Happy Birthday, Jay!

Dear Jay,

Happy Birthday!! Today you turn 1 year old. Only 1 of many more to come.

I know you don't understand it. I know you won't remember it. Today was just a regular day. Waking up at 5am on the dot. screaming in your crib till 6a--going back to sleep right when I need to get get up. Watching Ellie argue about putting on her clothes & her socks. Eating your yummy little waffle....well, one piece for you and then one piece for max. it's nice that you like to share with him. you don't cry in the car and if you don't fall asleep, you watch Ellie the entire ride in. You had a nice little day in school and even made excited smiley noises when we saw Judy on our way out. At home you light up when you see Joe. Rightly so. Ellie does it too. He is the ideal daddy. You watch Ellie tumble around & play....and dinner, again, one pea for you, one pea for max. you love to eat. You have 1 tooth in--it's a vampire tooth. You have one that popped through on the bottom but it's not all the way in. You are taking 1-3 steps now & then. So close. You are either cruising the furniture or sitting back sucking your thumb--observing. You giggle & smile all the time and say "AXXXX" but it's more like " ACCCHHXXXXS" when you see max. you watched your balloons and then we had a nice little nighttime routine.

it's nothing different to you, and not much different for me--but birthdays are worth celebrating and stopping to appreciate the birthday person's life. that you are appreciative of them being a part of your life too. maybe that's why I'm posting this sappy post? your birthday also falls in the midst of the Jewish new year...which is always a time for self reflection, celebration, remembrance and reminders of our priorities in life.

Today you're one. From the day i found out you were to be, a little extra pink line on a stick...it felt like I waited a million years until your birth-day. like i was actually holding my breath for your safe arrival. i don't think a day has passed since that day last year that i haven't looked at you & thanked my lucky stars for every minute that I've had with you...even if you wake up at 5am.

so, Ellie, on your birthday wanted to read the book Carolyn got her for her 3rd! it's hands down the longest Dr. Seuss book EVuh! but i thought the last few pages towards the end that i generally skip to were fitting (given the cake incident)

From Dr. Seuss's Happy Birthday Book:

And here comes your cake! Cooked by Snookers & Snookers,
The Official Katroo Happy Birthday Cake Cookers.
And Snookers & Snookers, I'm happy to say,
Are the only cake cookers who cook cakes today
Made of guaranteed, certified strictly Grade-A
Peppermint cucumber sausage-paste butter!
And the world's finest cake slicers, Dutter & Dutter
And Dutter & Dutter, with hatches a-flutter,
High up on the poop deck, stand ready to cut her.

Today you are you! That is truer than true!
There is no on alive who is you-er than you!
Shout loud, "I am luck to be what I am!
Thank goodness I"m not just a clam or a ham
Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!
I am what I am! That's a great thing to be!
If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"


Happy Birthday, Jay! I love you. I look forward to every single day of watching you grow in every way. I cannot wait to see many many more of your birthdays and life milestones.

All my love forever & ever,
Carrie
a.k.a. "MAMA"

ps.
there are 250+ birthday party pics. i will post them as soon as i can. including proof that people actually ate my cake. It was a great party & thanks to all that came to celebrate!

To all the members of the tribe....L'shanah Tova!!! I love you!