Birthday Bash

Today was the day of our "official" birthday celebration for Olivia. We invited family and friends to meet us at the winter Farmer's Market (indoors!) for a hot breakfast, cake and a fun time! Every week at the indoor market, a chef from a local restaurant works with local ingredients to create a yummy breakfast served to Farmer's Market customers. Today's featured chef was from L'Etoile, Madison's equivalent to Chez Panisse. YUM!

The three of us had a great time getting together with friends today. Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it a special day! There were people from all different spokes of our life: family, old friends, new friends, coworkers, playgroup mommas and babies... We are truly blessed to have a supportive, nurturing network!

I ordered a half sheet cake from Lane's Bakery, and it was almost all gone by the time we left. Good job, everyone!

President Barack H. Obama

YEEEEEEHAWWWWW!!!!!!!

Happy First Birthday, Olivia!

Greetings, family and friends! I am so glad that Sean created a new post today, and I feel similarly inspired. It has been too long!

Olivia's birthday was Friday, and we had a blast. She gave Mom and Dad a real treat by sleeping in until 6:15a.m. It was amazing! The three of us woke up together, had a sweet interlude of cuddle and giggle time in bed, then Momma got pancakes going...mmm. A special breakfast treat for our sweet Boo. (With chocolate chips sneaked into Mom and Dad's!)

Daddy headed off to work, while O and I hit the play mat. I am sure O knew what a special day it was. She was running around, squealing and letting out little baby shrieks to her heart's content. I couldn't help but giggle, too. :) She was all about rocking on her rocking horse (a Christmas present from her fairy godmother!) like a cowgirl from the wild wild west. Yeeeee-haw!

O took a great nap so I could finish getting the house ready for our Friday Playgroup - which took on the form of O's birthday party on that particular Friday. After she woke up, I dressed Boo in her birthday outfit, complete with her presy from Mom and Dad: rainbow Baby Legs! I even put her Santa hair clip in her hair for the finishing touch. Soooo sweet!

The mommas and babies started arriving at around 11a.m. There were 12 of us by the time everyone had arrived, and it was a pretty wild party, I have to say. I served hot tea (it had snowed quite a bit the night before) and angel food cake that I made from scratch on Thursday night (I was told by a couple of mommas that it was the best angel food they had ever had!). The babies had a ball playing with all of the toys and getting into mischief! Olivia showed everyone how the rocking horse went, and turned her wagon (yeah, the one she used to need to walk) into a scooter. Momma is in trouuuuuble! :)

Daddy came home for lunch right about the time everyone was packing up to head out and put their sweet babes down for a (much-needed) afternoon nap. Boo was excited for the surprise of seeing him midday. It was another fun little interlude in our day, and Boo couldn't get down for an afternoon nap after all the excitement!

Which was okay in the long run because she got to spend more time with Grandpa Pete! (Poor sweet Gramsy was home sick in bed with the nasty bug Sean referenced in his post. We missed her so much!) Grandpa came with a card, present and a goofy smile that made O giggle. I took a few pictures of the two of them playing together: a little peek-a-boo, a little tickle monster and a lot of O running around squealing again!

We had a very fun day, and O was pretty wiped out by evening. Daddy did bath time with her and put her to bed, and she slept very soundly all evening.

Sean and I were able to look at the pictures taken by doula Stef at the hospital a year ago when Olivia was born. Wow, so much has happened in a year! We continue to be amazed at how fast she is growing up and how much she is learning every day. One year flew by, and I am sure the next year will feel equally as fast. The love we have for our little girl only grows as time passes, and I often catch myself for a moment to pause and wonder at this grand adventure I am on as a mother.

Happy Birthday, sweet Olivia!

What a month. What a year...

What a month we have had since the last post on our blog. Of course, there was Christmas and New Year. And, Olivia turned 1 two days ago, and what a year it has been! I love being Olivia's Dad, she is an amazing little person. So smart and funny and sweet, she really keeps us on our toes. Our family life is continuing to evolve in new and exciting directions; Lee is selling Mary Kay cosmetics, in addition to some singing oriented volunteering, and being an amazing Mama to our little Baby Boo. We continue to enjoy time at the farmers market, cooking, and movie night. Daddy is looking forward to spring (already? It's only 5 months away! What?!??), to get some family camping started.

Christmas was great with Olivia and the Franson Family. I will let the video do the talking here, it's at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

New Years was a bit subdued, Olivia was quite sick, as was Lee, so we had a great meal at the Fran Ranch, and then it was pretty much home to bed. The cold, which more like half a flu, had all of us sick at one point. It was a hard week and a half, but we made it through and we are all feeling much better.

Olivia's Birthday was a blast. She and Lee hosted their play group, so there were five baby's and mommies (in addition to Lee and O) running around our apartment. I came home for lunch, and witnessed the end of the madness. Olivia has been very happy the last few days, seeming to revel in her milestone and the presents and attention she received.

Work is going very well for me, I received a promotion and will be helping management with a strategy to roll out Graphic Design services as a new offering to our clients.

In news of other families, our friends, Marshal and Christie Barker had their first child yesterday. His name is Everett Allen Barker. We just paid them a brief visit at the Hospital, and all are doing well. He is a big boy, at 9lbs 8oz, and super sweet!

Well, we will try to maintain the blog a bit better in the upcoming months. And be sure to check Olivia's photo album for some holiday/birthday shots. I am hoping to get them uploaded soon.

Love to all, and peace in the New Year.