did all kinds of artwork birthday presents for her.  One of the pictures included Eliza sitting on a throne holding a golden cup with everyone else bowing to her, because she was the princess today.  Lunch was her favorite food - "Tillas!" (tortillas), then birthday cake and another song.  We watched the video of the day she was born, played, read and napped.  By dinner, she wanted the candle back in her cake, we sang to her again, she was finally able to blow out the candle herself and we had another slice of cake.  Rather than eat it, though, she just wanted the candle back in her cake so we could sing to her again.  She was a little upset that we were done with that for the day.  All in all, a great day.  The kids were nice to her all day (mostly) and even let her have the coveted middle seat at the bar.  I'm so lucky to have the kids I have.

When I think back about Eliza coming into our family, I'm so happy.  I had two miscarriages before finally being able to have her and realize what a blessing it is to have as many children as I do, but especially for Eliza.  She brings me so much happiness and I thank my Heavenly Father for sending her to me.