I'm feeling it tonight... stress. I'm sure it's just an aftershock of the Thanksgiving - funeral - Christmas - wedding anniversary - New Year's - son's birthday - daughter's birthday quake we've just come through. We held the 
final birthday party of the season last night and now it's time to face the tidal wave of exciting, but relentless obligations I've signed up for this spring. According to my calendar, I'll come up for air again in, oh... June? Isaac's feeling it too. He's taking a late-evening booster nap to prep for the long push. I'm blogging.
Last night's shindig was a family dinner for Charlotte, now 2, who adores all things piggish. It was also Elijah's only celebration with extended family, hence the pigs and monsters. It was a sprint. The objective was: put together a tasty meal and just enough decoration-cuteness that there'll be something to photograph and something to remember, unwrap a few presents, deal out big hugs, clean up, and move on. Sound lack-luster? It wasn't. It was quite fun, like a birthday-party challenge. I was able to chill on the pretty-perfect angle and go for crafty-campy. And with glowing success... see that sloppy frosting? One of the monsters even lost his teeth.
So, Happy Birthday to Charlie!
(Or is it Charley? I've never had to spell that nickname before. )
Have you ever seen a two-year-old this excited about a present? This baby gets it, the whole birthday thing. Happy Birthday to You has even made it onto the bedtime-song playlist. Giddy-up, horse!
Next post: green chandelier.
As someone who has a daughter with a boy's nickname, make it spelled as girly as possible to make sure there are no mistakes at roll call time. Seems like a small deal but my 19 year old daughter Frankie would tell you different.
Lovely photos! Charlie/y/? looks darling! And happy!
Posted by: pam | January 30, 2007 at 01:41 AM
Happy birthday Charlotte, how very, very cute!
Posted by: nel | January 30, 2007 at 01:50 AM
That dress of Charlotte's is so sweet! Is it one of your creations?
Posted by: carolyne | January 30, 2007 at 04:04 AM
These photos are SO GREAT!!!
Posted by: Zelia | January 30, 2007 at 04:16 AM
Could that dress be cuter or on a cuter girl? I think NOT! Happy birthday!
Posted by: Sarah | January 30, 2007 at 05:00 AM
looks like a great party! did you know it is the year of the PIG acording to the chinese almenack right now? or soon. tell your daugther and maybe you can cram in another party - a chinese new years party soon? ;-)
love your photos and your site!
Posted by: Hanna | January 30, 2007 at 05:31 AM
That dress is beautiful. She looks like she had a wonderful time.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 30, 2007 at 06:37 AM
Happy Birthday Charlotte!
snort, AM
Posted by: Anna Maria | January 30, 2007 at 06:59 AM
That last picture is amazing! And the idea of a pig/monster party is a lot of fun. Maybe I'll request it for my next birthday - complete with cupcakes and hats (won't my husband be perplexed?).
Posted by: Claire | January 30, 2007 at 07:02 AM
I agree, the dress is absolutely beautiful. Charlotte looks like she is having a blast! I love your blog.
Posted by: CharityGrace | January 30, 2007 at 07:30 AM
Happy Birthday to Charlotte. It does look like two is a very exciting one (it's coming up next for us!)! Crafty-campy just seems right for kids' parties. Good work! Now, don't forget to breathe.
Posted by: Beth | January 30, 2007 at 07:55 AM
What a darling girl!!! And what a talented mom, who deserves a medal for... everything!
Posted by: jenny b harris | January 30, 2007 at 08:00 AM
Beautiful dress, beatiful birthday girl, wonderful family time. What a joy to watch! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 30, 2007 at 09:02 AM
I absolutely LOVE these photos, your blog, and especially the piggies. I am a pig lover. ;) The dress is adorable as well. I'd go with Charley. ;)
I'm also a huge fan of your new fabric line. I can't wait to cut into it.
Posted by: Toni | January 30, 2007 at 09:30 AM
I don't think I could possibly love baby birthday parties any more! They are SO FUN!
