Happy 11th Birthday, Alma!

 

Happy birthday, Alma, our delight.  This year, you can be summarized by the events and your actions on your birthday, including:

* Walking down the stairs slowly in the morning in order to marvel at the decorating Dad and I did (complete with a doughnut banner) in an attempt to match all the decorating you do for everyone else's special days;

* Going to school with joy and delighting in the secret treats given by your teachers, who know that being the "teacher's kid" comes with its own delights and challenges;

* During your birthday circle at school, your friends commented on how fair and kind you are to all;

* Eating burritos (rice, beans, and cheese) for your birthday dinner; 

* Making your own cake, which was a masterpiece of planning, persistence, and a willingness to try new things.  The three-layer lemon cake with buttercream frosting and a dripped white chocolate ganache was both beautiful and delicious;

* When Dad and I realized that we forgot to get candles for the cake, you helped to problem solve, suggesting that 11 tea lights could act as the substitute;

* Your most desired gift was a bow and arrow, which we were excited to give;

* Being aware that your little brother will feel sensitive/jealous of your birthday but asking in your thoughtful way if the day could remain focused on you instead of having to share the spotlight as you have done so many times in the past (that mature asking is one of your finest qualities);

* Opening James's gift of squirrel-themed earrings and immediately jumping up to give him a hug because you loved them so much.

We love you so much, sweet girl.  

Happy Birthday, Godmother Christine!

Nana and Alma's Birthday Party

Alma's Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday, Alma!

On top of Hawk Mountain, enjoying a granola bar

Our lives are so different than we could have ever imagined two years ago before such a charming pipsqueak came into our lives.  And we couldn't have asked for anything more wonderful.  Cannot wait to see how she continues to grow and develop both as a person, a daughter and (soon) a big sister.

Love you so very much, Alma!

Happy Birthday, Joshua!

Happy birthday to a husband and father whose love is always apparent.  You mean the world to us.

The Big Three-Two

On the 12th, I turned 32. As a child, 32 was BY FAR my favorite number. I remember fantasizing about turning 32. I expected that by that time I would have a wonderful husband (check), house of our own (check), an interesting career (check), a cat and a dog (check) and a few children in high school (happily I missed the mark on this one -- 32 is much younger than I was imagining as a child).

Because Joshua had to work the night of my birthday, we shifted the celebration a bit.  I spend the night before celebrating with a delicious cake -- chocolate cake with orange cream cheese icing, which tasted like a chocolate orange.

The next morning, we went to Bada Bingg in Allentown for breakfast.  They had boots in cement to play on the mob-theme of the restaurant. 

Then Alma and I went out to Carlisle to hang out with my parents for a few days.  This cake was chocolate with marshmallow icing -- my go-to for birthday cakes. Yum!

 

Nana, Alma and I went for a great bike ride along the rail trail.   Even though she has a very serious riding face, Alma loved spotting the birds, farm dogs and squirrels as we rode. 

Neverending Birthday

Due to Joshua having to be in California for a work conference on Alma's first birthday, we ended up creating three first birthday celebrations.  The first was the day before Joshua left for his trip:

 While she ate the strawberries, the cake ended up here ... on the floor ... then in the dog's stomach.

The second was on her actual birthday when my parents came to visit for the day:

And the third was a smallish family gathering when we celebrated my two favorite ladies -- Alma and Nana:

(She ate the cake!)

Happy birthdayS, Alma!

You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

As one of my high school friends, who recently had a son, wrote on Facebook, "Anyone know how to make time stand still and hurry by, all at the same time?"  That seems to be the perfect summary of the first year of parenthood for me.  This year has had its challenges that, at times, seemed neverending.  However, it has also been the year when I tried to live in each moment.  There were so many times when I willed the clock to slow down so that I could soak the experience into my long term memory.  I am so grateful for the experience of parenthood and all of the conflicting emotions that come with it!

Updates from the last month:

• The weekend before her first birthday, Alma took her first steps.  The joy on her face as she walked between Joshua and me was great.  She is so comfortable standing by herself now and seems like she will be zooming around soon enough.
• Often times, the loudest noise coming from the room where Alma is playing is her new doll's head bashing into things.  Alma loves dragging her around and throwing her on top of the coffee table so that she can gently make her eyes blink.  Concussion much, baby doll?
• Alma has figured out how to get the rings on the stacking stick. Now she's been working to figure out how to get the wooden blocks into the shape sorter.  Watching her figure out how these toys (and the world in general) work is amazing and inspiring.  I wish I had that much tenacity!

