Celebrating Life

It's hard to believe that two years ago Olivia was making her grand entrance into the world (Olivia's arrival) and we were a little overwhelmed by the fact that we had entered the realm of parenthood.  She is certainly no longer a baby and very much a toddler now.  Every day she reminds us of just how big she is getting. (Especially when I have to pick her up and hold her!)  Back on the 7th, we celebrated Olivia!  We didn't throw a big party like last year.  Instead we had a really sweet day together with just the three of us.

The day started with Olivia waking up to her bedroom floor covered in balloons.  Geoff and I had blown up a bunch of balloons the night before and filled her floor while she slept.  I don't think she noticed the balloons when she first woke up (it was still dark in her room) but later she discovered them and we had a fun morning playing with the balloons.

Next up, we had lunch at Chick-fil-a.  This is currently Olivia's favorite restaurant (she gets excited anytime she sees the Chick-fil-a logo), which is probably the fault of her parents eating there more than they should.

During the afternoon, Olivia helped me bake her birthday cake and then later in the evening, she opened her birthday presents.  It's fun to see her get more excited to open gifts every time she has the opportunity.  She had trouble waiting until she got the OK to open her gifts and loved pulling off the paper.  When it came to cake time, she successfully blew out one candle but then needed Daddy's help on the second.

Few two year stats and facts:

• Height: 36 inches (95% percentile)
• Weight: 27-28 lbs (55% percentile), so basically tall and skinny like her mama
• Loves Elmo, Cookie Monster and Barney
• Accomplished navigating on the ipad/iphone to YouTube and her apps
• Has her particulars: doesn't like Mommy's hair being in a ponytail (points at my hair and angrily yells "out!"), must have her dinner plates facing a certain direction and only wears certain pajamas
• Is a great little helper, especially in the kitchen.  She loves to help mix and stir whatever I'm making
• She's an early bird (not sure where she inherited this trait from), getting up most mornings between 5:45-6:30.  I don't think she's slept past 7:00 since she was an infant.  
• She is initially shy around new people but quickly warms up to them
• Loves going to her class at church, but equally loves seeing Mommy and Daddy when we come to pick her up.
• Her vocabulary continues to grow.  Last week she surprised us by saying "cheese" when we held up a camera.  She's also added in a couple more spanish words: mas for more and pan for bread
• She is very ticklish on her neck and loves to be tickled there

Lastly, we have another life we are celebrating as baby #2 is on the way, scheduled to arrive around February 26.  Last week we found we will be adding another daughter into the mix.  We are excited for Olivia to get a sister!  So far my pregnancy has been easy breezy for which I am so, so grateful for.  I haven't been sick; not even the slightest bit nausea.  My energy levels have been good although keeping up with a toddler on top of being pregnant makes me ready to go to bed by 9:30 every night!  Anyways, we can't wait to meet her in a few more months!