Four Years and Counting

This weekend, my baby girl turned four. Four. That means that it has been a full four years since I became a mom. Some parts of that day I remember with perfect clarity. I can remember how nervous and excited I was. I remember when they handed her to me for the very first time. I looked down at this tiny little person and felt a whole range of emotions. I felt love like I had never felt before. She was someone I had gotten to know for nine months, yet she looked like a stranger. And she was mine. My baby girl. And now that baby is four. She has grown into a wonderful, creative little girl with a strong mind of her own. She is a challenge and a blessing every single day and I still love her more than words can tell.

Her fourth birthday began like all birthdays begin in our house with a delicious birthday breakfast. Every birthday she gets a birthday waffle complete with a candle. This year, I made her delicious birthday cake waffles with icing drizzled across the top. Once her waffle was ready, Client Two and I serenaded her with a round of "Happy Birthday" before she blew out her pink candle and dug into her waffle, washing it down with a glass of chocolate milk. After breakfast, she got to open one little present to start of her day of birthday fun.

This year, her birthday fell on a Saturday, so it only made sense to have her parties on her actual birthday. About this time last year she won a contest that awarded her a significant discount off of a party at the zoo, so her love of animals was rewarded with a zoo party. Having a party at the zoo made it easier for me since it took a good deal less planning. So, once she was all dressed in her special birthday outfit (complete with a matching tutu, wand, and headband) we headed off to the zoo.

The birthday room was filled with several fun animal themed games, so as the guests arrived they got to run around the room playing. After everyone had arrived, they gathered around to meet a special visitor from the zoo. Our special guest was a kinkajou (or honey bear) who stared back at the group of kids with wide black eyes. Everyone got to learn some fun facts about kinkajous and ask questions before getting to pet the little critter. At first, many of the kids were a little hesitant to pet him, but they warmed up and gave him a couple of gentle strokes.

Once our presentation was over, the children spread out to enjoy some more games before we rounded them back up to hear a fun zoo story. While my mom read them "Goodnight Gorilla" the parents started loading up their kids' plates with our tasty light lunch. I made cute, little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with little animal faces punched on them and served with juice pouches, chips and applesauce fruit pouches.

After a nice little lunch, Client One got to delve into her present pile. She got a great variety of fun gifts. Next, of course, was cake. As part of our party package, we got some adorable animal cupcakes. Client One chose a chocolate giraffe cupcake. We stuck four animal print candles on top and serenaded her once again before she blew them out. The cupcakes were soon devoured (they were delicious) and the kiddos were off racing around the room again while we attempted to clean up and straighten.

Of course, no zoo party is complete without a trip into the zoo to see all the animals, so that's where we headed next! Our group was a flurry of pink as we raced from animal to animal. We even made a quick trip into the gift shop where Client One got a cute little fox in a little purse and Client Two got a rubber snake. About half way through the zoo, Client Two fell asleep and Client One was waning so we headed on home for naps.

While the littles napped, I did a bit of cleaning to get ready for a second party that afternoon. Since the party at the zoo had a limited guest count, we were celebrating again with other friends and family. I also made a quick dash out to get some last minute party supplies. Our theme for the second party was basically "we have a four year old girl." Everything was pink and purple and shiny. We served up some delicious bbq with tasty sides like coleslaw, mac-n-cheese, potato salad, chips, devilled eggs and fruit salad. Of course, we had another cake. This one was chocolate and shaped like a big pink flower with a big pink number four candle stuck in the middle of it.

All in all, I think my baby girl had a wonderful fourth birthday. She was definitely spoiled and seemed to have a great time. I can't wait to see what this next year will bring! (I'm hoping for a year filled with a few less tantrums.)