• For a few days, all Alma seemed to say was "duc-a, duc-a".  It sounded like Dr Evil from Austin Powers.  Joshua and I spent a lot of time doing the Macarana. 
• Hanging out in the children's section of the library is the best way to spend the afternoon with Alma. They have great toys, games, activities and books.  Alma gets so focused on certain toys that I can sit, zone out and read magazines.  It is a nice break for both of us.
• She has started blowing kisses, which seems to be both her way of showing affection and saying thank you.  Since we do the sign for thank you when she gives us things, she will now often give us something and then blow us a kiss.  So cute!

• Peekaboo has never been a big thing with Alma (she looks confused) until this month when she has started loving it too much.  She does a little crouch to hide behind the coffee table that is beyond cute.
• Alma is teaching us that everything can be worn as a hat. Hats, blankets, shirts, stuffed animals, food, anything. 
• In the last few months, Alma has become more schmoopie. The more she sucks her thumb, the more she wants to hug with her head on my shoulder.  Each embrace is such a gift.
• Love watching Alma look through her books.  Usually they are upside down.  She talks to each image.
• At the beginning of the month, Alma was imitating what we say in a much more immediate fashion. It was neat to hear her echo version.  Towards the end of the month, she stopped doing this as often.
• Alma still loves the cat and dog with fierce affection.  For example, one day when Alma was upset and crying, Shanti walked by. Alma started petting her and calmed down.  It will be great to see these relationships continue to grow. 

• We have been calling Alma "pumpkin" since we was a wee babe.  But now "Bruised Banana" might be a more accurate nickname based on all of the bruises on her head.  Not only is she a little accident-proned, but she also bruises very easily.  Poor kiddo! 
• She can now go up and down the stairs by herself.  We hang out with her when she does, just in case.  Luckily, our stairs are very wide, deep and carpeted so they are conducive to mastering them.
• We just finished another round of swimming classes.  Alma's love of the water is absolute and a joy.
• Alma has a set bedtime schedule which seems to work well for all of us:
• Last dinner (since there are sometimes more than one dinner): 6:30 pm
• Last family play time: 7:00pm
• Bath: 7:15pm
• Bed: 7:30pm
• Wake up: 5am but usually go back to sleep until 6:30 or so
• Molars are on their way -- they poked through on her birthday -- but, like the others that have come, they seem to come and go a few times before they are fully in her mouth.  These molars have created a laughable amount of drool. 

Incoming!

A year ago today as we gave birth to Alma, Joshua and I quietly, repeatedly and excitedly exclaimed "INCOMING!"  We are so grateful for the little peaceful bomb that landed in our lives on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Joshua's Fabulous Birthday Weekend

My new favorite holiday: Joshua's birthday!  It is so fun to celebrate him.  Plus, since he never buys anything for himself, I can shower him with tons of gifts. 

We enjoyed the weekend by going on a hayride to pick pumpkins, having him open a present every hour, working on the house (lucky Joshua!) and generally enjoying being together as a family. 

The corn house ... like a big sand box, but with corn kernels.  Alma was more interested in the older kids than the kernels.

Hooray for family fun time!

Birthday Party

In 2009, my grandmother became a great-grandmother another five times -- Alma was the last of the 2009 babies.  The family has been celebrating lots of 1st birthdays recently.  Here's another from this past weekend.  Look how cute that birthday girl is!!

Alma enjoyed the pool until she saw me trying to snap her photo.  I still think she is super cute, even when upset.  (Did we mention that she's becoming more attached to me recently?)

Of course, if there is a chance to give Alma a skull-n-crossbones temporary tatoo, we are going to do it as a "tramp stamp".

Let's take another look at that adorable birthday girl -- SO CUTE!!!

Best Birthday Yet

I love my birthday.  What a fun day to hear from everyone you love ... and eat cake!



Alma and I spent the day in the Wissahickon on a very long walk with an awesome hand-me-down jogging stroller we recently got from Pat and Carrie (they found it on trash day!). 

I'm so lucky that I get to spend my days with such a sweetie.

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year by going on a family walk over to Broad Street to enjoy the Mummer's Parade.

Our 2009 felt like The Year of Advent with most of the year focused on the arrival of our little Alma. (She was definitely worth the wait!)

However, in glancing at the photos we snapped this year, our year was more than simply waiting. We had a great year with family, friends, trips, work, outdoor adventures, weddings, birthdays and so much else. This might have been my favorite year ever ... I really enjoyed 2009.

Here's to a joyful 2010 with time to wonder at all the blessings in our lives.