They Say It's Your Birthday

The princess turned three last week which was both fun and terrifying.  Fun because she really gets the point of things like cake and what presents are and who they're for.  Terrifying on a topical level because our baby is already THREE and the next baby will be here in mere weeks.  Terrifying on a financial level because college is just 15 years away (not to mention a wedding - call me crazy but I'm thinking it won't be a 'city hall' kind of affair).  Terrifying on an emotional level because everything I've read about childhood development indicates that the foundation for an emotionally balanced life is laid in the first three years.  In other words, if we've f'ed it up she's screwed for life.  Oh mom guilt, you're such a gem.

Regardless of my own hyper-hormonal brand of crazy, G seemed to have a terrific time celebrating her birthday and we did too.  Grandma Heidi and Pop Pop came in for a long weekend which beat the heck out of the 48-hour-nice-to-see-ya-gotta-go weekends which are sometimes our only option.  They came loaded with presents for G, a baby Bjorn for us and an awesome changing table for the baby's room.  We will need to keep the guest bed in the nursery until we find the cojones to tackle the 4th bedroom addition, so the smaller furniture will work perfectly.  We hung out on Saturday and hit up the park for some quality time on the playground.  We lounged and napped Saturday afternoon while Matt took to the field for the Oriole's playoff game.  Alas for the second year in a row they got beat at the last second.  We were proud of daddy-o anyway; the opposing pitcher is a former minor league hurler and Matt was the only person on his team to get two hits off the guy.  A little personal satisfaction can go a long way.  Saturday night we went out to dinner then to my new favorite dessert spot in Tosa, Yo Mama.  It's a retro-styled yogurt place where you build your own concoction, which to a three year old is basically the way the world should be.  They have these crazy cat-eyed glasses everywhere and G was thrilled when Grandma Heidi got a pair to bring home.  Tres chic.   

Courtesy o Yo Grand-Mama

Sunday was the big party but first we did a little shopping with Grandma and came home with a giant pile of loot, mostly for the forthcoming Mr. Maio, but with ample goodies for G too.  Because remember, clothes aren't presents.  My (100% irrational) fears that my kid will have nothing to wear when he's born are starting to fade.  During her nap I frosted the cake which was requested to have purple and pink icing.  It came out like a dentist's nightmare but she was THRILLED.

Sugar overload, anyone?

Spotted: one birthday cake

Pink and purple balloons to match the theme of "I'm three and I'm 100% girly girl"

On the menu: cous cous (a fave of the birthday girl's) and salmon cakes (a favorite of mom & dad's)

Start handing it out, mom

Figuring this is the last year we'll be able to get away with not having to organize and pay for some preschool circus extravaganza, party-goers were limited to the grandparents and Uncle Stevie & Auntie Erin.  The birthday girl made out like nobody's business, and favorite presents included a pen with a plume (a la Fancy Nancy, natch), an easel, a cake to play with during tea parties, and from mom and dad, a new big girl bike.  Ok, so the bike was "new to us" and she knew it was in the garage, but we told her she couldn't go on it or have training wheels until she was three.  Seemed that she was prepared because when we brought it in to give to her, she hopped right on and started doing laps around the entire house.  Didn't give it a second thought.  I suspect it's buh-bye tricycle.   

Slowed down long enough for one fast family photo

On Monday we waved goodbye to Grandma Heidi & Pop Pop and worked on our cupcakes to take to school the next day.  This girl is a baker, let me tell you.  Loves to help in the kitchen.  Then on Wednesday, her actual birthday, we had a visit to the pediatrician followed by a girl's only lunch.  She came in at about the 65th percentile for both height and weight, and all signs point to super healthy (knock wood).  We did have to suffer through a flu shot but all was right with the world when she got both a sticker and a lollipop for her efforts.  After lunch we took a quick trip to the park for some "I'm 3" pictures.  A great photographer I'm not but between these and her little school pictures, it's a convenient way to capture her each year.  Too bad the wind didn't do me any favors, most of the shots she looked like she was in a wind tunnel.  C'est la vie.  Later that night we had more cake and spent lots of time snuggling our big girl.

Ready for her first hard-hitting interview

She may be a big girl now but thankfully those cheeks are still nice and chubby

Happy birthday, baby girl!