The Cheerios never stood a chance

mg

Madeline is three

and what a third birthday she had! We started the day bright and early and headed to the zoo with some friends. (more on that later)

Our first stop was the sting rays.


They suggest you lay your hands flat in the water in order to get the sting rays to swim up to be 'petted' but Madeline spent most of the time with her hands just above the water. Eventually she got brave and put her hands in, only to be splashed by a passing ray. She thought that was pretty funny.

So I said we were there with friends, and oh boy were we! We met three families at the zoo (very impromptu). There were 12 of us. Four mothers. One 5 year old. Five 3 year olds. Two under 1.

Did you get that... ::FIVE:: 3 year olds!!! One of the mom's commented that we probably looked like a preschool. I'd say we looked more like a five ring circus!

There are 6 of the 8 kiddos and one mom. A circus I tell you.


Hanging with the hippos.

I promised Madeline a birthday train ride, so after the rest of the kiddos headed home for lunch Madeline, Lydia and I boarded the train.


Of course she wore her new '3' shirt.

On our way home I let her pick where we stopped to get lunch. She chose a chicken quesadilla so we brought it home and had a picnic while we watched a little tv.

Eventually we ate the dinner she chose. We had hot dogs, mac and cheese, pineapple and carrots. A very three year old meal if ever there was one.

Then cake.


And family presents.

I think this might be the only photo with all four of us since our time in the hospital. We need to get a real photo very soon.Preferably one where Kevin and I don't look like we are about to sneeze and Lydia's face isn't buried in my arm pit. (That is very normal for her when she is tired. She nuzzles my chest and arm and will close her eyes and doze with her face in my chest or arms.)

And this face:


Was for this present:

My big girl got "her very own bike."

She had been talking about getting her "very own bike" for months. She was surprised and obviously very happy. She looks so very grown up on her "very own bike"!

mg

yesterday was a big day

So big in fact that we are still in recovery mode.

We gave her a pretty special present though.

This was her reaction:


Don't let the suspense kill you. I'll be back tomorrow with the whole shabang!

mg

Happy Birthday Big Girl

Dear Madeline,

Happy third birthday. I love you more than I ever thought I could love another person. Thank you for making me smile every single day for the last 1,095 days. Lovies Loula Belle.

Forever, Momma


Today has been a spectacular day. (Both in fun and exhaustion.) More tomorrow. Until then...

mg

Goodbye two

So what does a girl do on her last day being two?

Watch a Wonder Pets marathon while eating breakfast which causes you to narrate the rest of your day in song. (Please sing the following lines in your best operatic voice...) "I'm gonna spray your hair!!!! No I don't want any milk!!! Do they have a bathroom here?!?!?"

I. am. sewious.

Do a little ballet in the morning. (or maybe a lot as the case may be)

Take a dip in the pool with Sheep, Zebra and Santa Claus.

Make your little sister wear a totally ridiculous (but amazingly adorable) hair bow.

Meet a buddy at the park for a picnic play date and some pre-birthday brownies. (Thanks Leo and Becca! Our afternoon was awesome and so were the brownies!)

Have a frank discussion with your sister on what it is like to be a big kid while getting tips from your older (by two weeks) buddy on how to be three.

So how do I feel about saying goodbye to my 2 year old? Frankly I'm a little sad. Although challenging, our two year old has been a lot of fun too. As much as I look forward to her growing up, I am a little sad to say goodbye to my first baby.

Here's to tomorrow!

mg

The week of 3 begins

This week my little girl turns 3. Can you believe it? Nope. Me either.

Today we celebrated with the grandparents and aunts and uncles.

That is a giant cupcake cake. It was not my best decorative work. But it did look kinda like a giant cup cake. Madeline bought it. That is all that matters.

She got some really good stuff. Not only is Madeline totally loved, but her grandparents and aunts and uncles know her really, really well. I am impressed. (More on this later...)

We ate brats and hot dogs. They were yummy.

We sat out on our new patio furniture. Patio furniture makes me feel like a grown up. It has totally changed my life. And you think I'm kidding? I assure you I am serious. Very, very serious.

Do you like my stream of consciousness post? No? To bad.

mg

NaBloPoMO

I am going to try to blog every day for a month.

I'm pretty sure it is going to suck.

I am equally as certain that I will fail.

I'm ok with both of those things.

To get us started, here is a photo of Lydia at the doctor for her 6 month check up.


She thinks this is a great idea.

Me, not so much.

Ps. The theme for this month is 'Looking Up.' I doubt I'll be on theme even once. Isn't that a lovely bit of irony to get us started.


mg