Last weekend, Eloise went with Grandma & Grandpa to Bengston's Farms. Auntie Lo even came along. She saw lots of pumpkins aka humpins and farm animals. Thanks to Grandma for taking some pictures on their outing.
Earlier this week, Eloise decorated a few pumpkins for the house and had a blast! As soon as Daddy came home that day, she couldn't wait to tell him that she had "painted humpins."
Last Sunday, we ventured out to All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, IL. What a great place! We will definitely be going back for years to come as they have something for all ages. Eloise had a great time watching the Pig Races (our pig won!), checking out the Petting Zoo, and of course picking apples. We didn't quite make it to the Pumpkin patch there but Eloise made sure to point out all the "humpins" that she saw around the orchard.
Let her sleep for when she wakes, she will move mountains.
This past month, Eloise has coined some "catch phrases" and funny little sayings that she delights us with every day.
What's that noise?
It's like the audio version of "I spy." When we are driving together to work/school, she will hear a loud truck drive by and say..."What's that noise?" Frankly, we can be anywhere inside or outside and you can guarantee that she will be asking you this question. Warning: if she doesn't like your answer, she will ask you again.
Party Hat!
Toward the end of August, Eloise started putting things on her head and saying, "Party Hat!" Honestly, we have no idea where this came from. She empties her basket of crayons, puts the basket on her like a little hat, and says, "Party Hat!" She gets creative with this move as she uses cereal bowls, tortilla bowls, and her tshirts when they are coming off. Without fail, we laugh every time.
I fine.
Mommy: "Eloise, do you want to put your coat on?"
Eloise: "No, I fine (with hand waving me off)."
Eloise falls down while playing. I ask her if she is ok. She says, "I fine."
I, princess.
Whether it is requesting her Ariel princess nightgown to wear to bed or a dress to wear to school, Eloise has princesses on the brain. She tries to wear her dolls crowns and tiaras all the time and tells us, "I, princess." When Mommy was wearing a skirt the other day, she grabbed the skirt and asked, "Mommy, princess?" We told her that Mommy was the queen and she bought it! However, she also thinks that Daddy is a queen too. Guess we have to work on the concept of kings vs queens.
Toy of the month: Minnie Fashion On the Go.
Eloise got this for her birthday and it has been hit all month. She loves to dress Minnie up in her various outfits and place her in front of the mirror. Her favorite part is dance to the music that plays in Minnie's dressing room.
Last weekend, Eloise enjoyed a hike around Lake Katherine in Palos Heights with Grandma & Grandpa. While her daddy was hunting deer that day, she was hunting for ducks, doggies, and turtles.
This post is a mash up of Eloise's 2 year check up stats and Birthday Party highlights. At her 2 year check up, Eloise was in full performance mode. When the nurse was asking me questions about Eloise's development, she chimed in multiple times. The best one was when the nurse asked, "Can Eloise name parts of her body?" Eloise says, "Yes...Nose (points to nose)...Eyes...Ears...Neck...Arm" and so. I was cracking up! The nurse and her doctor said that she is ahead of the game with her talking. Hmmm, I wonder where she gets that from?? Here are here stats: Height: 35 inches (86%) and Weight: 29lbs 8.7oz (82%). I did one of the height predictors on Baby Center for Eloise based off of her current height/weight/age and ours. It said she will be 5' 7. I'm not surprised seeing as she is already more than half my height.
As we start this journey of the next year ahead of the possible "terrible twos," I'd like to highlight some of the sweeter things that Eloise does....
When she comes in bed with us in the morning to wake up, she always sits on Mommy's side of the bed and wraps her little arm around my neck and says, "Cuddle, Mommy." When I put her to bed at night, she now requests that I lay down in her bed with her and read to her. After that she requests that I sing either "Twinkle, Twinkle" or "You are my sunshine." If I sing "Sunshine" as she calls it, she will sing along. It's the best. When you ask her what Daddy says, she says, "I love you" and hugs herself. Daddy taught her how to give bear hugs so she regularly requests that too.
I found this shirt on Etsy and it really sparked the theme for the party - Neigh, Oink, Quack, Moo..I am Two. The shop owner customized it to match her skirt. We found her skirt at Bass Pro Shops. Sometimes, it pays to be a hunter's wife.
My mom snapped this photo of me setting up the Sweets & Treats table which I entitled "Fill up your feed bag." And yes, I was wearing a flannel shirt to go with the farm theme. Daddy was too!
This is Eloise's Ranch. I bought the lollipops but assembled the ranch myself. I used a green foam base for floral arrangments, a bag of popsicle sticks, some "straw" and tons of glue.
Check out the Barn photo booth. Uncle Brian & Aunt AJ were good sports and let me snap their photo right when the party started. The kids had a great time playing with it as well as the inflatable farm animals.
We had a wide variety of age groups at the party so I decided to come up with a scavenger hunt for kids and parents to do throughout the party. It was a big hit with the kids and they did a great job hunting around the Zoo to find all the items.
Check out my Pinterest board for all my inspiration for the party!
