On this day - Lauren's Second Birthday

On this day two years ago, I woke at 4.00 a.m. and convinced myself I wasn't in labour, as I was having a scheduled C section in two days time... as the time ticked on, we realised I was in labour, so off to the hospital we went, and Lauren was born at 7.59 a.m. weighing 7lbs 9 oz We had her name picked, her room ready and her big brother prepared for his baby sister. This was the day my beloved daughter came in to this world. I loved her instantly and was amazed by how beautiful she was from the minute she was born. She was utterly breath taking, She had soft black downy hair, little chubby cheeks (which we had commented on in her ultrasound pictures) and she had these beautiful pouty lips. I was in love.

While they were finishing my surgery, Derek sat with her and admired her, too afraid to even pick her up until the midwife told him it was ok. He took pictures of her, and told all our family that our much awaited bundle of joy was here.

I couldn't wait for her big brother to meet her, the moment he saw her, his eyes were like saucers, he couldn't believe he was a big brother. I thought he was so big then compared to Lauren, but I can see now when I look at the photos that he was still only a baby!



The days after Lauren was born were both amazing and special for our little family, I loved it. She was a dream baby and never gave us an ounce of trouble. She fitted into our family so well, and it felt like she'd always been here.

Lauren Maire, born at 7.59 am Sunday 22/02/09

When we christened her, we named her Marie, for my late grandmother - Lauren Marie, I couldn't imagine not having a marie in our life. Her christening day was so special to us all. Our much awaited and treasured addition to our family was finally here...

With my parents

With Derek's parents

She has grown so fast, she still hasn't much hair, but what she has is tiny kiss curls, that turn out when her hair is wet. She is content on her own, and gets tearful around lots of people. She likes it when it's just a few! She has so many words, and makes full sentences now, you can hold a conversation with her. She likes to watch 'peppa pig,' and 'ben and Holly,' She likes to read books. She loves when you cuddle her and cover her face in kisses. She loves to play with her big brother and run around like crazy! She loves her Daddy and she has completed our little family, I can't imagine our lives without her...

Happy 2nd Birthday Princess....

Lauren's second bithday party (part 1)

We held Lauren's second birthday party yesterday. Our little princess doesn't turn two for another few days though. We had the house all ready, all children bathed and dressed all cute, and then Lauren decided she was going to be fussy! She was so upset when we sung happy birthday, she literally cried her heart out! She wasn't a bit happy! she perked up a little towards the end of the party, she really didn't want to share yesterday, going around telling everyone that 'that's mine, it's my house and leave me alone' wow what a hostess! I knew she was tired, and I definitely wouldn't recommend holding a party for a 2 year old at lunch time!! She was a really lucky girl, she got some really wonderful presents!

My friend made her a giant cupcake, just the colour I wanted for her. It was fantastic, we just loved it...

Her birthday table

Here's the little diva with some of her gifts, before all the other guests arrived and 'upset' her!!

Our traditional family birthday photo, this was a tough one to get as people were arriving, and Lauren was starting to get a bit anxious! In one I'm blurry, the next we all are, so this was the best of the lot!

The little two year old princess, during and after the 'trauma' of us singing happy birthday to her! ....

and one of the big brother, just because we love him! (Think he enjoyed himself??)

I really am amazed every time I think of her being two. The time has flown by! I will be writing a post dedicated to our little princess on her actual birthday but we had to have a post about her party!

It was lovely to see all our family, and Dylan had a really great time, as some of his friends were here! I just really loved having my husband here and all to us. He has a few more days off this week, and we are going to make the most of it. We'll be celebrating Lauren's birthday some more with a family day out, and her birthday gift from us on her actual birthday! I really couldn't be happier right now to have our little family all here together, and celebrating a very special little girl's second birthday. We hope you enjoyed your day princess (when you got used to everyone around!)...  I have some more photos to add from our other camera and I'll add them in my birthday post in the next few days...

Happy Birthday Princess

Valentine's Day 2011

Happy Valentine's Day everyone

I'll be spending my valentines day with this special guy...

Dylan made me a special Valentine in school last week, and presented it to me yesterday! He is the best valentine any mommy could ask for.. and of course Lauren is our valentine too!

And before he left for work Derek gave me a dozen red roses and a beautiful card. This is the very first valentine's day we won't be spending together. I'm sad about that, but nothing can be done about it. We'll be having lots of family time next week, Derek is taking some much deserved time off to celebrate Lauren's second birthday, and we're going to have some great days out, and of course Lauren's birthday party. I'm really looking forward to next week!

I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's day.... I am enjoying mine, and I'm so thankful to have a wonderful husband and some great kids as my valentines!

Skateboards and Chocolate smiles

We've had a really great weekend! we brought the kids to see 'Gnomeo and Juliet' Dylan loved it and Lauren... well not really! She cried for about twenty minutes, before falling fast asleep and then started snoring! Dylan, Derek and I got to watch it though so that was a bonus... maybe next time will be better. On our way home we took them to play in the park... which they both loved.

We went to my parent's house for Sunday dinner, and my brother taught Dylan how to skate on his skateboard he had when he was younger! it was adorable and Dylan got quite good at it after a while... he's so cute! I'd say he'll get good at skateboarding! Gary went back to his childhood, he could ever remember some of his stunts! looked kind of weird though, seeing my grown up brother doing skateboarding stunts! time goes by so fast, it only feels like yesterday when Gary was outside on his skateboard, and here he is teaching Dylan how to do it!

Lauren was looking all adorable today in her little outfit, she had a chocolate ice-cream and managed to cover herself in it! her hair is starting to get really wispy and flyaway, it's getting longer but I can't wait until I can put it in pigtails! I put a slide in it last weekend for the first time! Oh the things you get excited about when you have a little girl! Here she is complete with wonky hairband and a chocolate face!

Then we had to have some funny photos, as usual when the camera come out so do those tongues, but also some sweet kisses!!!

We got Lauren's invitations printed as a photo this year, but I never uploaded a picture of them, here they are with the birthday princess herself! She insisted on standing up on the chair, as you can see from above! we got a cute photo, but I was afraid she would fall so these were taken really quickly, so they aren't too good!

The rest of the weekend was relaxing enough, we took the kids to a friend's birthday party at the soft play centre, and the kids had a ball! we did some shopping, but other than that it was all chilled out around here! It was lovely to have a nice family weekend, and some quality time together, where we could enjoy skateboarding, and some silly chocolate smiles ... Now off watch some cartoons with the kiddies!