We had a wonderful day celebrating Ellie's 2nd birthday! We left Waynesville around 8:30 am and headed to Knoxville to go to the zoo. Grant's parents, DeeDee and RonRon, met us there. Ellie had a blast looking at all of the animals. She kept wanting to pet all of them! We were looking at the snakes and she said, "Ellie pet them". She really loved the red pandas. I am pretty sure her favorite part of the day was the carousel. She rode it 5 times in a row and we had to drag her away from it! Maggie did a lot of sleeping during the day, but was a trooper.
Probably the most historic part of the zoo trip was the giving up of the pacie. We explained to Ellie at 2 she is now a big girl and does not need a pacie. She only was sleeping with it, but it was time to part ways. That morning Grant talked with her about it and that she was going to give it to one of the animals because their babies needed it now. Ellie chose the giraffes. She has been using this green pacie for about the last four months. When it was time she let daddy "throw" it to the giraffes! We were very proud. We knew night time might be rough. Well, when it was time to go to bed, without flinching, Ellie looks at Grant and says, "orange pacie"! We about died! She had not seen nor used this pacie in four months yet this child was thinking as she threw her green pacie to the giraffes, "You suckers. I have an orange pacie at home so sure I'll give this one to these giraffes"! We did not give it to her, though, and she has done very well.
After the zoo we came home and Ellie put on her special shirt and tutu a friend of mine made. It was for her party, which was a week later, but we went ahead and let her wear it on her birthday. We also went and got birthday ice cream. Gotta have ice cream on your birthday! It was a wonderful day and we are so blessed. We cannot believe our baby is 2, but she is so fun and we are loving every minute of it, even the tantrums :)!
