A Minnie Mouse Party!

When I started planning Olivia's 2nd birthday party I knew right away that I would have to go with a Minnie Mouse theme since she loves her so much.  Olivia's excitement when she saw the final result after all the balloons and decorations were up didn't dissapoint and I knew that I made the right choice. 
  The Minnie theme started when my awesome photog friend Jenn took Olivia's 2 year pictures and I found the most adorable prop - Minnie ears.  The pictures came out great, here is one of my favorites.  

I used my other favorite picture for her invitations that I had custom made on Etsy by Maddie Rose Designs.  She was great to work with and the whole process was super easy.  She sent me an attached file, I sent the pictures to CVS and picked them up in an hour.  The only thing I had to buy separately was the envelopes. 

  I kept the decorations pretty simple.  I made a pinterest inspired Minnie Mouse head picture banner and hung it on our dining room window.  It included a picture of Olivia the day she was born, a picture from her 1 year photo shoot and a bunch of my favorite pictures from her 2nd year.     I followed the theme of pink and black so we had tons of matching balloons and a couple store bought decorations here and there including a "happy birthday" banner, Minnie noise makers and a bunch of Minnie stuffed animals from Olivia's collection placed around the house.   

We used a pedal car that my dad, Olivia's Papa, bought for her

as an decoration with Minnie Mouse as the driver. 

It was adorable! 

I took a few pictures of Olivia in the car as well. 

She loved it! 

The party was filled with family and friends. 

It warmed my heart to be surrounded by people who love our girl so much. 

The day was spent playing and talking and catching up with family

we haven’t seen in a while.  We ate good food and yummy cake,

opened presents and sang "Happy Birthday!"

 

Olivia loved everyone and had a great time!  While we sang "Happy Birthday" Olivia was BEAMING with excitement and pride. 

She knew that it was for her and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. 

As I was kneeling next to my big girl smiling from ear to ear

I just started crying with such joy because she is an amazing little girl. 

She was just so proud and happy and excited!

 

Here are a few more pictures from the day.  I didn’t capture many because I was so focused on being present and in the moment and I didn’t want to be behind the camera.

              ...and last but not least, I want to remember all the awesome things about my girl at age 2...      

Birthday weekend re-cap.

This past weekend my baby girl turned 2 and we had a blast!!!  All of our efforts paid off when we saw the sheer excitement on Olivia's face during so many special moments throughout the weekend.  Birthday's are a big deal to me and I like to make them extra special.   ...and the best part, the celebration isn't over yet, her birthday party is this coming Saturday so my girl gets to have another day of fun dedicated to her!    (Planning her party for the following weekend as opposed to on her actual birthday was the best idea yet.  We spent family time together and did a bunch of fun things just for Olivia and next weekend we get to have more fun all over again!)   Saturday was her last day as a 1 year old.  We spent the day at a local festival and had a ton of fun walking around and enjoying the crisp fall weather.     Putting her to sleep that night was so bittersweet for me.  My little girl, growing up.  I lingered in her room a bit longer, gave her some extra hugs and kisses and snapped the last picture of her before she turned 2. 

Sleeping sweetly - October 6, 2012.   Her last night as a 1 year old.

After Olivia was asleep my husband and I blew up 3 dozen pink balloons and filled her room with them for a morning surprise!  When she woke up Sunday morning she was so excited with the "bloons!" 
I made her breakfast, her favorite, pancakes and bacon and we ate together as a family.  Olivia totally knew that it was her special day because she kept cheering "it's my bir-day! Hooray!"   After breakfast we opened presents.      We got dressed and played for a while.     We bought her a few things but her favorite was this Melissa and Doug shape sorter puzzle set.   My husband and I decided to take her out to lunch at one of our favorite little diners where she proudly ordered a "hot go (dog) and fries".  She told everyone "it's my bir-day!" and enjoyed all the attention! 

Acting silly at lunch!

 After lunch it was time for apple picking and unfortunately it was also time mother nature decided to start raining!  So, we improvised and had a short trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  Olivia loved it just the same.  We bought a few huge apples and some little pumpkins that Olivia picked out because the other ones were "too heavy!!!"  Since the weather didn't cooperate, we're going back one afternoon this week to do the corn maze and wagon ride.  

