Zella is 2!

Zella turned 2 on December 28th. It's hard to believe two years have gone by! Zella is a very happy, vivacious little girl. She has a very big vocabulary and a tiny, soft speaking voice. The combination of the two usually gets people's attention. (Well, and her unusual name and the fact she wears glasses. She is hard to forget!)

She is now in her "big girl" toddler bed and wakes up every morning happy. She throws her arms in the air and announces, "I'm awake! I love you! Let's go downstairs and play!".

Zella loves to look at books and play with the Barbie house her Papa made for his girls. She also loves the trike and helmet she got for her birthday. She is not as cuddly as Madeline, and if you ask her whose girl she is, she answers, "I'm my OWN girl!". Very independent and full of it!

She is such a joy in our lives and a constant source of smiles. Travis and I usually just shake our heads and laugh at all the funny things she says. Zella loves to sing and make up songs in her high-pitched voice. I'll try to get some on video to share...you can't help but smile!

Zella also has entered her terrible twos. Just ask her cousin Grace (two months older than Z) who has to contend with Zella being a bully. She can tackle Madeline and knock her down. She is pretty tough!

Zella is very excited about being a big sister even though she is not 100 percent sure what that means. It has been fun watching her grow and we are so thankful that she is our daughter!

The pictures above are from Zella's birthday party. She wanted Elmo cupcakes and I tried my best. ;) She thought they looked like Elmo. Her favorite party was eating Elmo's gumdrop nose.

We had family who live in the area, plus Grandma "Marker" (Trav's mom) and Aunt Kate (so thankful they could make it!) for a small party at our house. It was fun to watch Zella open presents because she got so excited for each one. Her favorite thing to open were the clothes and she kept trying to strip down and try her new outfits on. Too cute!

Thanks to everyone for making Zella's birthday special.

In case you're wondering, Zella is wearing her old glasses in all these photos because I broke her new ones. First time that has happened! I stepped on them while trying to find them.

More later,