Happy Birthday Olivia

Not sure if this made me happy or sad, maybe a little of both.  Hard to believe and even harder to remember all those little things I thought I would never forget.  Good thing we have pictures to remind us!  

I think this was the most frightening moment of my life thus far, about to put her in the car seat and leave the hospital!

1st Birthday in Hawaii (no, it wasn't Jan. 1st 1994.  Guess I hadn't mastered that part of my camera yet!)

This is the only shot I could find of her 2nd Birthday in Memphis.  I remember taking it because she was wearing my shoes!!  She always found the same pair in my closet and always put them on the wrong feet!

She turned 3 in Memphis also but I can't find any digital shots of that party.  It was a dress up princess party and I remember it snowed that day and we almost had to cancel the party because a town like Memphis shuts down in the snow!  Daddy drove around town and picked up all the girls!  

This shot was from Easter that year.  

4th Birthday in Virginia.  This handsome young lad is now in college!!  (Still handsome)

And his cute brother here is now an 8th grader!!  I remember she had a fever this day and we took her from the bowling alley to the clinic!  I think this is the first year they crowned me mother of the year ;)

5th birthday also in Virginia.  Manicures and princess dresses!  (When did she stop being this girly?)

6th in Virginia.  This year she got a baby for her birthday ;)

7th birthday in Japan.  

8th birthday in Japan

9th in Virginia

10th in Virginia

11th in Hawaii (I think I just answered the last question.  11 is when she stopped being so girly)

12th in Hawaii

Digging for these photos brought back some great memories.  This year, no party.  We are going for a staycation in Waikiki and will do dinner, beach and pool.  We are having her favorite meal tonight with cake, just the family.  

Olivia is an awesome gal.  Independent, creative, funny, athletic, helpful and cool.  I'm certain the next few years will bring a few battles, just like the last few years have. It's all part of the ride.  I wouldn't change anything about her, but if you're reading this honey, feel free to clean up your room :)