Family Party

We're not quite sure when birthDAYS became birthWEEKs, but it sure felt like that at our house! We have spent all week recovering!

Needless to say, we are extremely grateful to all who celebrated with him/us in whatever fashion. We so appreciate the miles driven, the packages shipped/dropped off, cards sent, the kind phone calls, and the messages of love for our little guy. He's one loved little dude.

On Sunday night we completed the celebrations with a family gathering replete with Mr. A's favorites: homemade macaroni n' cheese (DH makes a mean one - he gets it from his grandma jessie), fruit salad, and mushrooms, topped off with the Pablo cake (he chose the piece with the mouth - he wanted to eat the Starbursts, of course). And he ended the night by opening more presents and testing them out.

We love Little People! Thank you, N&P!

BG came to celebrate...

and she brought a mini-tramp - hours of expending energy! thank you!


3 Fingers - he's been practicing (his dad can't even do it like that!)

"Who is that, Mr. A?"

Watch out, sidewalks. We've got a scooter-happy kid on the prowl!

Slightly out of focus, but like it still the same

Uncle Clint & A. Nancy even came to celebrate - welcome to the East Coast, guys!

(And don't they look so natural? They have one of these gems coming to their house in July! At least babies start as such and THEN they turn 3! Congrats, you two! We can hardly wait to find out what you're having - not so subtle, I know. Come on, Clint! )

Hooray, Hooray for Chick-Fil-A!

(Sorry for the picture layout...I was messing around with options and am too tired to go back and change it)




Mr. A and his friend, Miss A (is an arranged marriage a problem at 3?)




Mr. A and his new friend, the CFA cow.

Eat Mor Chikin, people!

If I blow really hard, will Pablo stay on?

Tasty Treats! - E & N

The C-man doing it right! Forget forks.

As mentioned previously, Mr. A celebrated his birthday in high Chick-Fil-A fashion. They do it up right! They provided the balloons, the kids' meals, the section block-off, the goody bags, and even the ice cream to go with the cupcakes (that I provided). AND, the best part - the COW made a guest appearance.

Mr. A had a few friends join his festivities and they played on the nice, indoor playground, ate their kids meals, played some more, ate cupcakes and ice cream, played, carried balloons around, and played again. For a cold, snowy, windy, January birthday it was the way to go.

For Posterity

I do like to keep track of my Christmas pictures/cards over the years. A big regret I have is not having a "professional" picture done of DH, Mr. A, and me. So, I have resolved to do better as we add to our family. Thus, Christmas card 2008. Thank you, Sarah, for freezing your buns off to get a great shot!

Overheard at the Snack Counter

Mr. A had a friend over today, Miss A. Before too much playing happened, they needed a snack (and so did Miss M - they were all having apples) and the following conversation ensued:

Miss A: "Can babies have apples?"
Mr. A: "No, Miss A, babies have french fries."

Ask me how he knows that.

Shame. Shame.

My Baby

Mr. A isn't the only fan of "Little People" at our house. He has learned that if he leaves them lying around Miss M will mark her territory. I really just needed a good excuse to post this picture of my sweet baby. She's getting so full of personality. Love her.

Pablo

After last year's Shrek cake I really wasn't looking to put too much effort into a character again. Being the sucker that I am, though, this year I made Pablo (for all you Backyardigans novices out there, he's a favorite of the 5). Pablo was definitely easier than Shrek, though, and nickjr.com has great instructions if you're looking.

I will say, though, that when asked who this was before blowing out the candles, Mr. A replied rather enthusiastically, "TYRONE!!!"

Worth all the effort, my friends. Every. melted. Starburst.

A Birthday Boy

The birthday boy the morning of his birthday - Cinnamon Rolls and Eggs for breakfast, please!

A very very happy happy happy birthday to my beloved Mr. A. I am much more comfortable today than I was 3 years ago today. However, I am also more full - of love and appreciation and devotion and wonder.

My Mr. A has had a busy day already. By 9:30 am I thought we might be making a trip to the emergency room - he had already fallen backwards and slammed his head on the floor while trying to Curious George-it up the bed, pulled an unsecured door down on top of him, and cut his lip pretty deeply while also trying to turn on "just a little show" while I was trying to earn the piece of his cake that I'd like to eat tomorrow (aka work out).