When we got home Olivia and I baked birthday chocolate chip cookies and enjoyed a couple of them warm, right out of the oven!     After dinner Olivia was pretty tired so we had a quick round of birthday cake, sang "Happy Birthday" about 5 times, took a bath and she fell fast asleep!      Olivia, I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed your birthday weekend!  Mommy and Daddy tried our best to make is super special and a ton of fun.  We love you more than words can express.  Happy 2nd birthday love!   (this week I'll share more about our plans for her birthday party this coming Saturday)   All pictures were previously shared on Instagram (my camera isnt working right, so sorry for the doubles)   Follow me on IG under username - Camarogirl819. All pics from this weekend are #OliviaTurns2 and #HappyBirthdayOlivia 

Today you're 2!

My sweet Olivia, today is your 2nd birthday.  Two whole years on this earth as part of our family.  What did we ever do before you were here?  Today you are waking up to dozens of balloons filling your room to celebrate you!  You're going to love it.  Today is going to be all about you.  We'll make your favorite breakfast of pancakes and bacon and spend the day doing fun things in honor of your special day!
  While we're celebrating, I won't be able to help but think back to exactly two years ago, on this very day when I was able to hold you in my arms for the first time and meet the baby I'd been loving for the past 9 months!  Meeting you changed our world.    Before it was just us, a couple, and now we were a family of 3.  Parents with a child.  A perfect little girl.  What a blessing!   We've had our moments over the past two years, two young parents learning how to be a married couple and how to be parents all at the same time.  It was amazing and rough, simple and complicated, fun yet exhausting...but most of all, it was perfect.  Not perfect as in nothing went wrong, perfect as in perfect for us.  For our story.  Exactly the way that God planned it to be for us.   Daddy and I are so, so grateful for you.  We are so thankful that we were chosen to be your parents and we pray every day for the ability to do our job as parents the best we possibly can.  We love you more than words can ever describe.    Happy birthday Love!  xoxo 

Photo taken by my dear friend Jenn for Olivia's 2 year photo shoot!

 ~Mommy     

What a wild ride

Just 2 short years ago, I was holding a squishy pink newborn baby girl in my arms

and now I'm chasing that very same spunky little kid around the house! 

2 years, just a blip on the radar. 

2 years that have flown by, yet dragged on. 

There's really no way to understand how the very same moment can seem long, yet fleeting. 

Some days it all just blends together and others every.single.moment stands out. 

It’s the mix of craziness and calm. 

Smiles and tears.  Giggles and cry's.  Hugs and kisses and boo-boos and tantrums. 

This is what life as a Mother is all about. 

As Olivia approaches 2 years old, I'm feeling a mix of emotions. 

Proud, yet sad.  Happy, yet scared.  Worried, yet excited. 

There are moments when I am overwhelmed by fear of not being needed anymore. 

Olivia is showing so many signs of independence and that makes my Mama-heart ache for the newborn days, yet push her forward being her biggest cheerleader. 

I eagerly look forward to watching her grow, experience life and learn more about who she is and what she likes, yet I'm paralyzed by the sadness that her "babyness" is disappearing before my eyes. 

My baby girl is turning into a little girl.

What a wild ride this thing called Motherhood is.

   

In 6 days...

This week I'll be reflecting on my baby girls first 2 years of life.  It's amazing how fast, but yet how slowly this time has gone.  After this week I plan on discussing my faith journey a bit more to share how I've come to know the Lord and bits and pieces of my testimony thus far.  Hope you stick around.   In 6 short days our sweet Olivia will be 2 years old!  Two!Years!Old!  How does this happen?  Where has the time gone?  I swear there is some kind of time warp after you have children.  There is this mixture of feeling like she was just born but yet not remembering life before her.    Our life has never been richer.  Filled with love and excitement at seeing everything through the eyes of a child.  Our child.    It's an amazing feeling to show the world to this little being.  Watching her explore and seeing her grow.  Witnessing her heart grow kinder and more compassionate.   Seeing her become the caring little girl I long for her to be.    It's been (almost) two years with her and these have been the best two years of our lives.  Nothing compares to having a child of your own.  She's filled a spot in our lives that we didn't know was missing.    

Taken October 7, 2010.  First day on earth.