This is one of my favorite photos of my girls.
It was taken not long after M2 came home from the hopsital & was finally allowed to be off her lamp that treated her slight jaundice.
The girls are sitting in the bed I was given as a girl and slept in until I moved to college. It then became a guest bed and then, finally, M1's bed.
I love this because it shows the girls as they are at their cores. M1, always calm, always go-with-the-flow, always making the best and smiling through even the most chaotic situation. M2, never afriad to let you know she she isn't happy with her situation. Always vocal about what ails her. Not scared to let it all hang out, even when someone has a camera to capture the moment.
She was so tiny and I can still see her like that, even if she is 9 today.
M2 turned a year old right before her dad deployed overseas for the first time since we'd been married. We had a nice party for her. She couldn't look at a Tigger without smiling and becoming very excited, so we had a Winnie the Pooh and Friends theme for her 1st birthday.
She had fun.
We took some great photos.
Enjoyed a fun day with family and friends.
But, she had no clue that Daddy would be gone soon and that she wouldn't see him again until she was talking and walking and all that good stuff.
I just remember marveling at how quickly her first year had sped past.
Now, I'm realizing this is her last year in single digits. Where, exactly, does the time go?
Because, before I knew it, she was 2. She loved JoJo the Clown on the Disney Channel. I had specially made invitations for her that put her in a scene with JoJo.
She had a cute little circus theme cake from our favorite bakery.
We celebrated in the basement of the local library in our hometown. My grandma attended and we took a great photo of all the generations.
She wore a dress.
And, she had more hair than she'd had teh previous year. I was excited because I was pretty sure she was going to stay a ginger.
I think my very favorite cake (before this year) was her 4th birthday cake. She loved watching the Barefoot Contessa. On one episode, Ina Garten made a sheet cake and decorated it with dog cookies for a dog's birthday party.
M2 really wanted a dog cake! I found a place online where I could order the dog cookies. Then, we ordered a cake from our favorite bakery and I used their buttercream icing to stick the cookies around the perimeter of he cake.
I think you can tell she was pretty pleased with how her cake turned out that year. Her "chef" party was made even more special with a chef's hat, aprons for her and her cousins and a make your own sundae activity.
That was a big hit with the boy cousins especially because Maggie was never much for the princessy party themes. She really has had some creative ideas for what she'd like to do over the years.
Someone allegedly doesn't like whipped cream, but I'm pretty sure she enjoyed decorating her sundae with it.
It's hard to believe, but the following year, her dad was deployed again and she was FIVE. She seems so much bigger and older at her fifth birthday party. She had a friend party at a local arcade/mini-golf place aimed at birthday party having kiddos.
We made tie-dye shirts for all the kids who came & tied in a few fun pencils to the goodie 'bag.'
She had a great time playing mini-golf as well as playing some of the fun games inside the arcade.
Her bestie was there as well as some other friends from her preschool where she'd attended since she was a baby.
Those friends are growing fast too and I'm glad we've stayed in contact with some of them.
Having a birthday in the summer is tough, especially when it falls during Mom's busy job time. This year, Dad is at his annual training, so he's missing her actual birthday again.
She really wanted a Buzz Lightyear cake this year.
M1 has become quite adept at baking. She loves to do it. I'm kicking myself for not having a decorator bag and tip set purchased for her prior to now, but she did an awesome job--using Ziploc bags with the corner cut off no less!
She wanted to do just what M2 wanted and I think she went above and beyond.
She was able to create the Buzz Lightyear separate from the cake, freeze it until it was hard, and then place it upon the frosted cake.
I absolutely love that she did this for her little sister.
And, I'm glad she did it for us, because that cake is delicious!
In our house, the birthday person picks the meal. M2 is an extremely picky eater. We're working on it, but it can be extremely annoying to hear what she will willingly eat elsewhere but turn her nose up when home.
She picked steak and french fries for her birthday dinner.
No need to tell me twice! That's exactly what I made for her and it was done just right!
She donned the traditional aluminum foil crown (not to be confused with the tinfoil hat) and scarfed down her dinner.
Then, it was cake & candle time plus presents. And, moments later, her little friend came over and invited her to stay overnight. Definitely not like birthdays in the olden days!
Happy birthday my sweet girl. I love you for your fiesty take on life. I love the sass that surrounds your heart of gold. I cherish your snuggles and cuddles and your requests for both. I am proud of your accomplishments and your desire to try new things. Your fortitide in the face of adversity (like in your learning to read better) impress me more than you know. Your athletic prowess fills me with pride and wonder--I mean, how do you move that fast and confidently?!
I'm the luckiest person in the world to be your mom. You are the proof that if things are meant to be, they will happen. I love you more than I could ever put into words.
Happy birthday, Magpie.
Kids grow up so fast! It’s surprising that even at a young age; they already know or have an idea on what kind of birthday party they want. I wish the best of luck to your daughters! You’re doing great job of raising them. Keep it up!
Posted by: Neva Modzelewski | 18 October 2012 at 11:54 AM