Two-dles (Olivia’s second birthday party)

I’m going to rein in the photo overload here. It was difficult you, guys—but I managed it.

My friend Celina has been 2 for 2 on her birthday outfits for Olivia. Last year, she made Olivia’s “Miss November” outfit and this year, she outdid herself again.

We had our immediate families, my grandparents, auntie, and best friend (and auntie to Olivia) over to our house Saturday for lunch. We had our family lasagna, garlic bread, salad and fruit and I got a cake from Costco. There were 19 of us (including two babies).

I set up her little table so her and her little cousin could sit there and eat lunch together. She ate a ton and that was after she downed a bunch of cheddar Chex mix. After lunch, we sat in the living room so she could open her presents. Which I wish we had recorded, because this girl flew through her presents. I know she was hyped up on the energy of the day, but it was hysterical, even though I had to go through her presents again, because I barely saw them the first time.

I have never once bought a Build-A-Bear, so a couple weeks ago, when we were all at the mall, we stopped into the store and I bought Olivia a kitty with Frozen PJs and slippers, with an Anna outfit on the side. She loved it.

She also got her own broom and dustpan, a play dish set (with drying rack!), a doll house with dolls, puppets, books, art stuff, pajamas, clothes, light up shoes, bows, two necklaces, a puzzle and a Frozen apron. She actually blew out her own candle, but did not appreciate everyone singing happy birthday to her. I was pretty sure that’s how it would go, being that she snarled at us that morning when Chris and I sang to her when she woke up. But she loved sitting at her little table and eating almost an entire piece of cake.

By the time Chris and I thought to get a photo with her, she had had it with pictures so this was literally the best we got. She crashed for a nap after everyone left around 2:30 and when she woke, Chris and I brought her downstairs to open the presents from us (minus the light up shoes and Build-A-Bear).

We got a lot going on in that bottom right photo. She’s wearing the Minnie ears I got her, her beads (no relation to her birthday—she just really likes beads), and a little backpack I got for $2 that allows her to carry her babies on her back—which she is loving, by the way. I got most of her presents from the consignment sale a few months ago which was mostly books, a magna doodle, a Frozen backpack, a light up Frozen wand, and a high chair for her babies.

So…she had a good second birthday. And I did well with it all. The second birthday was way easier emotionally to deal with. I remember the night before her first birthday, just rocking her in the dark and feeling all the feels and it was so hard, you guys. I felt I was losing a bit of the baby I had, with no guarantee I would get that again. But this year was more excitement and nostalgia than anything.

I can’t wait to see what 2 brings.