"The Little Princesses"

I started nannying for Layla when she and Liliana were just 6 months old. I would take them to Stroller Strides, My Gym classes, and the park, and the groups of moms that I would see on a weekly basis nicknamed the girls, "The Little Princesses." Maybe they did this because it was too confusing to remember which one was 'Layla' and which one was 'Lila'. Or, maybe they did it because the girls were always dressed in adorable little outfits with HUGE bows on their heads.

Whatever the reason, the name now fits. The two definitely have an obsession with princesses and all things princess-y, so we decided to celebrate their birthdays by having their hair done at Disneyland's "Bibbety Bobbety Boo-tique" and having lunch with the Disney princesses at Ariel's Grotto. The girls were so excited about this celebration and talked about it for at least a month before the big day. If anyone asked Liliana when her birthday was and what she was going to do on her birthday she would say excitedly, "January forf! Mine's going to get my hair and makeup done with Layla and eat lunch with Cinderella!"
I went into the BBB with every intention of just getting the tight bun that they offer so that Liliana didn't look too much like a disturbing Toddlers in Tiaras contestant. But, for the same price as the bun Liliana could have long Cinderella-hair flowing down her shoulders, so Katie helped convince me to "go big". The whole experience was hilarious for us (we were snapping pictures like crazy and cracking up together) and amazing for them. They both sat perfectly still for the entire 30 minutes. They loved every second of getting pampered and choosing their hair color (so weird), their lip gloss color, and the color of their one swoop of eye shadow that they wore. They also got to choose a huge blingy princess ring and an eye jewel. Liliana sat in her beauty chair looking so pleased with herself and sang along to all of the Disney princess songs that they had playing on their speakers. After the girls were all made up and sprinkled with tons of glitter from a magic wand, their "fairy Godmother" introduced them as "Princess Liliana/Layla" and pushed a magic button that opened the curtains to a mirror illuminated with sparkles and lights. The looks on their faces were priceless. They loved it! We then waited to play and take pictures in Cinderella's carriage.

Do you think they are having fun?:

Puckering up her lips to smooth her gloss evenly. A funny little move she has been doing with dramatic flair since she was 13 months old:
The revealing:
Hilarious:

After we left the BBB we went on a few rides. Needless to say we were stopped tons of times so that people could check the little divas out and they loved the attention. "THANK YOU!" they would say.

Having way too much fun:

Lunch at Ariel's Grotto was so much fun. Each princess was announced and then made their way through the restaurant to greet all of their guests. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant. We had a great view of the princesses making their entrance, but it was VERY hard for Liliana to watch the princesses hug other girls and wait her turn. She almost had a nervous breakdown. "CINDERELLA!! HI!! I LOOOVE YOU!! COME HERE! IT'S MY TURN! PLEASE!!" The only way she was able to pull it together was when I told her that the princesses only come say 'hi' to happy girls.

Excited to see the first princess, Cinderella:

Getting a little desperate:

Losing control:

On the verge of a total melt down:

Trying to be happy so that Cinderella will come visit her:

Once the princesses finally made it to our table the girls were so excited and both started chatting their ears off. It was almost impossible to get a picture of the two of them looking at the camera because they were both so busy talking! "Cinderella! You are my favowit! LOOK Cinderella, your picter is on my dwess! You wearing high heels? Can I see them? LOOK, you and Snow White and Belle are on my shoes! I like your dwess!" And then, Liliana would break into song for each of the princesses. She sang each one of them their theme song.
Cinderella: "A dweam is a wish a heart makes when your fast asweep..."
Belle: "Tawe as old as time, twu as it can be...Beeoooty and da Beeest..."
Ariel: "Look at dis stuff. Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think..." (the rest of her version of this song is unintelligible, but she sings her heart out)
Aurora: "I know you, I walked wif you once upon a dweeem..."
SO CUTE!!!

"Look Aurora! You're on my shoes! You weawing high heels?"

"Look Snow White! I have a mani/pedi. You have a mani/pedi?"

"Bewl! Draw in my book!"

After the princesses made their way through we finished lunch. Throughout lunch the wait staff would sing "Happy Birthday" to other guests that were celebrating. Layla said, "HEY! It's MY birfday!" and then she would sing, "Happy Birfday to MEEE!" When it was finally their turn to be sung to and blow out their candles they were thrilled. It was a PERFECT DAY!
Liliana passed out before we even made it to our car. She was so asleep that I was able to change her clothes in the back of the car without her waking up. When we got home she woke up for a moment and said, "Mom, I am soooo tired! Put me in my bed! Take my pony tail out. My haiw huwts!" I thought it was so funny because I could relate--how is it that your heels don't pinch your toes at all while you are having a blast out on the dance floor, but the second you get home they ache?
She still talks about this day and puts her baby dolls in their high chair, covers their chest and shoulders with blankets, and pretends to do their hair. I realize that it is a little weird to let a 2 year look the way she did that day, but she is already obsessed with makeup and dress up (and I am almost never made up or dressed up, so she did not learn it from me--she was born this way) and it was her birthday and it is JUST PRETEND. Right?!? :)