Birthday Weekend

Showing of her cake at school - about two seconds before she jumped into my arms and insisted I help her blow out the candles.

Her first manicure and pedicure. I tried to make it a spa-like experience - note the tissue between the toes and the phone to the ear.

At the farm with some friends.

AK and her buddy WWW at the post-party playground.

Me and my babies at the Memorial Day parade.

You can't tell from the picture, but AK was screaming bloody murder - not in a happy way.

AK loves her hat. Note that there are no pictures of her with a birthday cake. Not because she didn't have one (or two) but because as soon as the cake came out with candles she started crying and yelling "Uppy! Uppy!" She ate it though.

Efficiency

When I got married almost 8 years ago, I had the opportunity to show all of my family and friends - both existing and newly acquired through marriage - just how dang efficient I am.

We were married on a Saturday night and the Hoos started law school the following Monday; the honeymoon was obviously deferred. I took the Monday off and spent the day writing thank you notes. Tuesday I was back to work after a stop of the post office to buy lots and lots of stamps.

I know it seems a little OCD, but it is my nature. I figured all of these people took time out of their lives and dollars out of their wallets to help me and the Hoos celebrate a pretty momentous occasion, the least I could do was thank them in a timely fashion.

Sunday LP had her birthday celebration. She received lots and lots of gifts. Unfortunately no one gave us a bigger house in which to store them, but everyone was very generous.

After we got the girls to bed I drafted thank you notes. The only thing I did not do was sign LP's name.

I created a stack of notes with a blank space for her to write her name. Monday morning I attempted to get her to sign them.

First of all, LP was pissed. She wanted to write all of the notes. Good lord, that would have taken months. She actually did compose one note with me s-l-o-w-l-y spelling everything out and it took half an hour and exhausted us both.

I finally convinced her to write her name. The Hoos thought I was nuts and asking too much. "She is only four! She is your daughter, but...come on! That is a lot!"

I was insistent. "She is four! She knows how to write her name and has a great signature! And a really easy name to write!"

Our compromise was to get her to sign a few at a time. It is killing me that it will take a week at this rate to get the notes out. I know I am crazy. But do you think I am unreasonable to make her be accountable for at least part of her thank you notes?

Wowza!

Ack! How did this happen?! Today, my baby turns 2!

My little AK, the sunshine on a cloudy day, the ball of non-stop energy, LP's best friend, the smile that can convince anyone to do anything...TWO!

Oddly enough, when the Hoos dropped her off at day care today they told him that she is one of their quiet ones. She is happy, but not completely off-the-wall and energetic. She talks and sings to herself when she is supposed to be napping, but she doesn't chatter non-stop. For those of you that have seen AK in action - at home, on the playground, anywhere in public - I am sure you are as astonished as we are.

Then again, perhaps it is her Gemini nature - or perhaps it is because she is like Jem: quiet, unassuming, studious business owner by day and rockstar at night. (Hey! I just realized that Hannah Montana is totally a rip-off of this 80s animated series!)

As a really brief wrap up - with more details and photos coming over the week - we had a great weekend celebrating both of my lovelies:

• Friday, I served cake to LP's class and gave her a horrible mani/pedi (she totally didn't care how bad it was, she was just so excited).


• Saturday, we bought LP her birthday present - a new bike with training wheels!


• Sunday, LP's birthday party at the SM&NC with family, lots of small children and farm animals


• Monday, the Fairfield Memorial Day parade (AK sat on my lap on the curb intently watching the parade, LP also enjoyed it and only hid behind me when the Bluefish mascot or a dog passed us), sprinkler play, and fireworks and birthday cake with family

On the Brink

Now that Christmas is over, things are settling back down. LP will finally return to Stew's in the daytime, now that Santa Claus has moved back on to the North Pole. So, of course, we have started focusing on the next holiday - New Years!

The Hoos and I have been struggling to explain the concept of the New Year to LP. "Well, right now it is 2009 and on Friday it will be 2010." Her blank stare and questioning shrug pretty much say, "So what?"

