Celebrating Me!

Thank you to my precious family and sweet friends for making my 33rd birthday so special! There were so many sweet, little moments that made my birthday a memorable one, so I thought I'd do something a little different with this blog and make a top ten list of my favorite birthday moments from this past week. I know David Letterman does his with a backwards countdown, but it seems to make more sense to do my list the other way, and in chronological order as one moment was not more special than another.

Special moment #1: When I woke up Thursday morning, TJ had left me two special birthday treats... a bag of yummy chocolate candy to enjoy throughout the day and a bottle of wine. The note on the wine said that it was for later that night, unless the kids had been a handful. :-)

Special moment #2: After finding my treats, I was sitting downstairs having some quiet time before the kids got up. Trip, who has now begun to come out of his room in the morning on his own, came down the stairs quietly. I didn't even know he was there, until he whispered from the stairs, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" So sweet, and a wonderful way to start my birthday! I asked TJ later if he had told Trip to do that the night before, and he said no, Trip had done that all on his own.

Special moment #3: When Trip and I went upstairs to get Mady from her crib, I asked her if she knew what today was. With a precious look of excitement, she asked "What?" Trip then informed her that it was Mommy's birthday. To which she said, "and, my birthday and Trip's birthday!" Of course it can't just be Mommy's special day, it must also be hers and Trip's too. It was the perfect response from her to start the day. It was so funny to me the two entirely different ways each child greeted me on my birthday.

Special moment #4: We met my friend Alison and her children at Jump 2 It. She greeted me with a delicious drink from Starbucks (just what I needed) while her precious daughter, Turner, sang happy birthday to me! So sweet and thoughtful!

Special moment #5: After a busy morning out, we returned home and I had a precious message from my sweet nephew Nicholas and my brother and his wife, calling from their vacation to sing me happy birthday. I don't know which I liked better, hearing sweet Nick or laughing at my brother. :-)

Special moment #6: My sweet mother called to wish me happy birthday and tell me she was happy I was born. I can't remember a birthday that she didn't say that to me. It's such a simple quote, but I love it and look forward to hearing her say it each year. And then, my sweet daddy called both my home phone and cell phone and sang happy birthday to me! I cannot hear that song too many times.

Special moment #7: TJ came home from work bearing gifts. The kids met him at the door as usual, while I was packing our diaper bag to go out to dinner. And, they each came around the corner, one at a time, carrying a beautiful, red rose. So sweet!

Special moment #8: We all went out to eat at a yummy Mexican restaurant and I got to enjoy a Mommy-margarita. The food was delicious and was followed by my favorite birthday treat: chocolate oreo ice cream pie from Brusters. Yum, yum, extra yum!!

Special moment #9: After we all shared ice cream pie, I got to open my presents. When I was done opening presents, my sweet son said, "Mommy, you still have one present left." I didn't see any more presents and I looked at TJ who just shrugged his shoulders, not sure where Trip was going with this. So, I said, "I do?" And, Trip said, yes, and then he gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek. I mean seriously, how can this be the same child that just hours earlier was pushing all my buttons and driving me crazy? The even better part is that once he saw the reaction that gesture got him, he continued to use it throughout the night and the following days to get himself out of trouble. Sneaky little guy!

Special moment #10: The Guerards watched the kids for us on Saturday, so that TJ and I could have a date night. We went to this place in Fayetteville called Franks on the Mill. The service was slow, but the food was really yummy. When we first got there, the server asked if we were celebrating anything and TJ went and told her it was my birthday. Oh no! I didn't want them to sing to me. So, before she brought my treat, TJ asked her not to sing to me. Thank goodness! And, then came the treat, probably the only dessert at the restaurant I would not eat...coconut cake. Lucky for TJ, he likes coconut, so he got to enjoy my birthday treat. Overall, it was a great date and I was stuffed when we left!

Once I turned thirty, I figured birthdays just wouldn't been the same, but this year was especially memorable. It is so fun to share birthdays with my kids and share in their excitement!