Birthday Traditions and Birthday Breakdowns

Breakdowns, I find, are a bit like storms. We can often see or feel them coming but can never know exactly when they will arrive and when they do show up, it's usually at a most unusual time.

I've known for a while now that one was coming. It's only to be expected, with Harper's birthday being so very close and all.

I was in the shower earlier today and as I was scrubbing my face, I was making a mental list of what I need to do/clean/get/prepare before Harper's birthday next weekend. As I thought of Ariel wrapping paper and pasta salads, I remembered that I need to pick up some pancake mix.

 

For the past two years, Harper and I have shared a quiet pancake breakfast together on her birthday. It's nothing big- a few sloppy pancakes and a couple of candles. I sing to her, she blows out her candles (5 times, at least), and we move on with the day. It's a simple tradition that brought me straight to tears (lots of them) today as I realized just how many candles I'd be placing in Harper's birthday pancakes a week from tomorrow.

Three.

Three candles for three wonderful- yet humbling- years with Harper, the cutest little person I've ever known. Three candles for the light of my life- for my sweet (most of the time) and smart and spunky little Harper. Three candles to celebrate the miracle that she is and the magic that she brings to my life every day (if you know Harper, you know what magic I'm talking about).

Heaven above, I love that girl.

I'm really excited for Harper's birthday and I'm even more excited to see what three will bring for her, but I am a bit sad, too. I said goodbye to Harper's babyhood with tears and I'm not surprised that I'm doing the same as she moves from toddler to big girl status.

We have another small birthday tradition. Each year, instead of giving Harper an over-priced and terribly worded greeting card, we choose a book and write in it. Harper's birthday book for this year arrived yesterday and as I read it this morning, I knew we had chosen well. Birthday pancakes weren't the only thing to make me cry today. I had a little breakdown over dinosaurs, too.

I love the How Do Dinosaurs books by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight is from my list of favorite Harper books). So does Harper. The pictures are great and all of the dinosaur's scientific names are listed, which I imagine will be fun once Harper is old enough to read herself. This one is particularly cute. It's about some very naughty little dinos who, despite their ornery and rebellious ways, love their parents and are loved in return. It is written in rhyme and is quite fun to read aloud. I'll share just a little blurb with you... 

You woke in the morning in such a bad mood...

Then sat at the table and fussed with your food.

But then you blew kisses and waved from the door.

I love you, I love you, my dinosaur. 

And I do. I love my little dinosaur, even if she refuses to stop growing up so quickly.

Some Recent Instagrams

Tuacahn was amazing and, just like last year, I cried when I saw Harper's little face light up with joy. She really liked the show, especially Jasmine. Whenever the princess wasn't on stage, Harper was asking me and everyone around here, "Where Jasmine?" She also made sure to point out that Jasmine was fancy because she was wearing a necklace AND earrings (a deadly duo in the world of fanciness, you know). 

We spent the weekend resting from our (very quick) trip to St. George, watching football, and running errands. Harper's third birthday is right around the corner and I've left all preparations until the last minute so I spent my days off throwing together invitations and planning food/decoration/all the usual party flair.

Here is a bit more of what has been happening around here:

A beanie party.

Gymnastics- Harper was beyond excited to be back at the "big gym."

A new hair color.

A very sweet goodbye and "thank you for taking me to see Jasmine, next time I'll see Ariel, okay?" hug.

Post-vacation Grinch snuggles (she cuddled on me for a good three hours).

Cheap wine and even cheaper entertainment to get us through a disappointing U of U game.

Sweet sleeps- Have you met Harper's newest fluffy friend?

Her name is Kitty Soft Paws and Harper is crazy about her.

Don't feel sorry for Scout, however, because he is still the favorite.

Hello from the Tub and Other Randoms

So much cuteness that you can barely handle it... I know.

It's Monday and life is crazy. I just wanted to pop in for a little hello and a quick update. 

I wrote about a new favorite book over on Beauty Aisle Addict. 

The Utes won (yes, yes, yes!), which is a good thing because Colty nearly had a heart attack watching the end of the game. 

My Kindle Fire is still the best thing ever (it's also still the reason that I never blog/read blogs anymore. I'm reading The Outlander Series (book two) and Game of Thrones simultaneously. I need to finish them up so that I can start my fall re-reading. Wuthering Heights is waiting for me. 

Harper is still awesome. We took her to the zoo yesterday and she loved it. Then we came home and went for a walk. She thought the clouds looked like cotton candy and wanted a bite- a big bite! She apparently doesn't like The Little Gym (most likely because they don't have a huge pit of blocks for her to jump into) and wants to go back to Bailey's, which she calls the "Big Gym." Today she told me to call them and tell them she was coming. And I did. 

I'm only working three days this week and then heading to St. George for our annual Tuacahn trip. We are seeing Aladdin and I hope that Harper will love it. It will be hard to measure up to last year's The Little Mermaid but we will sure try. I can't wait to spend time with my parents and nieces. Seriously. This tradition is the best thing ever (12 years and counting!!!).

The daycare has settled in a bit. It's taken a minute but I think I have found the perfect new families (it's not easy, you know). This job is still, in my opinion, the best job ever. Whenever I am around a lot of adults, I find myself thanking the heavens above that I get to spend my days with toddlers. 

