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Dear Olive,
My birthday came and went in September without much of a fuss. I suppose I'm saving up all my celebrating for next year. But I did get the most marvellous card from you. "Just look at our beautiful old lovely 39 girl. Happy birthday to you."
(As an aside, a few days ago - & for your upcoming big day - we taught Clancy how to sing happy birthday. He's obviously got it stuck in his head because he's been quietly singing it in the most delightful sing-song voice for past three days non stop.)

happy birthday

Dear Olive,
Happy birthday to our team captain.

one full trip around the sun

Dear Olive,
He's the love of all our lives. Your Boo, Dads Clancy-man, and my CC. He turned one on the weekend. 
(And for the first time, I truly feel the bittersweet sting of my youngest child beginning to grow up.)

f i v e

Dear Olive,
It was raining when we brought you home from the hospital. You'd entered the world just four hours before, at ten minutes to ten am, and Shane dropped you and I off outside the building while he drove off to find a park. He seemed to take ages, and as you and I lay on the bed and looked at each other, I couldn't quite believe that I had grown this tiny, foreign, beautiful girl. I felt beyond lucky that you belonged to me, and I to you.
Five years later and I laugh at how small my dreams were for you that day. How could I possibly have imagined you up as you are today. You laugh loud and live big. You're hilarious, and smart, and an excellent drawer. You're enthusiastic, and social, and you love building lego (the girly, princessy type, thank you!). You're outspoken, and you wipe off my kisses (but that will never deter me). You love singing and swimming and dancing, and you are fierce in your love for Clancy. I have never ever seen anyone wear more clashing patterns and colourful ensembles than you. You're everything I hoped you would be, and ever so much more. And it wouldn't even matter, anyway, because if motherhood has taught me anything, it's been to let go of my expectations; I'm delighted and grateful to be able to just watch you be you, whichever way that takes you.
The night before your birthday, we left some balloons in your bedroom while you slept, and it was such a fun beginning to a great day of celebrating. There were presents and cake, and we had a few friends over for a birthday play date with musical statues and fruit wands. I was so excited to celebrate you and make a fuss, I know it's been such a huge year for you, in many ways you've taken a back seat since Clancy came along. But the way it's gone so far, five feels like it'll be your year. And it really does feel big. I nearly fell over when I watched you introduce your friends to each to other at your birthday playdate - as if you'd been introducing people your whole life.
Happy birthday, my darling girl, I love you.

Party

Dear Olive,
Beneath the paperbarks, and the bunting Shane hung, we celebrated your fourth birthday. We kept the food pretty simple with corn chips, sugar free muffins, date and coconut rolls, fruit kebabs and a chock-full-of-sugar-and-green-food-colouring Martian cake*. In lieu of party bags, there was a pet rock making section. You had the BEST TIME. I didn't get the chance to talk to many people, let alone take a lot of photos, but at one point, as I stood back watching the festivities carry on around me, I was struck by just how lucky you are to have so many wonderful people love you.

PS Now THAT'S how you wrap a present.
PPS That last photo makes me laugh so much. I asked you what you were thinking when everyone was singing happy birthday and you said you don't really like loud noises and that Ada was singing too loud ... I can see that! Bless her enthusiasm.

* You asked for "an unhealthy cake, one with sugar, Mum", and I obliged - in the shape of your imaginary friend, Martian. It was a bit tricky, seeing as I've never laid eyes on the guy! I'm SO embarrassed to admit the cake was a Martha Stewart packet delight.

4!

Dear Olive,
Today, you are 4! Shane and I crept in and woke you up singing happy birthday and you declared your foots were definitely bigger than the day before. It was a superb day that included presents, a kindy party, and ice cream in a restaurant; it's been so, so special for Shane and I to celebrate you. So happy happy happiest number four to you, my darling girl. You are an absolute joy, the funnest of the fun, the light of our lives. You are our heart on the outside. And boy oh boy oh boy, do we love you.

PS My friend made you that beautiful birthday crown. You love it so much you wore it to bed.

My Birthday

Dear Olive,
Things have been a little bit tough around here of late, and as my birthday loomed last week, I really wasn't sure I wanted to do anything. But (with the gentle encouragement of a few friends), two days out I sent off invitations for an afternoon picnic at Nielson Park (one of my All Time Favourite Sydney Spots). Lots of people couldn't come, but those who did, made it so great. It was a beautiful Spring day and while the kids got nude and wet, the adults (for the most part), were able to relax and eat delicious food. I even baked a cake. (This apple and coconut one, grain free, and sweetened only with honey, from Petite Kitchen; quite delicious.) It was a BYO food, drinks, picnic rug type of affair, but people also brought with them flowers by the armful and (unexpected) gorgeous gifts. But the best thing they brought, was themselves; I was reminded again that great friendship really is the essence of life.

Birthday Boy

Dear Olive,
Bondi put on the most brilliant blue day for Shanes birthday on Sunday. The sort of day that seeps into your bones and energises you and puts you in a fantastic mood just by looking outside. We took a walk in the crisp sunshine in the morning, and then went for a big lunch with a (magnificent) view with about 20 friends. It was the kind of celebration where you go for lunch and are still there for dinner. So fun! And Shane felt very loved, which is always a great thing on your birthday. I was having far too much fun to take any photos at the party. But just look at the amazing day we had! I will never tire of looking out over Bondi.
We love you, Shane.

3

Dear Olive,
I'm a week or more late, but what can I say, Mexican wifi is a bastard.
Feliz cumpleaños a nuestro pequeño bandido Mexicano*.
Thanks for three years of more love and delight than we ever could have imagined.

*A google translation of happy birthday to our little mexican bandit.
Olive wears her birthday suit with her (Udder) birthday cape!

Once Upon A Star

Dear Olive,
We picked out five photos representing the three years of your life. We baked a sugar free spelt banana cake, and topped it with whipped cream and berries. You chose a bunch of flowers. You wore a birthday cape and a crown. And laid out stars to walk on, with the rest of the class watching. You sat on the birthday throne. And BEAMED. I felt the emotion too. The story about the angels taking you by the hand and leading you over the stars to us, your family, gave me tears.

And so did the flowers you picked out. Yellow tulips. They were my Mums favourites.

I'm falling more and more in love with your preschool every week.

Hair Today

Dear Olive,
You were born with a decent covering of soft, dark hair. Which promptly fell out.
When you turned one, you were still pretty close to bald, with just a hint of possibility peeping around from behind your ears.
By the time you turned two, you were sporting a show stopping, bona fide mullet. Nothing at the front, and a cascade of curls partying down the back.
Now, a week out from turning three, a full head of hair including a fringe (and with no less than seven dreadlocks at the back) looks up at me from where I sit.
Oh, how far you've come in three short years! I couldn't be more proud of that knotty little bob(ish) of yours. And even though I'm yet to wrap my head around the enormity of turning three, I'm so excited there's a lifetime of hairstyles still to come.

Birth and One taken by the every lovely Prue Upton
Two taken by Shane
Three by me