A Royal Party: Kate's 3rd Birthday!

Kate's 3rd birthday snuck up on me.  She's at that in between age where I can semi-ask what sort of party she wants to have but then I also get answers that vary from mermaids to animals and everything in between.  I'm also three months post partum from giving birth to Maya ... and this has been the first official month that Kate has been home with me, so, yeah, I'm a tad preoccupied with ... life .  I blinked and it was time to plan Kate's 3rd birthday.

In addition to party planning, we headed out of town to drive to Maryland right after the party, so there was that to figure out too.

In other words, my normal party prep involves a lot of homemade stuff.  This year, I at least got photo banner made and a princess invited!

Wwe decided on "A Royal Party".  Kate loves all things princess right now so we figure why not capitalize.  We invited Princess Belle, Kate's favorite princess over to join us for a little bit too.  #icingonthecake

We kept it pretty low key and had family over at our place to enjoy our time while we mingled and ate and spent some time with Princess Belle.  It wasn't as dazzling as past parties but it was a good time and we all had fun.  Kate has already planning on who she will be inviting to next year's party!

Without further ado, please check out the photos below for birthday party fun:

Oh, and to see Kate's past birthdays, click on the links below!

Kate's 1st birthday - Pumpkins and Pink
Kate's 2nd birthday - A Woodland Wonderland

And in true Hendricks fashion, we also have a little video to commemorate this year too:

Kate's 1st birthday video
Kate's 2nd birthday video
Kate's 3rd birthday video

I'm not entirely sure how long we'll do videos but I'm glad I've done them so far!

Ok, for reals, Kate's 3rd birthday.  Below:

It's official!

The birthday girl enjoying a bite to eat before Belle arrived.
Which was a surprise, btw.

Kate was a little shy when Belle first arrived
but insisted on putting on her Belle dress!

And a little hand holding from Mama fixes everything, right?!

Belle brought Kate two presents - a cupcake ring and a
Princess story book!

Saying goodbye!  Even Maya was intrigued!

Goodbye, Belle!

Kate and Belle!

That's all I got.

Maya's First Slide

I didn't dare take Kate to a public park/playground until she was at least nine months old.  It could've been the fact that she was born at the end of October and the weather was just cold, Ohio winter for the majority of her first few months of life.  Or it could've been because she was my first born and playgrounds just seem so...BIG.  #thatsprobablyit

But Maya has since jumped right into life, exploring and experiencing all things we do together no matter what.  #perkofbeingasecondchild

Today, she experienced her very first slide down a slide a Beekman Park on her big sister's lap!  ♥

It's normal to plop your not yet 3 month old in your
not yet 3 year old's lap for her first slide, right?!

Kate is super excited that Maya gets to ride with her!

Smiles for her big sis!

Yes, this was Maya's first slide!

There they go!

It should also be noted that there were several club sports teams playing on the fields around the playground.  These were most likely Ohio State sports clubs because this park is part of the Ohio State Campus...somehow, I believe.

Anyway, as we were walking to the park, we passed this guy who was walking towards us from one of the fields, and Kate said, out loud, as we walked passed, "He is so cute!"

People, I almost fell over.  What the what?!  First of all, WHERE ON EARTH did she hear that about a person of the opposite sex?!  Second of all, how does she know the laws of attraction?!  Third of all, this guy was a HUNK by every definition of the word.  He was super handsome and built with brown medium length hair and a smile that did all of us girls in.  Girlfriend's got good taste!

All I could say, out loud, as we continued to walk pass this college hunk was, "Yes, he is very cute!"

(I may have swooned a little too.)

But Brian and I both were giggling in the background.  She is too young for this.  Or we are too old for it.  Either way, WE ARE IN TROUBLE!!!  This, we know!

These two!

I so wish I had gotten a picture of Kate's hunk, but I didn't.  The next time I hear those words out of Kate's mouth, she had better be referring to a male puppy...or kitten...or other small male animal that you would label as "so cute"!  Somehow I don't think that will be the case!

We are in SO much trouble.

Mattie Poo: Back in the States

Our dearest peach, Mattie Poo Pie, has once again delighted us with his presence!  He came to stay with us from Switzerland for just under a week, see the Buckeyes, and enjoy some good old catch up time with one of his best buds, Brian.

Mattie Poo is a special guy in our household.  When Brian took a job in Scotland in 2006, he moved there not knowing a single person, other than the one who hired him.  Mattie Poo offered Brian a place to stay in his flat.  They introduced each other to their respective countries and traditions.  They became the best of friends.  And the rest is history.

Sometimes when I see these two together it is like the are long lost brothers... Naturally, Mattie Poo fits right in with all of us girls too!  Kate adored having Mattie Poo Pie here with us and once she heard his nickname, there was no turning back!  We heard shouts of it throughout the entire time he was here!  And when he visited Brian's brother, Mike, and Mike's family in New Jersey shortly after he came to visit us, they adopted his nickname quite quickly too!

We were so happy to have Mattie Poo here!  To entertain us, to enjoy all of our massive plates of food, to see the Buckeyes, and to just catch up with a best friend.  We did a lot while he was here, so here is the quick version!