My new tack is to tell her all of the things that will happen in 2010. For example, "You know what happens in the New Year? You turn 4!" This she gets. "Yay! I will be four! And then the next year I will be five and then I will go to kindergarten!"

Then I get nauseous. Seriously, kid, hold your horses. You turn four in MAY. And you don't start kindergarten until September of 2011. Then I think, oh. my. goodness. How is it even possible that kindergarten is that close!! This is my baby. Okay, not my baby, my big girl. But she isn't big. She is three and a half. Deep breaths, deep breaths. She is three and a half. And nothing is going to change come Friday, January 1, 2010...

Switcheroo

I spent this morning switching out the clothes in LP's and AK's dressers. Apparently fall crept up on me and I didn't even notice! Yesterday, I sent the girls to school in summer clothes! Nothing screams "inattentive mom" like kids in shorts in 65 degree weather.

The only way I could accomplish the drawer updating was to send AK to school. On my train ride home from a loooong day in NYC for work, I decided that I would treat myself to a day alone. My original intention was to get a mani-pedi, but the weather is so miserable, and the dressers were in such disarray that I had no choice.

It took more than three hours to empty AK's dressers, replace it with items from the 12-18 month bin of hand-me-downs from LP, refill the bin with 6-12 month clothes, empty LP's dresser, refill it with newly purchased 4T clothes and 3T clothes leftover from the spring, and fill another bin with 2T and 3T summer clothes.

It was actually a very useful exercise. Especially since I went to look around at the Gap after lunch and I was able to resist buying on sale, very adorable 12-18 month clothes for AK. She has way more clothes than LP. Poor thing will never get new clothes. Which is good - because I don't have room for them!

I did treat myself to lunch at our local Indian takeout joint, so that was good. And I do have a sense of accomplishment. Even if it wasn't how I intended to spend my 33rd birthday, I will survive. And my children will be weather appropriate.

Not to worry, dearest readers! The birthday celebration is not over! I did get birthday songs, kisses, cards and wishes from my two favorite ladies, the Hoos and a whole host of friends. All is not lost yet! Tomorrow we head to the Norwalk Oyster Festival and Sunday is a Connecticut Sun game up at Mohegan Sun. I am looking forward to both and hope to have a full report next week.

Last of the Mohicans

Today is the Hoos' birthday. If you are counting, this is the third birthday celebration in our home in seven days. You can tell that mama is running out of steam.

1. LP (May 28) had cupcakes and a party at the zoo for her birthday.
2. AK (June 1) had her grandparents over for grilled steak and fish tacos and store-bought ice cream cookie sandwiches the day before her birthday and homemade blueberry muffins on her birthday.
3. The Hoos (June 4) is getting a marble poundcake from Stew's. To be fair, he really likes this, but it is also low effort. Dinner might be ordered in.

Word on the street is that living with three Geminis is supposed to make me crazy. But, I liked having maternity leave during the summer and we got lucky. No, I didn't think the girls' birthdays would only be four days apart, but yes, I am counting on having joint birthday parties if and whenever possible.

As for the Hoos, I think he is hoping his birthday will be overshadowed by LP's and AK's. It won't mean he will stop having them, but at least he won't be reminded that he is growing older.

Happy Birthday, Hoos!

Tres

Last night LP had a 3-year-old sized freak out because I put toilet paper in the toilet. Coupled with her pretending to play "kindergarten" with her sister the other day and the fact that she keeps telling me she is going to preschool (at day care she will be leaving the toddler room and going to the next room up starting Monday), it appears that my baby girl is really growing up.

I don't know how this happened. It seems as if LP has made dramatic changes since turning two, let alone from when she was born. I am in awe that the Hoos and I actually created this walking, talking, project making little wonder.

Sure, the tantrums get old, but I don't think I will ever tire of seeing LP as she turns into her own little person.

Photos courtesy of JM (1 y.o. LP) and MLH (3 y.o. LP)