She'll Always Be My Baby...

My little one just had her third birthday and I am still having a hard time believing she is three! You know how there are some things you can just remember like it was yesterday and yet you can't remember what you had for dinner last night? I really do remember everything about the births of both of my children - I don't know how considering the amount of drugs I was on and the length of my labors (over 24 hours with my son and over 13 with my daughter even though she was induced!). But I think mothers just have the ability to endure and remember the most wonderful moments that life has to offer.

The reason I am sharing so many pictures with you here on my blog is because all of our family lives in various parts of the United States, not to mention some friends who are overseas - Hey Vic! :-) - still fighting a war. So, I wanted to capture as many moments as possible so each grandparent could see her opening their gifts and so everyone could see how happy she was on her special day.

Even though her celebration was small, we had a fun day. We went to Burger King to meet a friend and her son for lunch and some crazy kid fun in the play area, then we had a nap (I needed that time to blow up balloons and hang up decorations), followed by play time with daddy, pick up her ice cream cake with Coco (her new stuffed dog) and daddy, some pizza (her request for her birthday dinner), and some party fun with our neighbors! That's enough for a three-year old if you ask me!

It's sometimes sad to see that all of their birthday presents come wrapped in either brown paper or brown boxes; that reminds me of how lonely these special days can be if we let them. Which is why my husband and I try to make them extra special for the kids. She loved her birthday and all of her gifts! I guess you can't miss what you never had!

Here she is in all her glory with a few of her new prize possessions...

Her first Strawberry Shortcake dolls...

A handmade card from Mana (my mom)...

Her new "he-haw" hat (her words :-)...

Money from G.G. (my grandmother)...

Her new dog "Coco" from Paw-Paw Gary and Grandma Connie,(she named him right away and we have no idea where the name came from)...

Her favorite "Princess" hat and her favorite brother (OK, ok she only has one brother :-)...

And the piece de resistance (read in French, I have no idea how to make those little accents :-p ), the ice cream cake that makes everybody happy...

Thank you all for making her day so special! She is one lucky little girl! Here is a kiss...

until we see you again!

Happy Birthday Little One!

Much love,

P.S. For my fellow stampers who may be visiting, I finally got some time to stamp. I actually have some things to share and will post later. Thanks for stopping by!