First stop: Brian took Matt to Ohio Stadium.
While in Scotland, Brian's love of the Buckeyes
bled into the heart and soul of Mattie Poo.  He is a
true fan, and I think the Buckeyes were the main
reason for his visit!

Mattie enjoys some Sofia the First with Kate after
her bath!  She was enamored with Matthew!

American burgers...

While Matt and Brian were recovering on Sunday morning from the Buckeye game the night before, I took Kate and Maya to Sky Zone to get our jump on!

She's a jumpin' fool!

And a tumblin' fool!

Getting her bounce on:

Conquering the foam pit with NO FEAR:

That face says it all!

Foam pit fun!

Dodge ball fun!

Maya's not entirely sure what to think of this place.
She and I sat on the sidelines!

Also, I feel like I look like I'm 14 years old in this
photo.  Must be the angle and the lighting.
Look at me!  Taking a selfie at my first baby
sitting gig!!!

Later that afternoon, Kate was doing some marshmallow crafting and Mattie Poo and Daddy were very interested!

Mattie Poo Pie is the best!

Marshmallowing a ghost!

Pause for the pumpkin.  Taste test...

Daddy was so intrigued so I made him a spider.

He is so proud of his work...

On Monday, Brian had to work, so Kate, Maya, and I took Mattie Poo to the zoo!  He loved it!  And it was a Monday so we more or less had the place to ourselves!!!

Riding the train in North America!

Feeding giraffes!

Checking out the polar bear!

And the brown bear!  These bears were massive!

Riding the carousel with Mattie!

She picked him to go with her.

I'd say it was a huge success!

Showing Mattie Poo the enormous playground and
running back to the entrance to get back to the top
of the green slide!

And, of course, our stop at the bronze kimono dragon
with a little sit on it's head...

On Monday night, Brian and Matt headed out to see one of Matt's favorite bands, The Maccabees.  The Maccabees are a lot more popular in the UK and Europe, so seeing them in this intimate setting was incredible...according to Matt!

They even met the lead on the left!  Aka, Matt's man crush.

At the end of Matt's visit, we all didn't want him to leave.  We are 100% fine with a live in house guest like him!  We love you, Mattie Poo, and hope to see you soon!  Thanks for making the trek!!!

These two were best buds!

Sweetest Sisters

I worried my entire pregnancy about how much introducing a new family member into our family of three was going to affect Kate.  I can't tell you how many nights I lost sleep thinking about it.  (I should've been working on the blog...)

But then Maya was born, and aside from the first two weeks being a major adjustment, which thinking back may have been the result of me not being my normal either (you know, recovering from pushing a baby out doesn't allow you to run/chase/jump/etc. that normally), Kate has BLOWN ME AWAY with the love she has for her sister.

Every morning, Kate wants to know where Maya is.  Most times Maya is still sleeping, but when Maya gets up Kate is all over her.  She physically climbs into Maya's bassinet to get close to her.  The morning snuggles and kisses are daily, but these snuggles and kisses happen throughout the rest of the day too.  When Maya is doing tummy time, Kate sometimes joins her.  When I'm feeding Maya, Kate gently kisses Maya's head and pats her softly.  When Maya is in her swing, Kate will go over to her and adjust her blanket and give her yet another kiss.

And Maya ABSOLUTELY ADORES Kate!  I mean, Kate smiles for Maya so quickly and she always gets the biggest, gummiest, squintiest smiles of all!

I have been extremely impressed with my big girl.  She already looks after Maya.  She's already got Maya's back.  She already wants to share with Maya, teach Maya what she knows, and help Maya learn about the world around her.  She is so kind and caring and [most times] gentle, and she is going to make an incredible mommy one day.  She has never once (so far) not wanted Maya around.  Quite frankly, it's the opposite.  She usually wants to wake Maya up from her nap earlier than normal which I quickly counteract!

All of that worrying, and for what?

I am just so, SO proud of the way Kate has handled becoming a big sister.  At nearly three years old she has done it with so much maturity and poise, yet still has that wonderfully goofy and silly side that Maya loves.  She is a perfect balance of a big sister and I know that Maya will forever look up to her.

I know I do.

Here's a collection of just some of the love that these two sisters have shared over the past 2.5 months.

Kate performing a check-up on one month old Maya.

Sisters.

Kate showing Maya the yarn for a craft we were doing.

Swing snuggles.

Maya cannot take her eyes off of Kate.

Sweetest kiss from the best big sis!

Good morning snuggles!

Kate insisted that Maya should wear one of her necklaces.

And she even helped her put it on.

Little necklace loves!

More morning snuggles!

Kate thought it'd be nice for Maya to sit with her during
part of her Sofia the First episode.  Now that is love!

The sisters that tummy time together, always have each other's backs!

And even more morning snuggles with a little
lesson on putting on chapstick!

I would just like to state for the record that none of these photos were prompted, suggested, pushed, or set up, other than asking for a "smile" every now and then.

This is pure, unadulterated, sister love.  This bond will never be broken.