Twenty-Six

Saturday was my birthday.  The last few years, I’ve gotten used to birthdays being days like any other, since Chris generally can’t take off work.  Last year, I spent the night just hanging with Nora and I expected this year to be the same.  And normalcy doesn’t really bother me.  Maybe it’s because I’ve already reached the big, anticipated birthday milestones (only the senior discount looms ahead, and I don’t think I’m in a rush to get there), but birthdays aren’t all that exciting to me anymore.  Being a mom has changed my perspective on birthdays a lot too; Nora’s birthday means so much more to me than does my own.  I care much more about celebrating September 6th than celebrating March 19th.  My birthday may have brought me here, but her birthday shaped who I am as a person.  And anyway, it seems like a celebration just doing normal things when I’m doing them with Nora.  So, I happily looked forward to a normal birthday weekend with my girl.

Friday night, we went to another Pizza & Pajamas event at the library, which she loves so much she won’t even look at the camera.And she’s not just into the story time and singing…Nora didn’t leave anyone wondering, she was there for the pizza.  A side of green beans from the Brotherhood, 1 cup of applesauce, and two-and-a-half pieces of pizza later, Nora was rocking the Buddha belly.

She pretty much made my evening with her cuteness, marching through the room with two fist-fulls of pizza.  And I couldn’t help but laugh when all the other kids were done eating, but Nora was on slice number three, which we had to take for the road.

Pizza and Pajamas would have been celebration enough.  But then Saturday, Chris took Nora to a dad and kids event at the fire stationand I got to hang with some LLL Ladies.  It was nice getting to chat with friends for a bit sans toddler, and Chris said Nora had a blast trying on hats,

and sitting in fire trucks.(I can’t get over how tiny she looks.)

Then, after a calm afternoon at home, Nora and I headed over to my friend Logan’s for dinner.  She and her husband (and Mr. T!) had a fabulous dinner planned  and even got a bottle of sparkling wine.  I had such a great time hanging out and chatting with them instead of being at home.  It was a fabulous birthday present.

Then, just as we were thinking about heading home, Chris surprised me by getting off work early.  He saved us from walking home in the cold, put Nora to bed, gave me my presents (a cookbook I’ve been wanting and anther book I’ve been meaning to read), and then spent the evening relaxing with me instead of separately as we often do.I couldn’t have wished for a better birthday.