Birthday Photo Shoot

Since Olivia and Madeline have birthdays a month apart, I though it would be fun to attempt an ultra-girly birthday photo shoot.  It did NOT work out like I had planned.

We usually have a very small window of time in the mornings before Maddie needs to go down for a nap.  So we headed out right away (hoping the lighting wouldn’t be too bright, which it was) and stopped off to pick up some helium balloons on the way.  I stood in line for 45 MINUTES to get my 6 balloons, all while watching the lady in front of me get dozens and dozens of balloons blown up by the single Party City employee for some huge, corporate event.  Geez…I think I need to invest in a small helium tank!  While we stood in line, I slowly watched Maddie go from happy to exhausted and cranky. 

We quickly drove over to the JW Marriott (where we were hoping to find a teeny bit of greenery among our desert drought).  Just as we got out of the car, two of my balloons popped, followed by another a few minutes later.  Some of the Marriott employees heard the pops, and started shouting “Gun fire!”  Haha!  Needless to say, I had to clear a few things up. :)  So, despite the blazing sun and lack of balloons, I still tried to snap a few 4 year old pictures of Olivia and 1 year old pictures of Maddie.  We got a few fun ones, but nothing like I had envisioned.  Oh well.

It’s really a bummer because Olivia was HAMMING it up for the camera!

      

Later in the day, I tried to snap a few more pictures from our front porch.  Love this one of my Olivia and her darling heart-shaped face!

    These suckers were my bribe. 

 

Madeline at 12 Months:

-Weight = 24 lbs 9 oz. (90th percentile)

-Height = 33 inches (over 100%—off the charts)

-Head circumference = 48 cm (over 100%—off the charts)

-Pulls every single book off of our shelves at least a dozen times a day.

- Nods her head whenever we say “uh hu, uh hu, uh hu.” And she shakes her head back and forth and says “na na na na na.”

-Signs “drink” constantly—She’s one thirsty girl!

-Blows on anything she thinks is hot (lights, food, stove, dishwasher, pots/pans, etc.)—Especially when she sees steam.

-TRULY obsessed with babies.  She loves dolls and all the babies at church.  She thinks they are hysterical.  Olivia was the same way…My sweet  little mommies!  Maddie carries a doll around for the majority of the day, and can usually be found pushing a doll stroller at the same time.

-She can’t get enough of the “Baby Signing Time” DVD’s and gets so frustrated that I only let her watch one a day.

-She stopped nursing at 12 1/2 months and REFUSES to drink any cow's milk.  We have to be diligent about getting her calcium through cheese and yogurt.

-She loves jewelry and always puts dress up necklaces and bracelets on herself.

-On her birthday, we went to dinner at Red Robin, where she taught herself to eat with a fork while eating cantaloupe.  Feeding her hasn’t been the same since.  She LOVES to hold her own fork and spoon now.

-She’s started to pull out her headbands….Boo!!!

-She’s OCD like her Mama.  She has a fabulous memory and has a system/routine for everything she does.  For example, while she’s eating, she is adamant that her sippy cup sit perfectly in the little cup indentation on her tray.  She’s a funny girl!

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**I did a funny little survey with Olivia this year.  I think we’ll make this a annual birthday tradition from now on.  It was so fun and I loved hearing her creative answers!  Here’s what she came up with.

Olivia at 4 Years:

-WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?  When someone plays with me.

-WHAT MAKES YOU SAD?  If someone takes a toy from me.  Miss Danielle (her preschool teacher) says, “We have to take turns.”  So that’s what we do.

-WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?  When someone makes a silly face, I laugh!!!  And Madeline makes me laugh too!

-WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?  I like making lollipops!  And cooking food that tastes good.

-WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GOOD AT?  I’m good at drawing letters!  And I know how to read too!  I must be in Kindergarten now.

-WHAT ARE YOU NOT VERY GOOD AT?  I’m not very good at making flips.  But that’s okay because Dad doesn’t know how either.  They’re kinda tricky.

-WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AND DRINK?  I’m trying to think very hard in my head….Cheese!  And orange juice!  And lollipops!  Mom, I like juice instead of water.  Why don’t you ever buy juice?!? (I’m a mean mom, I know.)

-WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Pink!  And I like blue too, because it’s not a boy color.

-WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GO? The Children’s Museum!

-WHO ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS? Cousin Brookie and Bryant, and Brooke-a-li-soli, and Lincoln.

-WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? The movie “Robots.”  (Really?!?)  Yeah, cause it’s funny.

-WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE?  I like Bethany because she is very nice and lets me come to her house—But only when she’s not sick. 

-WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TOY? My Barbie phone that Daddy bought me at Target.

-WHAT DOES MOMMY DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT AROUND? When I’m at school, you go shopping, and work at home, and sit and wait for me (Ha!  Yeah right!).  But when I’m in bed, you and daddy watch a movie and eat dinner if you forgot to eat earlier (Huh??).

-WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN MOMMY ISN’T AROUND?  I like to be nice to Madeline (I wish that was true!!).  I like to kiss her on the cheek if she wants me to, but if she doesn’t, that’s okay too.

-WHAT IS SOMETHING MOMMY ALWAYS SAYS TO YOU?  You always tell me, “You have to say ‘Yes, Ma’am.”  You also tell me “please make your bed” because sometimes I forget.  And you always say “I will like when we get into a new house.” (Haha!  Yes, very true.  I do say that a lot.)

-WHAT IS SOMETHING DADDY ALWAYS SAYS TO YOU?  Daddy says, “Olivia, do you want to come help me with this big thing, because it’s a big box and it’s too heavy for me.”  (hahahaha!)

-WHAT DO YOU AND DADDY DO TOGETHER?  When you’re gone, Mom, we like to go to the zoo and the museum!  That sounds like fun!!

-HOW ARE YOU AND MOMMY AND DADDY THE SAME?  Hey!  You and Madeline have the same eyes that are blue.  And me and Daddy have the same eyes that are brown!

-HOW DO YOU KNOW MOM AND DAD LOVE YOU?  Oh, I don’t know…Because you make me happy!