she wore a "two-two"

well it was really more of a petticoat but it was the perfect addition to our little spring-time birthday party for our two year old. after the birthday BASHES that have surrounded evia for the last few years, i wanted to do something that spoke to mila. she's not all about fanfare and can get a little bashful, so an intimate party of cake and family was just the thing. (she actually ducked under the table when we all sang to her and wouldn't blow out her candles!)

her birthday is in spring and that whimsy was the constant theme as i planned her afternoon. i found some cupcake liners when i found evia's and they had mila written all over them. the rest of the party elements were things we had on hand - which felt so good, to just re-use and not go out and buy a bunch of things that would only be useful for an hour. 

the weekend as a whole was a lot family time. because mila's celebration was to take place on sunday afternoon. we were able to relish in her big numero dos on the horizon all weekend and make all the events leading up to it, celebratory. below are some of the captured moments and a few highlights of who mila is at this age:

*we call her mila, but she has self proclaimed "mimi," evia calls her toot-toot (because she toots)

*she loves adult food, salad, tapatio, salsa, lemon wedges. she would prefer to eat off my plate over "kid" food if given the choice

*she says "o-meal?" the moment her eyes open in the morning and she runs down the hall to the kitchen were her papa greets her with a hot bowl of the warm breakfast treat

*singing the abc's, wheels on the bus and row row row your boat (more of the tune some of the words) are her favorites, but she's been known to to also sing the chorus of her sister's frozen songs as well (we all have!)
*she's teensy-tiny in the 10th percentile in weight and height (probably much like her mama!)

*she falls at least once a week and it's usually major. this week's fall, one step and straight to the floor where her bottom lip peeled off, bled and was swollen (and still is). she needs a permanent helmet.
*she uses the the big girl potty about 3 times a day, instead of her diaper, but in true mila fashion, she chooses when to use it.

*she shimmies her shoulders and does a little in place gallop when she dances
*when she's told the reason we can't do something she's requested she answers in the sweetest voice "okaaaay." 
*the girl loves to brush her teeth! if someone else is brushing theirs, she says "teeeeeth"
*when we do something wrong she says in the sweetest voice "saawy" 

*she wishes i would just sleep in her bed....but we're making progress. :)

*whenever she plays with her papa, it 99% of the time ends in "noooooo papa." with the sweetest inflection.

*she's learning to ride her trike and loves to where her sister's helmet (just got her own yesterday! - thanks nana and grandpa)

*she counts to 3 some days 4 (update: one day after this post she counted to 10!)
*she's talking up a storm and you can now have a conversation with her

*she loves her sister like nobody's business and often spontaneously shows affection

*she's shy and doesn't smile for everyone, but when she does - melter

*she's a climber and a bit of dare devil (perhpas that's why she takes so many tumbles)

*she wants to be held by her mama 50% of the day

*she's mischievous and a rascal. i'm afraid of what we're in for in years to come.

i love the way she smells, the way her little hand holds my wrist when i read a story and the way her heavy head feels when she rests on my shoulder. i want to always know these feelings but am so excited to see her little self grow. we love you milena elise.

the weekend started with a walk at wilcox. saw some whales, took a spill, enjoyed the doggies

evia had been looking forward to the fair for a week "to celebrate mila's birthday." they had a ball! roller coasters, petting zoo and the ferris wheel

pony rides at the fair, mila took a seat

it was another special birthday this weekend. little george. a fun time was had celebrating that little cutie

grandpa mikey is an archeologist and we visited an event at the presidio called founding day. evia made her hand print out of clay

"excavating" with grandma t (party hat still on)

while d and i had a date night, the girls enjoyed time with grandma t and grandpa mikey - thank you!

my delicious dinner at ca'dario. brown butter sage raviolis - so yumm!

we finally arrive at sunday, mila's bday. waffles, fresh squeezed orange juice, black berries and the birthday song!

our sweetheart ready for earthday! thanks for the adorbs outfit lindsey lou!

we spontaneously spent the morning with auntie emi, after parking at her house and letting the girls run through the park

watching the patos...

and the turtles

elote at earthday

picking gifts out of the mermaid's treasure chest

this girl's style cracks me up sometimes....note the party hat is STILL a hit (it was a hit maris!)

she was wiped after our morning and i was so happy she would be rested for the afternoon ahead

i made her sign from the italian feather paper we used for our wedding invitations

her lemon cakes and cupcakes were an ode to her love of sour. i found a delicious recipe and substituted the egg for e. everyone loved them.

i used some leftover turf from emily's new yard makeover and stuffed our toy crates with it, to complete my spring theme. i also had some small birds that i hung from the ceiling and put on flower wire and a couple of pinwheels leftover from evia's first birthday

mila's in her tutu, playing with her present from the family, a small train set. she LOVES it, yay.

thank goodness we have neighbors that let us borrow vanilla at the last minute and except leftovers of the goodies, so i don't eat them. thanks mike and cat!

the beautiful card made for mila from her big sister evia!

the invitation