1.
The birthday weekend kicked off with a visit from the Schusters; it's kind of strange that neither Bridget nor Lauren existed for the three years we lived across the court from each other, but we just pretend they know each other as well as everyone else does. It doesn't seem to bother them at all : ) Lauren brought Bee matching jammies for her birthday, and they were a huge hit. We let them play sleepover for approximately 2.5 hours until Lauren woke up shrieking, most likely weirded out by half-waking up and finding herself in a strange place, while Bridget started shrieking about the strange man who came in to steal her friend out of the bedroom. Heh.
2.
Mother's Day, and the last day of being two for Bee.
3.
We had to play a little fast and loose with the actual birthday events for a few reasons, so Sunday evening—Birthday Eve—was slated for cake and presents. Bridget is crazy for princesses, and was very excited to receive Cinderella, who helps to round out her collection.
4.
We may live to regret this, but she also received a small CD player and her first CD: an ultimate song collection for the ultimate princess fan. Both Maddie and Gracie had small CD players waiting for them in their rooms the night they returned home from the hospital on Day 3 of life, but Bridget's particular bedroom arrangements have never been conducive to having one until now. You might say she was THRILLED. Much dancing and after-bedtime shenanigans have ensued since.
5.
She was also thrilled to get two Ella Bella Ballerina books. We've had the Cinderella one from the library many, many times, and it was a bonus to discover that Sleeping Beauty exists, too (and Swan Lake is due out this year). In a house where books are shared and reread into the hundreds of times, it's fun to have a series that is all your own—like the Leslie Patricelli books were for her babyhood.
6.
She requested a pink cake that was as tall as the ceiling, but was not disappointed in the pink cake that was a little smaller than that. I haven't had very good luck with this cupcake cake pan except for the very first time I used it, so I was very relieved that it (mostly) turned out just fine.
7.
Not as shy as last year, but still ever-so-sweet.
8.
On the actual birthday day, we played photo shoot. She has been practicing her three fingers for a while now. I am so glad I ran across the handful of extra Avery T-shirt transfer sheets when I was cleaning in my craft room a few months ago. I was actually surprised there were any left, because when I had the bright idea to make her a onesie as a "quick and simple" idea for celebrating World Hello Day in The Scrapbooker's Almanac shortly after she was born, the project nearly did me in. I think my brain was absolutely fried back in May 2007 what with the
baby/move/book intersection, because that time it took me an entire
afternoon and most of a pack of t-shirt transfers. And a husband who
stepped in and helped me finish. There may have been some tears involved
(though not from the husband who stepped in and helped me finish. At
least I don't think so. I was a little difficult to live with for a
while there, so who knows). This time, the whole process took one try and about 15 minutes. And no tears. I'm pretty sure there is a moral to the story in there somewhere.
9.
Just before bedtime on Monday night she decorated her new princess mirror, a gift from Nana and Papa. I love this look of total concentration.
10.
And today, her first full day of being three, she was very excited to traipse around in the backyard in her new rain hat and coat from Grandma and Grandpa. She reminds me just a little bit of Holly Hobbie in this picture.
Thank you to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes!
