Mackenzie's Two!

We celebrated Mackenzie's 2nd birthday today. She loves, loves, loves Elmo so we decided to have a little family Elmo party this year. We decorated balloons to look like Elmo, played a few Elmo games, opened presents and had cake and ice cream. I think her favorite was playing Cookie, Cookie, Elmo (Duck, Duck, Goose spin off). Anytime anyone would say Elmo she'd get up and run around the room.

Pin the nose on Elmo.

Cookie, Cookie, Elmo game. Mackenzie mostly just ran around saying, "Cookie, Cookie, Cookie. . ."

Birthday presents.

Love that smile and that cute dimple! It warms my heart. (Another of moms crazy homemade decorated cakes.)

For dinner, we headed to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate. Mackenzie has been telling us all week that we were going to Chuck E. Cheese. She was going to wave hi to Chuck E. and then she was going to give him a hug. She did this by saying "Cheese", "Hi" (while waving her hand), and then she would demonstrate a hug. We went through this almost every day at least once a day when we talked about her birthday. See the picture below to see how that turned out. She did say hi at least! We also have no idea who the other girl is who hopped into the picture.

We love Mackenzie because. .
1. She is full of love, gives hugs all the time, and brightens our home.
2. Full of snuggles. She always loves to lay her head on my shoulder, play with my hair, or lay contently in our arms.
3. She has a mischevious side that sometimes makes us wonder if we understand all of what she is thinking.
4. She is an active, rambunctious little girl that is full of life. She was born 25 minutes after we arrived at the hospital, and she has hardly stopped since. She loves to run around the house, climb over the couch, and jump unassisted into the swimming pool. (These can make life both fun and a little scary at times too!)

A few hours old.4 months old.

7 months.

1 year.

2 Years old!