Happy 3rd Birthday, AnnMarie!

Wow! My baby is thaaaaaaareeeeeeeee! (as she says) ;) I can't believe it. What an amazing blessing to experience another birthday with your child. Yet another wonderful year we've had together!
As I sit down to write this I am not crying (believe it or not!) because I think I got most of it out this morning. (more on that later) We had a great day today, and AM felt very loved!

A look back at this day for the past 3 years...
Right after she popped out! She was the most beautiful newborn to me. She was my greatest accomplishment! Ah, how my life would change...


Her first birthday...Looking back I thought I had done it all, but now I know that it was just the tip of the iceberg!


At her "two for tea" party. This picture cracks us up. (and I guess I was running around so much that day that I never got just a straight shot of her sitting and smiling---well, I guess that's easier said than done with a two year old!) I had too much fun planning this party...


So here's how our first day of being three went down...

We started out bright and early with a trip to Shipley's for a kolache and pink donut with sprinkles. (here's where the crazy crying prego mother comes in) As I was placing our order at the window, I, for some reason felt compelled to tell the lady that it was AM's bday. Boom. The tears came. Soooooo emotional!!!!!! I could not keep them in. Good news is that she threw in a free donut. :)


I promised AM we would make a "princess" cake together---you know the one---totally cheesy with a Barbie sticking out of it. That's right. Well, I did it===trying to win the "mommy of the year" award. Here's AM working on the cake.


While the cake was cooling we got a visit from our buddies, Caleb and Mabry (and Ann). AM loves playing with Caleb so it was a treat for all of us!


While I thought it would be a great idea to take pictures of the cake "mid-completion", I now realize that there are a lot of jokes that could go along with this one. :) Baby brother, it's fine for sissy to have a Barbie cake, but you better not ever have a clothes-less fully developed woman jumping out of yours. Moving on...


I thought this would be all me doing the decorating, but boy, was I wrong. AM was very interested in decorating as you can tell by her concentration in this pic!


AM's decorating...(is it bad that I asked her to focus on the "back"?)


Tada!!!!!!! The finished (very amateur) product! The birthday girl gave strict orders to only use PINK so that is why Barbie (I'm sorry, Sleeping Beauty,---I was corrected) has no contrasting colors in her gown.


Tonight we went over to J & J's for dinner to celebrate. We had so much fun with them as always, and AM got to practice pushing around Baby Brooks's stroller. Oh the poor thing has no idea that he has a mother hen cousin waiting in the wings!


Our family for now. Little missy is SO proud of the cake. Hilarious---one thing to remember with kids---the gaudier, the better.


Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Here she is blowing out the candle!


She got to open some presents from J & J. Aren't those gold sandals so cute? I want some in my size! Thank you Uncle Josh and Aunt Julia!


To top of the night, we all watched American Idol together. AM was really getting down on Anoop's version of "Beat It". Girl after my own heart lovin some MJ!

What a great day, what a great daughter, and what a great life. Thank you, Lord!