Alas, we have had no incidents since 9:30 and he is peacefully napping. May your day and year ahead, Mr. A, be full of the most delicious frosting I can make, a yummy yummy Pablo cake that you have been asking for since early December (and hopefully that will suffice since we’re not dressing up as Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Uniqua, which you have also asked for many times since early December), many rides in the yard/sidewalk/driveway on your new scooter, many hours spent in the basement playing with your new toys, many days spent wearing your handsome new clothes, and many dances around the kitchen with your "new" music.

You are a pure joy to have in our home, Mr. A. DH and I often look at each other and just laugh at the things you say, the places that your imagination take you, and the vigor with which you live your life. I have often said, and continue to feel, that one of my great challenges in life will be to help develop borders for, and not simply stifle, your passion, your energy, and your adventuresome spirit.

Right now you really love the Backyardigans, horses, jumping in your bouncer, riding around the basement dressed up as your "horsie," any candy, apple juice, water, your baby sis, your "li-lel" blankie, your "Big Brother" book, your "Po" book, taking care of your "Puppy" (that's his name), your teachers at school, your friends (you're known to say "where's my friend, _____, Mom?" when he/she disappears for even a moment), "hairpanes" (you ask me every day if we can go on the airplane tomorrow), Chick-a-lay (Chick-Fil-A), Target, Lola Fely, bath-time with your Spidey-stick, swimming, and jumping in the ocean waves, playing games (Candyland), playing on the " ' puter" (you like to play Backyardigans games on NickJr while telling us that you're "just checking my email"), playing Wii (you could beat the pants off of all of us at golf and bowling) and Guitar Hero (the tuh-tar is what you call it).

Oh, and did I mention just how very much you love your daddy? I think he takes the cake above all of those other things. Not so bad. He's a good one to look up to.

And right now, Mr. A, we REALLY love YOU. Happy 3 Years.

Catching Up

Having 2 children seems to have doomed me to perpetual lateness in life. I have a really hard time being punctual. I know it appears to some that it's because I'm not considerate of their time, but I try.

Really.

Hard.

Most of the time, however, I am just plain tardy. And so it is that I'm even behind on my blog postings - just a smidge. Still working on the December/Christmas/Florida post that will show up dated December 24, but just finished a new one for the rest of New Years.

Please bear with the woman who lives her life on one bar (cell phone and BB constantly going on just one bar of battery).

Shake It

We took this video at the Rose Parade of our very hip Mr. A. He's workin' it...

Your Hair

Let me say a few words about my hair. I'm grateful for all of it. But there is a lot of it (every hair dresser tells me so). It spends much time pulled back in a ponytail or clip or some other form away from my face and the far-reaching hands and mouth of grabby Miss M. And, if it's not pulled back in some form then it is usually done in the style that was fastest for that day - air dry or dried curly. I really do enjoy having it straight but that takes a lot of time - not something I have very often.

And so, now that we're all well-versed in my hair issues, I will share a Mr. A-ism.

The setting: Last Sunday just before we were heading off to church and Mr. A was standing on our bed while I put his clothes on.

Mr. A: "Oooh, Mommy. Your hair SOOO pretty. You need to do this, Mommy" (and pulls it back for me).

Me: "Why, thank you Mr. A! Sometimes I do my hair like this (straight) for nice events - like church."

Fast forward to today when I got back from my hair appointment (my preferred stylist, Megan, lives too far away and I haven't seen her for too long so I had to go elsewhere for today).

As we all know, most men don't typically notice when we cut/color/even wash our hair.

Not my Mr. A, though. The minute I walked in the door he came running up to me, and said "Hold me."

I picked him up. He got in real close to my face and then reached his little toddler hands out to stroke my hair.

Mr. A: "Oooh, Mommy. Your hair SOOO pretty! You do your hair, mommy?!"

Me: "Thank you, Mr. A! Actually, today Patti did my hair. Isn't she so nice?"

Mr. A: "Oh, yes, mommy. I like your hair."

Bless him. Mr. A is one of a kind. He noticed.