One last time.

Hey, little dude. Today I'm crossing off stuff from my January 23, 2013, to-do list. I had a pretty ambitious agenda for the day, but oh no. You decided you wanted a birthday party instead, and we were off to the hospital with my list flying out the window somewhere on I-275. 

To catch up, Lily and I toured her new school this morning, since we missed Kindergarten Roundup.  (Not the best way to get off to a good start with your big sis', by the way.) And I've been wanting to tell you about the last weekend before you were born.

If we were smarter, we would've spent that time crossing items off the ole to-do list. Instead, we went to the beach. The same beach where you parents were married, your sister dipped her baby toes into the saltwater for the first time, and soon enough, it would be the first beach you would visit, too. Honeymoon Island is a special place for our family.

There was a part of me that was sad. As much as I was over being enormously pregnant with insane heartburn, I loved having you all to myself. I loved your kicks, I loved your hiccups, and I loved having you with me. But also, I was a little sad that our life as a family of three was over. I know how that sounds, but for almost five years, it was just the three of us. I was scared I wouldn't have time to love Lily in the same way. Or, I wouldn't be able to give you everything the way I could with her. So for one last weekend, I just wanted to soak it all in.

That Sunday morning, as we often on Sunday mornings, we had a breakfast picnic. That's your daddy taking pics on his sticker-bombed phone, and for an unknown reason, Lily wanted us to make zeros when we posed. I can't explain her sometimes, but you're gonna love her.
She's all kinds of good stuff.

And she was so excited to be your big sister.

She loves to play on the playground. She can't wait to teach you how to swing by yourself.

 

 Someday (that will come faster than I'm ready for), you will get to play in the sand with her.  

 

Maybe you will take over Daddy's job of helping her build sandcastles.

As for me, I love it when we walk along the beach and pick up shells.
And we just get to be together -- happy.

Part of me wanted to freeze that moment and hold it.

But you want to know a secret? That part of me was completely stupid. I was so anxious about your arrival, and the irony is that I have never felt more content than when I met you. I knew then that we are all here now, and my heart feels whole.

I could be the president.

Because now I'm 35. Also, my dad officially recognizes me as an adult now. (But I'm still not eating mushrooms, Dad. Blech.)

I'm not the kind of person who lets her birthday weekend (that's right, weekend) go by without notice. I wish I were, but let's face it, if I haven't outgrown this crap by 35, it's probably not going to happen.

Saturday we went to the Laos New Year celebration in St. Pete. Hey, it's not my party, but I'll take it. There was music, dancing, and plenty of things for sale. Mostly, food. Hot and spicy food like papaya salad and some other stuff I don't understand (excuse me, my Wisconsin meat-and-potatoes is showing). But Khan was so happy while his food was making him cry. 
Pearl came in traditional attire. She was so dam adorable, I was hoping Lily would want a dress of her own, and with any luck, we could find one in pink. Well, as luck would have it, we did. But as it goes with Lily, she rejected it due to its poor twirl-ability. Sigh.

Water is an important part of the Lao New Year, and it's traditional to have, well, it's basically the biggest water fight you've ever seen. Lily said next year she wants to bring her swimsuit so she can play.

Sunday was our big night out at The Melting Pot. I had the perfect plan. Lily had a playdate, and we decided to take Brendan with us. Sounds like a mistake, I know, but I said I had a plan. First, we went to the park. To keep him awake for a good long time. To relax, enjoy a hot April afternoon, and snap a few pictures.

Everything was going according to plan.

Here's my favorite picture of Brendan that day.

And we took some with us, too.

We even used the timer to get a few with the three of us.

Look, we don't even notice that our baby is miserable.

Actually, that was part of the plan. He was hungry and tired. Perfect. I fed him and he fell asleep. Just in time for us to go to dinner.

We arrived at The Melting Pot with our sleeping baby in tow, and just as we were being shown to our table, his little eyes popped open. That was not part of the plan. And wouldn't you know it if the little bugger didn't stay awake through the cheese fondue, and the salad, and then he started to melt down by the time the entree was served. Khan took him outside and he had a bottle, and about 10 minutes later we were back on track. Fondue with a baby.

On my acutal birthday, all my plans fell apart before I even got out of bed. I woke up with a cold. I was supposed to meet up with a couple of friends with newborns for a "playdate" in the park, but I cancelled. I was also supposed to have friends over for dinner, and I cancelled that, too. I felt OK, but I didn't want to expose newborns and pregnant friends to sickness. So I had a quieter day than I had planned.

And as much as I plan my own birthday, I am sometimes outdone. Khan came home early and kicked me out. Off to Target I went with my birthday gift card. (AWESOME.) While I was gone, he and Lily put together the exact birthday present I wanted: a clean house and a bubble bath. And cake and balloons because Lily wouldn't have it any other way. She even cuts and serves the cake.

34 was an awesome year, but 35 looks like it could be even better.

I probably won't be the  president.

But I could.

Our third annual Valentine's Day Dance.

Yes, I know it's April. But every day is Valentine's Day to us. Ha!

Anyway....


So three years ago we started a tradition for Valentine's Day. We all get dressed up, shove all the furniture out of the way, and turn on the music for some horrible dancing. It's silly and cheesey and has ended badly 2 years out of 3, but I love it anyway.

Lily and Daddy started the party with an exchanging of gifts.
 

After dinner, it was dancin' time. You might have noticed who crashed our party this year. That's right, little dude, being 3 weeks old doesn't keep you out of the fun. Nor the dress code.  

Lily's chose her dress for its twirl-ability.

 
Oh, I was there, too.

Ben and Jen also crashed our V-Day party. Romantic and barftastic as always.

And for a short time, everything was great.

Then Lily had an idea. And when her ideas start, inevitably her instructions don't get followed precisely and it ends badly.

She decided we needed a show to go with our dancing. So up went the red curtain and Lily was the MC. When your name was called, the curtain was dropped, and you had to dance, dammit.

 
In an effort to put the curtain away, Ben made a new dance -- everybody do the Brendan!
(Ben, if you want me to take that picture down, just say the word. Otherwise, I'm leavin' it.)

 
The effort failed and things were falling apart rapidly. Lily was melting down, Brendan was hungry, the dance was over. And I learned that if I want to get a good picture of everyone in their Sunday finest, I need to do that before the dancing, not after. At least I got a decent shot of Brendan and Daddy. 

  I can't wait to see how this goes next year.