Mop-ey Top-ey

So Olivia was a baby blessed with a lot of hair. Something I should have known if the old wives tale really is true, lots of heartburn during pregnancy....baby will have a lot of hair. That and of course the fact that I am sure the Italian/Spanish genes are strong and those Benveniste babies are hairy! Olivia had downy dark hair on more places than just her head. Her shoulders, back, bum and ears all had a subtle dusting of dark fur. She had little wolverine ears, Mitch called them her "ewalk ears". Thankfully that fur rubbed off by the time she reached about 6 months but the hair on her head never really changed. Many people told me that her hair would rub off or fall out, but it never did. It thinned out a bit on the sides but never fell out completely. It did turn from a dark almost black color to a now light golden brown. But the point being she has always had a head full of hair...and it has always been rather unruly.

This messy mop-top has never bothered me much, I love her crazy hair. But it bothers my mother and I think it bothers Mitch's family. They seem to always want to tie it back in a hair tie, pin it back with a clip or use a headband to try and contain it. I however enjoy her au natural look...I don't see the need for accessories. It seems like bald baby girls seem to be the ones to most benefit from the bows, the flowers, the headbands...etc. Olivia is far from bald, I have already trimmed her hair four times in the last year. Now I would not say I am totally against hair accessories because I have to admit that the small bow, headband or clip does look cute, I just don't ever put them in her hair. And I must admit that when I found out out that my baby would be a girl the first thought in my head was "Oh she is not going to one of those babies with bows the size of Texas on her head". I remember seeing pictures of friends and their baby girls and they always had some huge flower or bow in their hair and I would just cringe!

I remember expressing my disdain for frilly headbands and bows to all of Mitch's family before I left for a trip to visit my brother's family in Idaho. I was still pregnant and my sweet well meaning sister in law, who is the mother of 4 boys, upon arriving presented me with a huge stockpile of bows and headbands. What can I say bows are big in the Mormon culture...the bigger the better! Not to mention the fact that poor Chelle has probably hoped and prayed for a girl and everytime is blessed with yet another boy! She is deprived of any and all things girly and frilly! Here I am with a baby girl in my oven and completely opposed to all frills! I have since been more open-minded about girly things. If there is a choice between pink, blue, green, yellow in anything you can bet I have to get the pink one! But still not a huge fan of bows. I seem to find myself alone in this preference...every friend or relative with a girl always have some big flower headband or bow on their mostly bald head. It has recently occurred to me why I tend to be anti-bow. One word, two syllables......Childhood.

Let me elaborate. I was a bald baby. I mean I had a fuzzy little head but real hair didn't seem to sprout up until I was a year old. My mom would place teeny bows on my head getting them to stick with karo syrup. Okay all well and fine, they were cute bitty little bows but then I got older and my hair was never without some sort of bow...usually some huge monstrosity of a thing on my head. I don't remember hating them, but I also don't remember really having a choice in the matter....I was not complete with a bow. I had friends whose pigtails and ponytails were completed with just one of those goody balled elastics. I tried to google it to get a picture but I have had no luck. Remember they were like a big elastic with a metal pin in the center that made two loops on either side. Then on the end of each loop was a marble looking plastic ball and to attach to a ponytail you wrap it around the hair and pull the ball over the other ball. I don't know if I am explaining this right....but hopefully you get the picture. Anyways I liked these but I never wore them...I always had bows!

Looking back at pictures it's like eekkk gads look at the size of those bows! And I actually had someone I had known since 1st grade sign my senior yearbook and they mentioned the bows! It went something along the lines of "Oh Emily I will always remember seeing you on the playground in elementary school with those great big bows in your hair". I was taken back I remember when I first read that....this person was more of a schoolhood life-long acquaintance than a friend and my bows made that much of an impression on him? And it seemed more like an underhanded way to make fun of me than any sort of fond nostalgic compliment. I think then and there I subconsciously knew I would never make my child memorable for anything embarrassing! I guess I would like Olivia to be at an age where she decides if she wants to wear something that could be cringe-worthy as an adult. So if Olivia wants to wear "great big bows" in her hair one day, she can....until then I mostly prefer her head to be as God intended it to be!

Party fit for a squid princess!

So Saturday March 13, 2009 was a big day for the Larsen-Benveniste family. Olivia Marie turned one year old on Tuesday March 9th and Saturday was the day of the big party! We traveled under the sea for our princess Squidlivia! Who was there you ask? What did we do you ask? What was there to eat you might say? Were there presents? Were there kids? What kind of cake did we eat? Did everyone have fun? Where the decorations fabulous, they must have been you decide...well take a look for yourself?

Squid/Octopus Cake made by Mama Emily!

Our Fishy friends



The Cake and favors



Happy birthday!



Candles all lit and looking fabulous!


Nana amid the decor





Mama Emily


Nautical masks painted by Gma Sparkle and Aunties Megs and Ash



Hanging coral


Lovely food



Fishy cookies



Gummy fish and sharks





Just a part of the great fruit Nana brought



Presents


Of course Finding Nemo was playing



New bike from Gma Sparkle and Gpa Tony



Uncle Mike has high hopes for his Olivia and his alma mater



Toy plane


So many presents, she was a bit overwhelmed


Playing with uncle Mike

Stacking blocks from Nana and Gpa Larsen

Toys, toys TOYS!!!!!!!!!!!


Where to begin?


Kisses from Mama


Loud obnoxious toys from Auntie Ash...who else?

Poor baby was so tired!


Rachel and Connor
Tam came too!


Auntie Ally


Great Uncle Wes




Uncle Mike


Great Auntie Sarena




Auntie Ally, Rachel and Tam



Auntie Zoe :)



Uncle Bogie :)


Mama and her two BFFs



Connor



Great Grandma Anita


Gpa Larsen and Nana

I think Ash liked the pasta salad

Rachel and Gma Sparkle like the wings


Tam and Aunties Megs and Ally



Great Auntie Michelle, GG Anita, Great Auntie Sarena and Uncle Mike



Birthday Girl all changed and ready for cake!

Squidlivia and Mama

Nana and Liv

Everyone sang Happy Birthday!


Singing, singing!


Olivia wondering why Mama is crying! Shhhhh I don't think anyone knew I choked up!



I blew out the candles for her!


She didn't know what to think! She just wanted the sea animal toys!



Trying to get her to attack the cake!



Again only wanted to play with the toys



Sea horsey! Untouched cupcake :(


I'm supposed to eat this?



Little lady keeping it tidy



?


Auntie Ash trying to inspire some eating...



This is as messy as it got!

The end! Happy Birthday baby!

So that was the day! We all had a great time and Olivia was as per usual spoiled with gifts by everyone who came and even those who couldn't come sent gifts! She is well loved little Squidey and I cannot believe I am a mother of a 1 year old!