One year ago today...

One year ago today, my little princess was a day shy of turning 1. It feels like it was just yesterday.

Not yet walking or running after her sister but rather crawling as quickly as she could. Not yet forming sentences or pointing things out and telling us what they're called. Too little to play on the slides or climb all over the toys at the playground. Hadn't yet tasted peanut butter or even have enough teeth to bite through an apple. Her hair was barely long enough for a pretty clip or bow. Not tall enough or even strong enough to pull herself up onto her sister's bed to play.

But Olivia has shown us in this past year that she's doing all those things now, plus a million more. She doesn't stop for a second unless it's time for her nap or bedtime. She's serious about sleeping almost 100% of the time and you don't come in between her and her sleep.  "Sofia" is usually the first word out of her mouth once she's awake and you just know how much she loves her big sister. She keeps up with Sofia all of the time now and will try anything she sees her doing without thinking about it too much.

Olivia is almost 2. My little baby is getting so big and I've been watching it happen all this time. How do you go one day carrying them around with one arm, them nestled in the little nook like they could never out-grow it, to them running, jumping and shrieking like it's their job? How does it happen that they depend on you for everything one minute and the next they're so bent up on being independent little thinkers and movers? When did she get so BIG?

Can you tell I'm having a tough time with this whole birthday business? Ah well, such is life. First, my baby turns 4 and now my little baby is about to turn 2. I will learn to deal. Maybe.

But for today, we party with family to celebrate this second year of life. This beautiful gift of life we have been given and hold onto so tightly because nothing is more important than that. My little princess will turn 2.

Buon Compleanno Olivia Maria - Ti voglio tanto bene!