N.I.N.E. is Divine

We did not get to spend your birthday together. The first EVER and it made me sad. I was in Las Vegas sweating and you were in Missouri riding your first motorcycle at Granddad's new shop. YOU were not missing me on this blissful day of danger and speed.

I was thinking back to 9 years ago today. That was me, the BIG, BIG woman with the Fred Flintstone feet stuffed into the Tevas. I had so many worries about motherhood childbirth. But none of the things I worried about came to be...I didn't have to push, I didn't have to breathe, I didn't have to worry you'd be brain damaged by the forecepts. I had no idea you'd come by emergency C-Section. That thought was not even on my radar. I will never forget the look on Rara's face when they wheeled me out of the room to the OR. SHE knew something I didn't at the time, you were in trouble. Obviously, you made it through and so did I. You arrived on a Holiday weekend and daddy and I had the best seat in the house that 4th of July. Right from my hospital bed we watched the fireworks as you slept in your lighthouse (you were a little a lot jaundice). Flash forward 9 years and now I get to enjoy your enthusiasm for the fireworks and I still have the best seat in the house..with my kids.

You are into skateboarding, your PSP, taunting your sister. I caught you helping your sister up the stairs with her boot. You are a caring big brother, son and friend. You have a love for God and are growing in your walk with Him. You watch too much TV and don't read enough to make me happy, but I'm happy to continue to struggle with you about that!

I love you Buddy! Happy #9!

Kinda Like Herding Cats

Today was Miss Thing's Birthday Party. I love a theme and so we decided on a Fancy Nancy Party. I had a ball planning it and I think the cats girls enjoyed themselves too. I had two fantabulous older girls here as my Fancy Helpers and they were a hit. (I'll take a cut of any babysitting/party helper gigs they get out of it!) So here is how it all went down...

1. Arrive and stick on the name tag (all pre-printed to say "Bonjour, My Name is_____") this was going just swell until Ms. Did Not RSVP showed up and put a kink in my well oiled machine.
2. Big girls read Fancy Nancy to the little girls and then birthday girl demonstrated the proper posture and fancy hand wave (banana on head to be sure to look silly and drive the message home)

3. Cookies with a hole for the pinkie and pink lemonade to drink. This was hard for those little hands but meant to teach them how to drink with their pinkie's in the air.

4. Next, hair and nail stations for purple fuchsia (fuchsia is the new black according to Fancy Nancy) nail polish and glittery hair clips.
5. Pony painting station. Completely unrelated to Fancy Nancy, but one can only hold on to a theme for so long.
6. Fancy food....if you call cheese, crackers, strawberries and grapes fancy then right on!

7. Parfaits (ice cream sundaes for you commoners)
8. Loot Presents...kind of mosh pit style with them all crowded on top of one another to oogle the gifts.

9. Cake (dose them up on sugar and send them home!!!)

10. Bye bye!! Out the door and that, my dears, is a theme party to write home about!

SIX

Six means a lot to you, I can tell. You woke up feeling much more mature, but still scared of having those two loose front teeth fall out. Really the one on the left is all but dangling there. You are into all things girly. Glitter, Hannah Montana, nail polish, dancing, twirling, singing. You are funny, you make us all laugh. You really like presents, don't ask me WHERE that came from. You are smart, you like to read, your laugh melts my heart. You are a wiz on the computer and you leave the best voicemail messages. Please stop growing and stay right where you are. What can I do to freeze you at this precious age where you aren't embarrassed by me yet (unless I sing, dance or do anything un-mommy-like)..damn, I guess we are past that not embarrassed stage. But at least you'll still be seen in public with me, you'll hold my hand sometimes and even kiss me at the crosswalk to school. You give the "I love you sign" as you run away and hugs and butterfly kisses at night.

You are still afraid of "the hairy island"...I have proof, I took this picture this morning!

You are a loving sister, I have proof of that too...

Happy Birthday little girl...we love you!