Birthday Girl!

Yesterday was Paprika's official birthday, so we had to celebrate a little...even though her party isn't until this weekend.

Here is the play-by-play of our day! (I want to record it for my own memories)...

Paprika woke up about an hour before Ginger, came into bed with me, snuggled, and then I made her breakfast. She wore her special princess birthday hat she's been waiting to wear forever (about a month)!

After breakfast, we got Ginger up and dressed, and went to swimming. After swimming we swung by McD's for a "Happy Meal" (the girls split one) and then had a little picnic at Paprika's new school. Then we came home, changed clothes, and headed over to our friends' house for a playdate with Abigail, a girl Paprika met at swimming.

Over the past two months Paprika has made a good friend in Abigail and I have made friends with Abigail's mom. They just moved here from Korea and speak almost no English (seriously)- but yet we can all understand eachother quite well. Abigail's mom tells me that I'm her best (and only!) friend, so it was sweet we got to spend the afternoon with them. They had a cake with five candles for Paprika, and both Abigail and Paprika got matching swimsuits. Appropriate because the girls swim together five days/week!



Then we came home and waited for Mr. M to get home from work to open presents and have cake! Mr. M got a beautiful chocolate cake for Paprika.



She blew out her big "5" candle and made a wish. When she was done wishing, she said: Do you know what I wished for, mama? To grow up and be a real blue mermaid! :-)



Paprika opened presents - she was so excited about all of her presents! One of her presents was a light-up blue mermaid doll from my Grandma - she was so excited about it she wanted to take a bath with it...thankfully it was meant to go in the tub! So, off to the bath the girls went.



Then it was bedtime - all Paprika has wanted forever is to sleep in Ginger's room. Since it was her birthday, we decided it would be okay...so long as they were not troublemakers and got some sleep. Ginger has a big, comfy full-sized bed in her room, so the plan was that Paprika would sleep there and Ginger would sleep in her crib.



We put the girls to bed - but then Ginger had an absolute fit that she had to sleep in her crib and not with Paprika in the big bed. I mean, I have never seen Ginger so upset.

So, we decided against our better judgement to let the girls sleep in the full sized bed together. I kept the baby monitor on so I could listen to them. They stayed up until midnight whispering to eachother. When they finally quieted down, we went in to check on them and they were curled up together. They both slept until about 9am this morning.

When they woke up, I heard them chatting for a few minutes. Paprika said, "What did you dream about?" Ginger said, "Brown puppies!" Then Ginger said, "What did you dream about, Yaya?" (her name for Paprika)...and Paprika answered back, "I dreamt I was in a recital and fairies came and danced around me." :-)

So sweet.

Both girls are a little tired today...but I guess that's to be expected! Ha!

Happy Birthday, Paprika!

Dear Paprika,

When you were born, I could not fathom how I got so lucky to have you in my life. You have always been a miracle to me. I loved to watch you breathe, in awe that you actually were breathing and so scared that in an instant you might be taken away from me.

You made me a mother, and five years ago today I learned what it is like to have my heart live outside my body. Because that's where it's lived ever since you were born.



When you get upset, you still have the same fussy face that you did when you were four weeks old.



And you still know how to make us laugh.



A lot.



I can't imagine you were ever this small.



But when you're sleeping, I still see the same little girl I did way back when...



my pefect little snuggly-girl!




One!

Here you are when you turned one! You were not a fan of the cake. Back then I didn't know to order you a chocolate cake (yours was vanilla). I would never make that mistake now. See, I am learning some things over time!



You have always been a fan of accessorizing. Hats were big with you!



And butterfly wings, too!



When you were 13 months you learned to walk, and ever since then you've been blazing your own path.



But it's good to know that you enjoy the same things we do...



so hopefully you'll never go too far away!



The "Tin Man" was your first friend. You would always ask me, "Why is he crying? Why is he sad?" and then wipe away his tears and give him presents. You haven't changed at all- you still comfort all those around you and can't stand to see anyone hurting.



Two!

Here you are on your second birthday! We went to the Grand Lux Cafe on Michigan Ave. in Chicago with Daddy and your Auntie Ann. We ordered you a big slice of chocolate cake...see, we did learn some things that second year! ;-)



You started to get really interested in painting when you turned two.



Painting on everything - paper, the walls, and even yourself. Nothing was safe when you had a paintbrush in your hands! That just made bathtime more colorful...



I was sad a lot that year when you were two. We went on a lot of adventures together, just you and me...and you always knew how to brighten my spirits.



The one place I knew we could always have fun was Disneyland. I took you just about every week that year (even when I was so very pregnant I could barely walk!) Thankfully, you liked to ride the carousel a lot!



When you were 2 1/2, you overcame your fear of the sand and learned to love the ocean. You have never looked back!



When you were two, you held your baby sister in your arms for the first time.



It was love at first sight!



THREE!

For your third birthday, we stayed home and had a Princess Party (me, Daddy, and Ginger were your guests). Three was the year of everything Princess...maybe it had something to do with all those trips to Disneyland! :-)



You started preschool, which you loved mostly. More than anything, you loved being at home with us...



And being a great big sister...



When you were three, we went to every park and every museum and every fun place known to man (at least in the Los Angeles area).



We lived in a townhouse with no backyard, and you needed to get out...so we did! I am so glad we did.



When you were three, we packed up our townhouse and moved to the beach house where we live now. You got a backyard and an ocean all in one move!



FOUR!

Here you are at your fourth birthday party! We invited two of your friends to come and have cake with you. Third year in a row we picked chocolate cake - that is one thing you don't waver on...your love of all things chocolate!



Even though you're getting bigger, you still love to climb onto your daddy's shoulders...



and play butterfly girl at the beach!



Now you run into the ocean whenever you can. Fearless...



When you were four, we raised butterflies a bunch of times! This was our first batch of Monarch butterflies. You were so sad to see them go. You wanted them to stay and be your friends forever.



It is so amazing watching you grow up...



just when I think you can't possibly get any sweeter...



you do!



I can't imagine my life without you in it.



You changed me for the better, and not a day goes by that I don't fall on my knees so thankful for having you in my life.



And I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. We're all smitten with you!



Watching you grow up has been the greatest gift. I just wish it wasn't going by so quickly.



Happy 5th Birthday, Sweetie Bear. I love watching you soar!

Last Day Of Four!

These snapshots were taken this afternoon on Paprika's last day of being four years old. I have been crying like a baby on and off all day...well, all week actually. It's so hard for me to believe that this precious treasure is hitting such a big milestone tomorrow.

We had a big day today. It was our second day of medical testing at Children's Hospital. Each day of testing is about five hours long, and is totally physically and emotionally exhausting...for us all. Grandma Pat drove down and watched Ginger while we were at the appointment, which was such a gift. We could not have done it without her!

We came home after our long day at the hosptial, and blew bubbles in the backyard. I don't know how it's possible that I grow more in love with these girls every day, but I do. I am so proud of Paprika, and so happy to watch her grow up...but I will not deny that it is so hard, too. I just want to wrap her up in my arms and never let her go. Expect some sappy posts over the next few days! I just can't help myself!

Favorite Spot!

This is Ginger's favorite spot in our house. If you leave her alone for a second, she will pull a chair over and climb up on top of the dryer, and help herself to whatever's in the cabinets.

Why is this cabinet her favorite?

Because it's where all the chocolate is stored! Smart girl. Looks like I need to find a new hiding place! Ha! :-)