We like, we like to party

There is a whole lotta stuff that goes into a birthday party, ya'll.  We have always had home parties with the family and neighbors.  This year, turning 4, warranted an actual party.  The kind where you leave the house, wear a party dress, and get balloons.  Yeah, that kind.

But first, there is a lot of preparation that goes into the idea that all birthday parties have to be on Saturday or Sunday.  I'm getting ready to veto that rule, by the way.  Anyways, so her actual birthday was on Thursday.  Cake baking #1, because as every birthday princess knows, you have to take cupcakes to school on your birthday.

So off she goes to school with her birthday cupcakes.  Phase One, complete.

Before the big party, we have to actually celebrate on the day she was born.  We decided to take her out for steak and salad (yes, my child LOVES salad) and we went to Longhorn.

These two spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

Longhorn gives kids a free sundae on their birthday.

It is not her birthday, but she has to taste and see that it is good.

What did we get, Belle Belle?

I decided I was NOT going to let her birthday sneak up on me this year.  We went the day after Christmas and picked out her invitations, napkins, plates, etc., so that we would have everything we needed for the big day.  We decided for her first big girl birthday, we would just invite neighbors and classmates.  It was sad to have to cut the list down some, but ya'll let me get the hang of this thing first and then I'll be able to invite everyone.  Plus, this was the "maiden voyage".  Ok, so anyways, after Christmas, I realize that even if I get the invitations out that day, all of her classmates are gone.  Yep, two kids in the whole class.  And not much better after that.  They finally came back after New Years which gave the Moms a whopping 3 days before the party.  Yep, operation don't let it sneak up on me, FAILED.  

Finally the big day arrives!  In spite of the late invitations, we had a great turn out!  Annabelle's Granny, Grandaddy Jim, Pee Paw, Mee Maw, Uncle Cracker, and Aunt Maddie all came along with the next door neighbors on both sides!  We also had four classmates and even the Teacher!  There is a lot of love between that class.  When the teacher comes, and all of the kids beam at the sight of her coming in the room, you know there is love.

We had her party at Brick Oven Pizza on Gay Street.  I CANNOT say enough good things about them.  I called about 4 times getting all the details covered and Dawn always helped me even if they were busy.  We were given the big room all to ourselves, no charge.  We were given a pizza cooking lesson, no charge.  We were given a pizza dough tossing show, no charge.  I just cannot tell you how much fun we had and what a GREAT job they did.

I made the cake and next year, I will let Publix do it!  Three cakes made in two days!

Getting ready to toss the dough!

Then you spread the sauce . . .

Don't eat it yet, Macy.

Good pizza made by fabulous chefs.

So now, I sit down and relax!  Ahhhh.  First real big girl party was a success thanks to friends, family, a great day care class, and a fabulous restaurant.

Four seems so much older than Three . . .

Tomorrow is a milestone in the Taylor household.  My "baby" turns 4.  This may not seem so moving to anyone else, but it is incredibly moving to me.  Tomorrow, I tell toddler hood for her, goodbye.

 

Tomorrow is the anniversary of an early Saturday morning when I first felt the pangs of labor.  When I rolled over and nudged Ben to "wake up, I think I'm in labor".  "Its okay", he says, "Go back to sleep".  My thoughts:  Wow.  This is going to be a long day.  Finally after convincing him I was actually in labor (and a couple of other really gross signs of labor) we get ready to go to the hospital where I will inevitably spend the next three days. 

 

How do you explain to someone the feeling of your heart outside your body? 

 

How do you begin to summarize the feeling of all your hopes and dreams born into the world and handed to you on a blanket?  Glimpses of the very moment in time when the world stood still and the only thing that existed was this new baby.  Not the doctor, not the nurses --- Just. Her.  Her face, looking at me.

 

 

 

How do you explain to someone the fear of bringing her home?  That she depends on me?  Sure I kept her safe for 10 months, but that was natural.  What about this?  How do you explain in a sleep deprived mental state that some of the most treasured memories pondered in my heart are from 1, 2 even 3 am when she would curl her hand around my pinkie as she finally fell asleep?  How scared I was when I had to hand her over to day care when I went back to work?  Would they know what she wanted?  What if she cried for me, and I wasn't there? 

 

How do you explain to someone the feeling of your heart outside your body?

 

When she started to sit up.  The first time she scooted across the room (to the fat cat that she had been eyeing for months).  The first time she let go of the coffee table and walked across the living room.  The first time she went a whole day without a bottle.  The first time she slept in a big girl bed.  The first time she really went potty. 

 

Tomorrow, she is 4.  Where did it go?  What happened to that little baby?  She grew up.  And I watched.  I watched my heart grow outside my body.

 

If I, so infinitely human, dwell and ponder all these milestones and love with a love I never knew could exist before, how much more does my heavenly Father love me?  More than my mind can comprehend.  After all, He gave her to me, and I am better because of it.