Miss Ivy turns two

Well this is what I was doing two years ago today. Giving birth to my dear little Ivy. She was born into a pool of warm water in our dining room. I can hardly remember the pain now - I just look at this photo and remember the feeling of awe that a new baby brings. That seems like it was so long ago, and yet I can hardly believe how fast she's grown.


Here is Ivy on her first birthday. She really enjoyed her cake and ice cream that night. She certainly has a sweet tooth - chocolate is just about the best thing in the world to her. If I have chocolate chips in the house she does not forget. She drags me into the kitchen, points to the shelf where they are kept and demands chocolate until I am broken with laughter and give in. I can relate - I have a weakness there too.

So today Ivy woke up singing. She sat happily beside us in bed until we woke up. I said ,"Who's turning two today" and she said "Me!" We then traipsed upstairs to open gifts. She knew what to do today and she knew they were all for her. She received lots of lovely puzzles a red tricycle , a springy tunnel and some clogs. She's still at the stage where opening the present is fun in itself.


We had an open house for Ivy's party. Her great-grandparents came as did her grandparents, auntie, uncle, cousins , and friends. It was really relaxing and fun (noisy!). Anyhow - here are the photos I promised of Ivy at two. Here she is - a sick day in mama's arms - photo taken by Liv,

being goofy in the backyard last fall... swimming goggles are way more fun when you are not swimming,

picking flowers in the frontyard... those curls - I love those curls,
trick-or-treating in her ladybug costume that was made by an awesome daddy,
and chilling out with that same daddy on a friend's lawn.


So Miss Ivy, I love you sooooo much! Being your mama is great fun. Every day I wonder at how amazing and unique you are. You are a girl who knows what she wants - tonight you wanted to wear rubber boots to bed and there was no way we could convince you otherwise. When you want a story, you pick the nearest person over two who is sitting and bring them a pile of books and command them to "ree,ree". You don't wait for a reply - you just plunk your self down knowing they can't refuse your charms.

My favorite memory of you this year is the day we decided to play camping in the living-room with Olivia. We were having a pretend campfire and decided to use real marshmallows to roast over our pretend fire. I forgot that I had hidden the chocolate chip stash in the marshmallow bag to keep them out of your sight. Well you plunged your hand into the bag looking for a marshmallow and your eyes were suddenly as big as pies! "Mama!" was all you said as you felt the chocolates in the bag. You knew what they were before you'd even seen them. Oh they joy of finding chocolate in unexpected places! You were quiet for the rest of the game -engrossed in your find.

I love you my dear and I hope your third year is a time of peace and connection (because I think you need that after the busy year we've had). You are deeply loved by your sister and daddy too. A kiss on the nose for you,

Mama