Smirks & Smiles

 Oh too smoooth...

 What cha doin' mom?

 Getting ready to let out a BIG smile

There is my smiley man :)

Third Birthday Extravaganza

 

I know the suspense was killing you, and it is finally here - the Birthday party post!  This year I had one goal and one goal only; a birthday party NOT at my house.  Our house (although I love it) is not the prime location to throw a 20+ person party.  And by the time you invite all of my family and Marc's family it is already close to, if not there.  Since it was Mallory's 3rd Birthday and she has had the chance to really establish good and solid friendships, I wanted to make sure some of her friends could come too.  

After debating between several ideas for a venue (I can't tell you enough how hard it is to find something reasonable in the beginning of JANUARY.  How I wish all my kids were summer babies just for this reason), we finally ended up at a local Gymnastics place that my Aunt and Cousin work at.  Mallory and I had gone there several months prior to "test it out" and she loved it.  After mentioning we may have her birthday there, she really didn't let it go.  

It was a lot of fun although  in retrospect, maybe a bit over the top.  I know she loved it and that is very important to us, but I don't think we will do something like this every year.  It was a lot of fun to see them all running and playing and laughing.  The place was awesome and Mallory is always asking to go back - so all in all, it was a good choice and we were very pleased.  Here are some pictures illustrating the enjoyment...

Three Years...I can't believe it.

Well, since it is February, I thought it only appropriate to start posting things from January :)  The first major event of 2012 was my sweet little Mallory's birthday.  3 years to be exact, January 2nd.  Her actual party was scheduled for the following weekend (post to come) but we felt it necessary to celebrate the actual day in some way.   I was still on maternity leave, but it was quite convenient that her birthday was on a Monday, which made for Daddy's New Years Day holiday from work.  This meant we were all at home together on her special day.  We started the morning off by taking her to Tim Horton's across the street to pick out a very special breakfast.  To my surprise, when Daddy and her arrived back she had chosen 2 donuts, because apparently deciding between chocolate and sprinkles was just too hard.  

After breakfast, she opened her present from us (a Disney Princess Karaoke jukebox), at which point we asked her what she wanted to do on her Birthday.  She replied "WATCH PRINCESS MOVIES!"  So, that is exactly what we did.  In between dresses and fairy tale stories, we painted her nails and received visitors from both Grandma Myntz & Grandpa complete with presents in tote.  Lastly, she got to top off her evening with a trip out to Grandma and Kelly's for an overnight surprise.  She was so happy all day long, which was exactly the goal.  

I had several moments on this day that I can't seem to get out of my head.  First of all, my baby is 3.  My first little bundle is sitting across the table from me, bartering for dessert.  "Mommy...how bout I eat 2 more bites, then I get a Hershey Kiss?"  It seems like she was just nuzzled in the crack of my arm on the couch sleeping.  I remember her depending on me for everything.  For eating, for moving, for dressing.  I remember the joy I felt the first moment I laid eyes on her.  I lost control and started sobbing tears of pure bliss and joy.  Her little face, so puffy from the trauma of birth, just looking up at me as if to say "nice to meet you Mommy."  Now look at her.  She is so many things.  She is a dreamer.  She is a dancer.  She is a singer.  She is a character.  She is a hand full, and she is a screamer.  She is a artist, an actor, a princess.  She is a fire cracker, in both good and bad ways.  She is a sweet heart, she is a stubborn ox.  She is a big sister.  She is one of a kind.  She is my baby and always will be.  Happy Birthday sweet Mal.  Mommy, Daddy, & baby Wes love you.