Lucky Number Twenty-Three

It's so hard to believe that in {less than} a month, our precious little baby will be turning TWO.  How is this even possible?  It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital and fretting over her every move and gurgle.

Sadly, it is not only possible, but also the reality.  Lovely Little Livi is growing and changing right before our very eyes.  Things that hold true with her one day may be completely different the next.  Some moments are beyond all possible expectations while others leave me with little patience and a few more gray hairs.  But, no matter what, I love that precious peanut like no other.

Because I'm tired, she's currently taking her first nap in like THREE DAYS and I have an actual opportunity to lay down myself, I'm going to sum up some of her favorites as quickly and concisely as possible.  My bed is comfy and calling my name.  Sorry Baby, Mommy needs a break.

Olivia's Favorite Books:  Some of these books I can pretty much recite by heart.  In fact, I can't remember if I've shared this or not, but when we stayed at the Fess Parker, Olivia woke up earlier than usual and I pulled her into bed with me hoping she would go back to sleep.  She didn't, and being too tired to get back out of bed and get Bonjour Butterfly, I simply "read it" from memory.  Since then she has pretty much moved on from Fancy Nancy and is loving all the Olivia the Pig books.  She also loves the Angelina Ballerina books.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected her to love books the way she does.  She can sit and look through stacks of books and retell them in her own way.  Other Olivia favorites are Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon {I love, love, LOVE this book}, Just the Thing, The Secret Plan and any and all Coco books.

Olivia's Favorite Foods:  Olivia is pretty good at eating most things.  She loves fruits - fresh and dried and, of course, she loves her carbohydrates.  She had a tortilla and eggs the other morning for breakfast and on her own she rolled up the eggs inside the tortilla and ate it like a taco!  True to self, the next morning she wouldn't touch the eggs.  She loves quesadillas, edamame, lima beans, peas, yogurt, meatballs and salad.  Her favorite thing right now seems to be these "squeezers" that I sometimes get.  They are great on-the-go snacks/meals, but to her they are better than chocolate!  We went to Target today and had some popcorn and when she saw me pick up some squeezers, she wanted that over the popcorn.  I can't complain since it is pretty much organic fruits and veggies.

Olivia's Favorite Toys:  Olivia is still loving her Fisher-Price Little People doll house.  David picked up a little F-P barn for her the other day after a random stop at a garage sale and she is enjoying that as well.  She loves anything that has to do with imaginative play.  She is a great mommy to her dolls and stuffed animals, she loves to make pretend meals and her newest thing is playing dress up.  She's also fabulous at bossing Magnum around.  At least 50 times a day I hear, Get in your bed, Magnum and No, Magnum and Get down, Magnum.  But she is also great at giving him treats and sometimes even letting him lick the peanut butter off of her fingers.

Now that is gross love.

Her {almost} Birthday Celebrations:  Olivia celebrated the day in style - it was St. Patrick's Day, after all.  She had a morning walk and playground date with Kendall, an afternoon play session with her boyfriend Jacob, a dinner date of Woodstock Pizza and salad with Kendall and a stroll through the Farmers' Market.  And, did I mention she stayed up until 10 {with no nap}?!  Party animal.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl.  

I love you so much.