I'm thinking of changing my hair a bit (color, not cut). Whitney, my stylist, is suggesting red and she is using Ginny Weasley to entice me...

What do you think?

Fall, Finally

Fall is here and I do believe that life is going to slow down a bit, which means that I'll have time to catch up on all of the blog posts (mainly for Confessions of a Beauty Aisle Addict) that I have been wanting to do. I'm excited for crisp air and cozy clothes (bring on the leg warmers!). I'm also really looking forward to my fall tradition of revisiting favorite books. Wuthering Heights, Wicked, and The Historian are on this year's menu.

There is also Halloween (Harper is going to be Ariel with a fin- she specifies that part every time someone asks her what she wants to be... she tells them, "I be Ariel. I have fin.") and Harper's big birthday to look forward to. And snuggles (fall snuggles are really so much more snugly than other season snuggles, don't you think?). And Tuacahn. And Wicked (in Vegas and I can barely wait... I haven't seen it since before Harper was born!). And soup. And football (go Utes!). And hoodies. I'm a sucker for hoodies (pullovers, not zip ups).

Colt recently surprised me with this new North Face hoodie and I was so excited. I'll take a hoodie over flowers any day of the week.

What about fall are you most excited for?

Cash

My great-nephew Cash is the only cousin that Harper sees on a regular basis (we are lucky enough to have him here four days a week). He is two and is absolutely hilarious- truly, the kid is so cute that I can barely stand it. I just want to squeeze him until he pops. He's a total boy and loves anything that involves cars, crashes, karate moves, or Sponge Bob. Cash has been a perfect playmate for Harper. I prefer for her to have an equal mix of boy and girl friends because I want her to be exposed to all sorts of play and fun (heaven only knows that she needs a break from the Disney Princesses once in a while).

Cash brings out a super wild and silly side of Harper (seriously, when Harper and Cash play, they basically rearrange my living room with their jumping and wrestling) and I love it. Harper and I are both pretty crazy about him and I am thankful that these two cousins get to spend so much time together. They spent last Saturday riding rides at the Utah State Fair (which was as interesting as ever... I can never decide whether I'm over or under dressed when I'm at the fair and seriously, I can't get enough of the people watching) and next week, they will be seeing Aladdin together at Tuacahn (confession: I have to look up the spelling of Tuacahn every single time I type or text it).

This kid loves to roar.

Serious Cuteness

There is so much cuteness in my life that I can barely stand it. I was walking Hazelnut tonight and wondering just how I got to be so lucky. 

Grinchy cuteness.

Great nephew Cash cuteness (not all great aunts are old, you know).

Swimming suit cuteness (this happens on a daily basis... I can't remember the last time Harper went through an entire day without putting on a swimming suit).

More swimming suit cuteness.

Uncombed hair on a Saturday afternoon cuteness.

Happy Friday to all of you and best wishes for a lovely weekend. Is anyone doing anything special? My weekend plans include a wedding, The Little Gym, Silver Lake (my parents are in town and Harps is really excited to show them one of her favorite spots), shopping, a hair appointment, and reading (lots and lots of reading... it's safe to say that my Kindle Fire is both a blessing and a curse). It's going to be a good one.

Wheeler Farm

Colt was out of town for part of the weekend (scouting for elk) and so Harper and I did all sorts of girly things together. We went shopping and played Barbies (Harper's current favorite) and painted nails and watched Beauty and the Beast (three times). We also spent most of Saturday with Calli. The three of us hit the farmer's market at Gardner Village, had lunch at Jason's Deli, and visited Wheeler Farm.

I don't know how it happened that I'd never been to Wheeler Farm before. It's basically the perfect place for Harper and me: it's free, it's pretty, there are animals, and it's just down the street from our house. We spent a bit of Saturday afternoon there and Harper had so much fun exploring everything. She petted a baby goat and laughed at the horses but the bunnies were her favorite. She asked several times if she could choose one to take home (the answer was no... I don't think I have it in me to bring a bunny home... the poor soul wouldn't last long in a house with Tucker, Hazel, and Harper). 

Harper's birthday is just over a month away I've been hatching some party plans. Harper wants an Ariel party again (are you even a bit surprised?) and I'm trying to find some fun activities (suggestions are welcome) since Harper's little friends will be invited this year. Ariel herself will actually be making an appearance at the party. She's going to sing and hand out prizes and I'm super excited to see how Harper will react. By the way, if ever you find yourself in need of a princess, let me know. My friend April is a former Disney performer and can do any of the princesses. And she has a voice like gold.

I just can't believe that Harper is going to be three. I'm altogether unprepared for it. I can't look through photos of the past three years without me heart breaking just a little bit. I find myself wishing that I could time travel. I'd sure love to revisit the different stages of her life just to hold her a bit tighter and kiss her a few more times. I tell every new mom that I encounter to slow down and appreciate every moment. A clean house, a new blog post, perfect hair... none of it matters when you have a little one to squeeze. I'm just angry at myself for taking so long to realize this. I regret every single time that I ever put Harper down or brushed her off so that I could take care of something minimal. It's only been very recently that I've stopped worrying about inconsequential things like swept floors and deep conditioning (and blogging, obviously). I just want to stop time and snuggle my precious/sweet/feisty/amazing two year old forever.