Belated Birthday Blog

How's that for an alliteration! Life has been characteristically nuts lately, so my plan to post on Cora's birthday never quite materialized. Good thing she can't read!

Cora turned 4 on the 19th, but we held her party on the 20th. On her actual birthday we dropped Claire off with my sister and took Cora out on a birthday date. She was so excited to go on a date, she was telling anyone who would listen (and even those who wouldn't). We headed to get ice cream at Cold Stone first (one should always eat dessert first, especially if it is from Cold Stone!). Next we went to Toys-R-Us where Cora got a birthday crown and a balloon, and then was allowed to pick out one toy. Final stop on our date, I told Cora the best part of the date was that she got to help shop for party favors and supplies for her party (killing 2 birds with one stone!).

I think all of the undivided attention went to her head. When we got home and Mark called Cora in to get her PJs on this was her response, "Don't call me Cora, call me birthday girl."

A few other funny things that came out of her mouth that day:

Upon waking up and realizing she had officially turned 4, “Look at my legs mommy. Don't you notice. Now that I am 4 they are huge.”

"Now that I am 4 do I get to learn how to pee standing up?" (Don't ask. I have no idea?!!)

Next up was her party, which was held at the Discovery Center. I have virtually no pictures on my camera for a number of reasons. First, everything went wrong that day. For various reasons that justify their own blog, we ended up getting to her party late (lateness is a huge pet peeve of mine for the record) and so I was frazzled and unprepared. In my attempt to get the party started and get organized, I overlooked taking important pictures for historical purposes, ie. the cake. We also used our camera to take video instead of snapping pictures. If I was a technical wizard, which I am of course not, I would be able to get stills from the video. But it will be much easier to just get the pictures from my mom's camera.

So for now you get to see one picture of Cora at her party. She is pictured with Miss Fish, who has taken my daughters under her wing and loves them like they were her own grand kids (and who wouldn't like an extra "grandma" or two to spoil them?!). Please note that my stubborn daughter dressed herself for the party, refusing to put on the cute sundress I had picked out for her. She also did her own hair. I guess it could have been much worse!

The party was great. I loved having it at the Discovery Center because I didn't have to entertain, clean up or plan games! I think Cora had a blast too and she got some great gifts (thanks everyone!).

Now that all of the party madness is over, I am having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I have a 4-year-old!!! So much changes in such a short amount of time. My how she has grown. Happy Birthday little lady!

Little Cora Bryn, 2 hours old. Weighing a healthy 8lbs, 9oz she entered the world @ 10:02 pm. She was very alert from the moment she was born. She looked nothing like a newborn and could already hold her head up (perhaps because she was born 3 weeks late!).

She was such a happy baby. And quite beautiful I think (might be a bit biased!).

Here she is at 9 months. She started walking soon after this and we haven't been able to keep up with her since!

And here she is on her 1st birthday.
And at 18 months.
On her 2nd birthday.
And as a 3-yr-old flower girl in her uncle Michael's wedding.

And finally, here she is today. Doesn't she look so grown up?