Rise and shine, Lilly Bean! Happy birthday! We woke up bright and early, snuggled Daddy a little bit (he's recovering from his first hip surgery!), made some breakfast and off to school we went - don't worry, we checked out a little early...
And we went shopping for an ice cream cake! But we had a few minutes to kill so we went into Tuesday Morning to see if they had any nutcrackers yet. They do, but this year we (YOU) want a girl nutcracker or an animal - so we held out 'cause they didn't have any. They did have a "Gourmet Chef" with a pig's head (no joke!) and we thought that was hilarious but you didn't think Anna Jane would appreciate that since she recently stopped eating pig. So we passed.
Funny Jack got to hang with us this afternoon until Anna Jane came home from school and then...
We went to piano lessons. Anna Jane got a Coke after school 'cause she was accidentally left there - minor misunderstanding. Thank goodness for Ms. Bolt who called Mama and brought her home. Gave her a cupcake, gave her a Coke - all is right with the world.
We made your favorite for dinner. Ham and pea pasta. Everyone ate all of it.
We settled in for present opening - and a family pic.
Uncle Mark came and brought Stella Pup (funny Jack!) (Aunt Kimber had to work late - boo!)
Babi came (but Duda is on his golf trip!)
Teti came (Uncle Bryan had to work late - boo!)
And we sang you Happy Birthday and ate your pretty pink ice cream birthday cake, and opened your awesome presents.
Then, Lilly Bean, when everyone left you came and found me standing in the kitchen. You looked forlorn, your eyes were red, you said, "I don't - I don't want to get older. Next year I will be 9 and I just don't - I don't want to grow up." I picked you up in my arms (not easy to do these days, you are only about a head and shoulders shorter than me now - 4' 4" to be exact) and I got to hold you, and cry with you a little bit my sweet baby girl. Every one of these days with you is a gift and I have treasured every moment - even the ones I may have wished away - they are all treasures in my box of memories. I love you, Lilly Bean. I love all you are. It is bittersweet watching you grow so fast, knowing this is all fleeting, and all temporary. One day we may be celebrating the 8th birthday of your little girl and we will wonder again - how does it all go so fast?
We read through some of your old birthday love letters - the ones I've written you on this blog. We watched your 2nd birthday video. Even Anna Jane cried. And then Daddy - of all the things - started playing Taylor Swift's "Never Grow Up" (THANKS, DADDY!) and you looked at me and said, "I want to go to bed now." So up we went. I tucked you in, with Big Dog of course and you are sleeping soundly, peacefully and tomorrow - you will be 8! And you will be a happy girl, because that's who you are. You will love on us all - you will be concerned about your Daddy; you will play with your sister; you will try to get your brother to eat some "real" food so he doesn't get in trouble; you will help me clean up and organize (something you actually love to do!). You will be our Northern Star - it's who you are. You are the brightest star in our sky, Lilly Bean. You are the one we all look to when there are cloudy skies. You shine the brightest, sweet girl.
Happy birthday, Lillian Marie. Lil Marie. Lilly Bean.
Happiest of birthdays. No more tears. Growing up with you is the most wonderful thing. I love you, sweet Bean.
Love,
Mommy
