But this posting isn't about me, it's about Olivia AKA O and her wonderful first birthday. After much deliberation, the V-Team decided to play this birthday low key. There is plenty of time for birthday bashes in the future ... like when she turns 2. And since her birthday was on a Monday and Olivia is usually dead tired when she gets home from daycare, we decided to celebrate over the weekend. We split up the fun over Saturday and Sunday.
But first we had the Seabee Ball on Friday night. After some frantic preparations while Olivia bounced up and down in her Johnny Jump Up, we drove to our friend, Diana's house. Diana, who is one of the nicest people I've ever met, volunteered to watch O while we went to the Ball. Diana's husband is a Seabee and currently deployed, so she understand the importance of the Seabee Birthday.
So while we were dancing at the Seabee Ball
Olivia was up late, playing with 2 boys who are Diana's neighbors.
Olivia didn't go to bed until 9:30 p.m. She partied hard and was completely asleep when we picked her up at midnight. She didn't wake up when we transferred her from her pack and play to her car seat and from her car seat to her bed. One tired baby.
On Saturday morning, we moved all of Olivia's birthday gifts into the living room and let her pull and open what she wanted when she wanted. At first she was excited about the wrapping paper and the boxes.
And she LOVED the toys from Patti and Bob and didn't find the need to open any other gifts. She just kept playing with her new toys and ignored the other presents, including the shopping cart that Benny and I got for her.
Allowing Olivia open the presents at her own pace meant she wasn't done opening presents until 4 p.m. on Sunday, when I forced her to finish and it wasn't fun for her anymore.
After Alligator Steps and a 2 hour nap, Olivia was taken to Studio Mario, a photo studio specializing in children's pictures for her one year portrait. More about that later. The photo shoot was followed by a stop by the library and a drive to Awase to eat dinner at an Okinawa landmark.
Yes, the waitresses do wear sailor outfits at Sam's, just like they do in the advertisments. It's a Hawaiian, nautical theme that cracks me up. And the food is served on fire.
Olivia felt right at home.
And I toasted Olivia's birthday by drinking a fruity beverage with an umbrella.
On Sunday, Benny ran a 10K as part of the Okinawa Marathon and Olivia and I went to the Air Base to cheer on the runners.
Then I went and bought a cake for her birthday. There was a translation mix up (isn't there always) and the cake said "Happy 7th Birthday Olivia." Good thing I checked it before walking out of the bakery.
After a dinner of green beans, wheat bread and shredded cheese, we sang Happy Birthday to our O monster. She looked at us like we were crazy.
She was given a slice of cake.
She liked the icing. And sucked it off almost every piece, before tossing the sponge cake on the floor.
After cake, Olivia went to bed, an hour earlier than normal. We were exhausted.
4 comments:
Isn't that where the cake is supposed to go once all the icing is gone?
What a fun weekend! When we visit you could get a cake for Dre and Olivia to share - since Dre doesn't really like frosting ;-)
Glad little O enjoyed her first birthday! Congrats Mom and Dad!
I thought Benny was supposed to wear the heels! Tony Danner had a pair he was going to loan him, right?
I loved this post. And to think one year ago, I was waiting for the cartoon posting and then the email telling if vBaby was an Olivia or a Jack. Time flies. We love you O!!!
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