Winter Hailyn Turns “Fwee!”

Tomorrow my baby girl turns THREE! Although she couldn’t be more excited, running around the house yelling “I am fwee!”, mommy is a bit bummed. And shocked. And confused. I mean it literally seems like last year we found out we were having a second child. Addison was four years old and was terrified of the idea of having a “stinky baby brother” so she was beyond excited when we found out she would have a little sister. Boys apparently don’t “run in our family”. I am one of four girls and Mark has one sister so when Winnie came along she fit right in.

Winter Hailyn is my little angel. Of course I adore both of my girl’s more than life itself, but Winter is my little sidekick. Addison is a die-hard daddy’s girl so thankfully Winter is attached to me at the hip. I often call her my “double the fun”. The year before I got pregnant with Winter, we lost twins. At 14 weeks, I miscarried identical twins. It was beyond devastating for us at the time. Our minds had wrapped itself around having two babies so much by the 14 week mark, that we envisioned this life with two more babies. We had it all planned out. But God had other plans. And although I still think about those two babies all the time, Winter is my “double the fun”. She has as much spunk, energy, love and personality for two little ones and with her, my life was complete. Maybe a bit deep for a little birthday party post but I’ve always felt the desire to share a peek at our story and my “obsession” with sweet Winnie.

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve had some major mommy guilt. Like how on Earth did I find the time seven years ago to purchase every scrap-booking sticker and trinket known to man and make a hundred page album of Addison’s first year? And how did I fit in swim lessons, gymboree, playdates, ballet, gymnastics… Agh! When Addie turned three, she basically had her very own circus for her birthday. Well at least that’s what Mark tells me as I am guilt tripping myself all weekend. I made her a tulle circus tent ceiling for goodness sake!!! And a matching tutu, rented a cotton candy machine, made a ticket booth… I just have to keep telling myself that Addie probably doesn’t even remember all of that. She doesn’t right?!? Because this go-round I’m like… “Hey babe can you run to the store before her party and pick up a gift???”

So needless to say this party is a bit slack. I tried to make it cute because that’s what I love to do but it was certainly no circus. Winter requested a Barney birthday and we then compromised on a Care Bears party. I am not the biggest huge purple dinosaur fan ever. He kind of creeps me out to be quite honest. So Care Bears party it was! Except that Wal-Mart AND Party City had absolutely nothing Care Bears themed. Target saved the day with cute plates, decor and Care Bears cups but that was the extent of a Care Bears party. Good thing it didn’t phase her a bit!

The cake kind of stole the show with a Care Bear’s rainbow theme and gorgeous bright colors. Once again I was super duper last minute and our local Sugar Kneads bakery saved the day with five days notice for this beauty.

Interrupting this blog post with an important announcement… Check out our new island countertop!!!! I am OBSESSED with it. Like no one touch it obsessed. I will be posting full kitchen updates to the blog soon but since I can’t share her birthday without sharing the new island, here’s your sneak peeks! It is Statuary White marble and it is seriously STUNNING. I have been wanting to switch it out since before the original top was even installed. Mark wanted dark countertops everywhere so we met in the middle with white granite on the main countertops (Tiger White Granite) and dark (Titanium Granite) for the island. However, he surprised me with this gorgeous hunk of marble and I finally feel like our kitchen is complete.