Happy 4th Birthday, Eleanore Sue!

I don't remember my 4th birthday. My husband doesn't remember his. Do you remember yours? ...well, even though its not something I can look back on and think about, and I knew that Eleanore probably wouldn't remember hers when she gets older, I still wanted her to feel like the world was all hers, yesterday. I wanted her to feel like she was the most important little girl in the universe.

(Her, I'm-not-quite-awake-yet-but-totally-ready-to-party-like-I'm-four-years-old, face)

I woke up early to come downstairs and make her pancakes, so they'd be ready when she came away from her dreams. Rather than her normal goodmorning cup of soy milk that usually awaits her on the table, she had chocolate soy milk, that her Daddy had mixed up in the magic bullet. Instead of putting on a plain tank top and random mis-matching skirt, she put on a carefully selected new princess-kitty shirt, and fancy tutu (no matter that its the same one she wore last year).



After breakfast, it was time to open up presents. Presents from us, presents from her pen pal, from her Grammy, from her Nana- presents, presents, presents! Spoiled little girl, heeee.



She was really excited about the handmade card from her friend Sophia.



Months ago, I had set out on a journey to find her a complete set of Hundred Acre Wood friends. It wasn't until about two weeks ago, that Christopher and I finally got around to wrapping them (they were on my do-before-baby-comes list).

Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Christopher Robin, Gopher, and of course Piglet... all wrapped up in brightly colored tissue papers, placed two at a time into cardboard boxes, and then wrapped again in red polka dot paper, blue paper, or plain brown paper accented with crayola markers.



The happiest little girl, ever.

Hundred Acre Wood friends, success!




A cute card to hang on her play room (previously known as the dining room) wall, and a new workbook for I'm-not-going-to-pre school-after-all learning. Both things that she went crazy for.



Do you remember how above-everything-else amazing, pop up books used to be?

Because they still are.



A handmade purse from Random Pretties.

This will be part of her outfit when we go on her big girl Mommy/Daughter shopping spree.

And these were just a few of the gifts that she got. A handmade dress and pillowcase from Grammy, books and books and books, a fun silicone baking pan with fun bug shapes (we'll make brownies and show you!), a handmade locket all the way from Washington state, a complete Hello Kitty bed set (Nana went all out), and did I mention books? Nothing makes our cute little nerd happier than books.

In between taking her baby sister downtown for her first well baby checkup (up to 6 pounds now, heart murmur sounding much better, things are looking up!), and watching Piglet's big movie- we still seemed to find some time to bake and eat that special banana cake that she wanted so badly...



This was the first time that Eleanore has had an actual cake. The past 3 years, we've done cupcakes. But this year, when I asked her what she wanted, she very specifically said- "CAKE".

And this is the first year we've done candles, too. I don't know where my mind has been before, but, whats a birthday cake without candles?

The cake turned out awful, by the way. Eleanore loved it, and thats all that matters, but I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow afternoon it finds its way into the garbage...

Start the countdown?

................



Its moments like this, that erase every memory of mom-guilt, and clear the airwaves, allowing me to take a deep enough breath to prepare for the hysteria of happiness that is soon to follow.

We ate cake.

None of us were able to finish an entire piece, though. Charlie and I hate frosting, but I don't know what excuse the other two had (other than the awful gluten free gummy texture, haha).

We finished the night with an outside romp with the hose, and then a very special birthday girl bubble bath.

It was perfect.

Happy 4th birthday, Miss Eleanore Sue.
We love you.