Olivia's 4th Birthday Slideshow

Another free slideshow by Smilebox

Happy 4th Birthday Olivia

Olivia's First Breath

A perfectly healthy Olivia

First smiles

First Christmas

Fist snow trip

Sweet little piggy tails

First day of preschool

Beautiful princess ballerina

First time ice skating

First time skateboarding at the YMCA

My tinkerbell

Dinosaur pancakes just for your special birthday breakfast

My dear baby girl today you are four.  I cannot believe how fast time has passed us by.  I remember as if it were just yesterday when I heard your first cry.  A lullaby so sweet to a mother's ears.  I also remember holding you through the night when I visited you in the NICU your tiny little body pressed against my chest, us breathing in harmony.  It was during that time that I would think about the baby, and little girl that you'd become.  I knew you'd be an angel but never in my wildest thoughts did I think how deeply you'd capture my heart.  How you'd turn my world into pink, smiles and giggles.  When I look at you my heart swells with pride and I cannot help but smile inside and out.  You are more than I ever imagined with your creativity, imagination, and way of making the world fall for you.  My darling daughter, love of my life.  You are my precious treasure.

Olivia

You are a quiet strength
that is known
for tenderness and devotion.

A friend to all
an enemy to none,
God’s precious treasure
in life’s setting sun.

You are a keeper of peace
full of kindness
with devoted love unleashed.

I cherish you
Mommy

The Miracle I see when I look at you - Nathaniel

Nathaniel at 14oz about 1 week old

The definition of miracle according to the free dictionary is, "an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God.  Nathaniel there is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded of the miracle and pure act of God that your life represents.  Everything that you do completely overwhelms me.  I am brought to my knees in reverence and thankfulness to God.  When I see you I remember speaking to the perinatologist prior to being admitted and him saying, "less than 10% chance of survival based on your size."  I remember clearly June 6, 2009 your birthday the day I saw you for the first time laying in your isolette with all the noise, machines, tubes, lines keeping you alive.  The feeling of pure helplessness as I couldn't even touch you because it would throw your vitals through the roof.  And today as I watched you play at the park my heart ached with joy and appreciation.  You have been through such a journey.  You have proved so much strength, desire to live, zest, and feistyness.  And now, my dear child you are walking, climbing, sliding, playing and all I can say is WOW!  I am so honored that God chose me to be your mother, to take on such an amazing journey with you.  I am so privileged to be a witness to your amazing life and God's work.

Spring is in the air

Kaleb skating

Ellie and Olivia the fairy princesses

Nathaniel watching it all

Sara the garden priness

Nathaniel walking

Nathaniel's mohak

Mommy with her babies

Mommy and Nathaniel

Ellie being super cute

Olivia 

Olivia's triceratops horn hairdo

We had an incredibly warm and beautiful day today.  The temperature reached 88 degrees.  We spent the majority of the day preparing for Olivia's birthday, reading, and playing play dough.  We went to dinner at Islands and after we got home we went on a wonderful walk.  Ellie and Sarah, our neighbors joined us.  We got out the bikes and scooter.  The girls were so cute together singing, laughing and enjoy the warm afternoon.  They were pretending to be fairy princesses.  Nathaniel and I enjoyed the beautiful blooms that have sprouted around the neighborhood.  After our walk we had some silly playtime in the bath.  I was the hairdresser and Nathaniel and Olivia were my clients.  We had so much fun.   

The Sweetest Words - A bub a (I love you)

I was putting the kids to bed, they smelled clean and fresh, and we were saying our goodnights.  I brought Nathaniel to the master bedroom where JJ and Kaleb were reading so he could say goodnight to them.  Nathaniel said his usual, "night, night", gave JJ a kiss and then I said to him, "say i love you daddy."  He repeated, (as he is really into repeating these days) "a bub a" dada.  I just about flipped.  Nathaniel said a three word sentence for the first time to his daddy.  He said I love you.  My heart melted, I took him in my arm and ate him up with kisses.  He is the sweetest, most adorable cuddliest little guy.  As I laid with him to sleep, I grabbed my phone and recorded him saying, "a bub a".  This is definitely a memory to keep forever.