Posted by: claire | January 30, 2007 at 10:13 AM
I love your photos, it all looks like such fun! (I had a niece who was a pig fan). My youngest would have adored that big stuffed horse (she has a real one now, but the stuffed ones still find their way into her room). And the party hats! When I was a little girl my Mom made all kinds of crazy construction paper hats. When I had kids I continued the tradition, it was more fun than going to the store to buy things ready made. And I've gone on long enough. Your photos just brought back memories of b'days past at our house.
Posted by: Gaile | January 30, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Happy birthday to sweet Charlotte. Her dress is gorgeous Heather and it looks like you pulled off a great celebrations. Good luck with all the obligations between now and June. I hope you can hold your breath that long????
Posted by: Di | January 30, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Fun! Fun! Happy #2 Charlotte!
One of my daughter's favorites at bedtime is still "Happy Birthday"...along with a new fave "Here Comes Santa Claus"!! LOL!
Kids are such fun!!!
~gyl
Posted by: gyl | January 30, 2007 at 12:19 PM
je dédouvre ton blog maintenant et le trouve TOP, je reviendrai!!!!
Posted by: ernest cosmos | January 30, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Happy Birthday to your adorable pink "piggy" girlie! She is such a doll in her beee-u-tiful dress! What a fun party, what a lucky girlie to have such talented parents to "whip" up such fun!!!
Posted by: Laurie | January 30, 2007 at 02:04 PM
Charlee looks so cute riding away. She looks as though she enjoyed every minute, and she is just gorgeous.
Posted by: Sue | January 30, 2007 at 03:20 PM
How adorable is she??!! (I like Charley, by the way...) What a doll-baby.
Those hats are killing me. So stinkin' cute.
Hang in there... and remember that even though there is a lot to do in life, most of it is pretty dang fun.
Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2007 at 04:22 PM
Oh. My. Gosh. Heather, could Charoltte's party dress be any cuter? It's just so perfect I can hardly stand it (and the model is pretty much the cutest thing as well). You never cease to amaze me!
It sounds like you had a great party!
Posted by: Renee | January 30, 2007 at 05:20 PM
Birthdays are so fun at that age...the sheer joy they have rubs off on everyone around them. Her dress is gorgeous, btw.
Posted by: Dana | January 30, 2007 at 06:11 PM
Heather when you were two I remember you seeing a monster(dinosaur) and calling it a BIG PIGGY! Seems like big piggies and little piggies go together. I told Mom that the dress she made was a hit.
Love Popeye
Posted by: Alan Hutchings | January 31, 2007 at 12:31 AM
Oh little Charlotte. I could eat you up! That photo of her on the horse is really too much. Made me laugh out loud.
Posted by: laura gunn | January 31, 2007 at 07:27 AM
Charlotte looks so excited. Happy Birthday.
Posted by: Rachael | January 31, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Great Images!
Posted by: J | January 31, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Happy Birthday Charlotte. She looks so cute! What a great picture of her and I love the masks and those cupcakes!
Posted by: shannon | February 01, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Awwwwww....happy belated birthday to both your babies. Those pics are too stinkin' cute!! What a little doll face! We celebrated our little Liv's (who also has a fascination with all things piggie) birthday this week too! Such a bittersweet day. Don't get me wrong, I love all the festivities and celebrations...but where did my baby go? *sniff* They just grow waaaay too fast.
Posted by: Kim | February 01, 2007 at 12:13 PM
I would be that excited if I were wearing such a cute dress!!
Posted by: The Wine Makers Wife | February 02, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Oh man, that is cute. They should put her pic next to the word "psyyyyyyyched" in the dictionary.
Posted by: Alicia P. | February 02, 2007 at 01:57 PM
She's such a beauty. Happy Birthday Charlotte. So glad to have found you on flickr and now even enjoying your words :) These photos are amazing..you are quite the talent! What a great party idea..and it looks like she had a ball!
Posted by: Ingrid | February 03, 2007 at 05:15 PM
My 2.5 year old, Penelope, LOVED the pictures too, she said "look at that girl! Hers a princess!" :)
Posted by: Stacie | February 12, 2007 at 02:22 PM
hehe this is cute :)
Posted by: Virginia | February 13, 2007 at 06:56 PM
LOVE the dress. Must have it. Is it one of yours?
Posted by: Andrea | March 07, 2007 at 08:50 AM