What in the world was I thinking having a baby 8 days after Christmas??? I ask myself this question every year. Clearly, there is no appropriate answer. This year I was determined to adequately celebrate Kendall's birthday and avoid the somewhat guilt-induced copout 1/2 birthday celebration of three and a half years. I was equally determined to have ONE party for her this year and brilliantly scheduled it for January twelfth to give myself some time to breathe after Christmas. Then I discovered that my parents won't be here on the twelfth so rather than celebrating eighteen days after Christmas, we celebrated Kendall's family birthday party four days after Christmas. She chose to go to the Alligator Cafe, a small cajun restaurant up the street from us. Odd choice, and driven solely by the fact that they serve Kraft mac and cheese, but no complaints here.
Obviously, she's tired of having family pictures taken but this one was decent of Chris and me so I'm including it.
Grandmother and Pops met us there and brought Kendall this adorable birthday headband!
Finally, a decent family picture ....
... followed by a reapplication of lipgloss.
A musician was playing right next to our table at the restaurant and my child, clearly recognizing the importance of birthdays, walked right up to him, asked him if he knew the song "Happy Birthday to You," informed him that it was her birthday, then stood there while he (and the entire restaurant) sang happy birthday to her. If there was ever any doubt that she is my child, it is now eradicated for all.
When we got home, based on the ensuing destruction of the living room for the second time in less than a week, I may as well have hosted a full blown party here.
I'm sure I'll be able to embarrass her with this picture later in life. :)
Due to my crazed end of 2012 work schedule, Kendall (with Nana's help) was required to make her own birthday cupcakes this year. Pink, of course. With pink and purple sprinkles and an Ariel candle.
Finally, the BIG DAY ... well, not THE "big day" in her eyes, that will be the day of her friends party at Emler Swim School. But the "big day" for me! The day started with a cupcake, with candles of course, for breakfast. And BOTH Mommy and Daddy decided at the last minute to blow off work and stay home!
Daddy, more because he didn't feel good. But Mommy definitely due to guilt! Guess what else guilt causes? Trips to the Disney Store at the mall. Where they SANG to her again and put her name up on the big screen!
Then we sat and waited for Daddy to join us for a La Madeleine lunch (again, Kraft mac and cheese). The Sophia book was one of several things the Disney staff charmed me into purchasing since they sang to my child.
Then it was on to our very first Build A Bear experience! What a racket. I'll be hard pressed to go again because they were painfully unorganized and getting in and out took nearly two hours of standing in line (ridiculous), but Kendall loved it. Here she is holding her bear's heart to her heart and making a wish before it was put into the bear.
Stuffing her bear ....
Washing her bear ....
Introducing "Snowflake," the very oddly dressed bear!
And since two Disney princess outfits aren't enough for a household that had originally banned them, Daddy surprised Kendall with Cinderella's wedding gown after nap.
And I think one of the absolute cutest things I have ever heard her say was when she walked down the stairs (carrying her slippers) in that dress asking, "Daddy, may I please have this dance?" *swoon!*
One FINAL (well, "final"
actual day of birth celebration) with a La Madeleine lemon tart for dessert ... and more singing. I sincerely hope she feels adequately celebrated!
