Pumpkin Face is Two!

AND in my absence, pumpkin face had a birthday!

Sweet Ana Blair,

You have changed our lives forever, you are the part of our family that we never knew we were missing. You are SO different from your sister, but there is nothing any better than watching the two of you together. You are so vocal, so strong-willed and quick-tempered. But you are so smart, so funny and just plain cute. No one can stay mad at you for long, believe me...we have tried!

You make every day longer (because you like to wake up with the sun!), but without a doubt--you make every day better!

Its a Luau!

Olivia decided she wanted her fifth birthday party to be here at our house. We had never had one here before, so I obliged. What trouble can a small luau, an inflatable and some cake be? Have you met me?

One day before the party, I was ready to throw in the towel. But, we made it through, and it was actually fun! And, as usual, there aren't as many pictures as I would like. I take 100 pictures on normal days, but just can't find the time on special occasions! I didn't even get a group picture or pics of the all the decorations!

Party Favors

Our back door, leading out to the luau

Pumpkin Face was here...she wasn't so sure about the 50+people invading her back yard!

...So she decided to take a nap with Nana

My little ham always gets a little shy when "Happy Birthday" starts

"...Oh, there's cake--maybe I should wake up for this!"

Happy Birthday Olivia Kate

Dear Olivia,

Five years ago I was handed the tiniest baby I had ever held. One of the only babies I had ever held, to be honest. I knew my life had been forever changed. But, I had no idea what those changes would be or how you would change pretty much everything that I thought I knew.

I was the baby of my family...a true baby, in every sense of the word. Most people probably thought I was too selfish to be a good mother. Less than 24 hours after you were born, my first test came. Tired and a little sore from delivery, the doctor came in and said you were going to the NICU at ETCH. We walked out of the hospital and headed straight to you. Just a little hiccup along the way, but that was only the beginning.

See...she was born with a hairbow in her hair!!

You have changed so many lives for the better. You were the thing your daddy and I never knew was missing from our lives. So many sweet giggles, silly faces and precious moments over these five years.


You were the first girl to be born into a family of boys in many, many years. You gave them the little girl they had never had...and all the sweetness that comes along with that.

You were the first child to be born into a family in many years. You brought back the magic that is childhood into all of our lives. You made holidays and every days fun again. Every day is an adventure in your eyes.

You are the most wonderful big sister in the world, the job you take most serious in life. My heart is so happy to see the friendship the two of you share and grow every single day. Ana Blair loves you SO much.

You have opened the eyes of your daddy to all things pink, rainbow-y and sparkly...and he loves it!

You make me want to be a better person. If only I could be half the person you see when you look at me. You show me the sweetest love in the world. And you have made me realize a love so deep that I never could have dreamed it up.

Sweet Olivia Kate, you are growing so quickly. I want to push pause every day when I am with you. I know there will come a day when I'm not your best friend. So, I have to enjoy every single second that I can now. You are an amazing little girl. You are on your way to becoming an amazing young lady, and I literally could not be more proud to call you my daughter.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

Pre-Birthday Lunch

Every year we go to the Mellow Mushroom to eat the day before Olivia's birthday. I've told story on here before, but it basically goes that I insisted on eating there while I was in labor with Olivia before going to the hospital. This year we were joined by Cookie and Pop Pop, Aunt Titi and Poppy, and most of the Whitehead crew (which, in a family of 6....that's still a lot!)

Olivia and her best buddy, Katherine

Olivia and Carson

Please pray for me as these two grow up together...can you see the problems in my future??

And yes, Pumpkin Face was there. And yes, she retired to the out of doors halfway through lunch...restaurants aren't really her thing!

And afterward, we came home and celebrated with birthday cupcakes before settling in for a nice long Sunday afternoon nap!

Birthday Fun Begins!

Olivia officially turned the big "5" on Monday, but our birthday celebrations are a little spaced out--mostly because her actual party isn't until next weekend. This past weekend Cookie and Pop Pop (Michael's parents) came into town to celebrate Olivia's birthday and deliver/install my Christmas present (which will soon be its very own post!). We just grilled out and opened presents...but the birthday girl deemed it necessary to celebrate in complete princess attire!

This girl loves presents! And yes, her presents are color-coordinated. And no, I did not do that! I have actually been lucky enough to marry into a family where the Mama Bear is as crazy as I am when it comes to certain things!

Ana Blair decided to help

Happy Birthday, Round 1!

Happy Early Birthday to Olivia!

From the time Olivia was two weeks old, she has LOVED to swing. She would swing in her infant swing for hours. I would have to drag her kicking and screaming from the park when we had to let another child have a turn. The most memorable moment of her life was when she got her first swingset. So, for her birthday this year Michael and I decided to bite the bullet and invest in a set that would grow with the girls. We went ahead and had it installed, so they could enjoy it during the spring months. She was SO surprised, and she loved it as much as we had hoped. She has matured a little bit because her new favorite part is now the treehouse, thanks to Kit Kittredge, American Girl.

Wild Child couldn't be bothered with the swing. She insited on sliding the whole time.

Happy Happy

Thirty-one years ago today, my life was forever changed. I wasn't even born yet. But that was the day my sweet Michael entered the world.

There aren't words to describe how happy I am when I see (or more likely hear) you and the girls laughing hysterically

There is no way I could put into words how you are my love, my best friend and my favorite part of every day

I can not find the words to explain how my heart feels when I see you share a tender moment with the girls and I know that they have been blessed with a wonderful father

And I can't tell you how your sweet smile and contagious laugh still make my heart go pitter pat

Words fail me.

You do not.

Happy Birthday.

We love you!

Bowling and Bouncing

Last Saturday Olivia was invited to TWO birthday parties (again!), she was so excited. The first party was a bowling party. She had never been bowling before, but I thought she was funny when she explained to my mom that it was going to be just like playing the Wii, but with real balls!

Olivia and the birthday girl Vanessa, a friend from school

Action shot...this picture might make you think she was an okay bowler. Pictures can be very deceiving!

But the highlight of the day was definitely when the bowling alley had a dance contest for all the kids there that day. She won this! HUGE! What song was she dancing to you ask? What else--Party in the USA!

Olivia with her buddy Molly

And on to party number two...who doesn't love a good bounce house!

Happy Birthday Callie and Emma!

We were exhausted at the end of the day! Well, at least I was!