Baby to Big Girl

How has the time gone so fast? I remember the day five years ago when I woke up to mild contractions and spent the rest of the day wondering just when this baby would arrive. Finally at 11:15 pm after just an hour of active labour Tess Eva-Rose entered our lives and we've been smiling ever since. You can't look at her, listen to her or watch her without a smile coming to your face and the warmth of my heart just radiates. She is such a joy and brings so much joy to our lives.

She requested a Barbie party for her special day and a Barbie party we did. I didn't take many photos as I was busy hosting, but I got plenty of the cake! There was a moment when I started icing it at 12:30 am last night that I truly thought I'd be sending Doug out this morning for a prefab cake, but after giving up on things around 2:30 am and starting again at 7 am this morning, I felt much better and love the final result. Tess had chosen the colours purple, pink, orange and white for her party (there are streamers and balloons in those colours in our living room), so I went with those for the cake too.

We played Pin the Pendant on the Barbie's necklace ... isn't the mask hilarious? 

Then Hide the Barbie ... we hid two Barbies and the kids had to find them (this game was Tess' idea and the kids loved it) which we played way too many times. Followed by a rendition of Simon Says called Barbie Says, not too original, but half the kids were up for it and loved taking turns being Barbie.

And that smile is says it all, she was so happy and loved her day. I asked her what her favourite part of the day was and she said, playing Barbies, I guess she picked the right theme then.

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate Tess' birthday either in person or with your phone calls and message of birthday wishes. She loved hearing them all and I know she feels very loved and honored.