4th BirthdayIf I was ever in the running or Mom of the year, I am now officially out. Two days after the marathon was Caroline's Birthday. I obviously knew it was coming but was in such a "it's all about me mode" I didn't get much ready before. The morning of her birthday when she woke up Annie Kate said, "Happy Birthday Caroline!" and I was behind Caroline with my hand, flat and palm down, going back and forth across my neck, saying Annie Kate no not today!" And AK said, But mom it is today. I was trying to whisper we were going to do it another day because I was too tire and could not walk. Caroline turns around and looks at me like, "oh my goodness today is my birthday!" The look on her face is still cracking me up. I am sure she is thinking, "how is that possible, 
last year
last yearThe kitchen table is not all decorated with ribbons and bows and my photo everywhere, 
last year
I don't remember you taking a picture of me before I went to sleep with the caption to read "tomorrow i will wake up 4!" I don't have any plans for a party, we have no cake,
last year
there is no embroidered birthday outfit laying on my bed, you didn't come into my room smiling and singing happy birthday.... Are you sure it is my birthday.last yearI don't remember you taking a picture of me before I went to sleep with the caption to read "tomorrow i will wake up 4!" I don't have any plans for a party, we have no cake,
last yearI then turned to her and said, "Caroline isn't it great that today is your birthday!" I hobbled over to hug her.
So when Annie Kate got off to school I told her we get to go pick out any cake you want! (at Costco!) She reminded me that she wanted a frog princess cake. We get to Costco and they have 3 to choose from a Spider Birthday cake, one with balloons and one with a rainbow. Caroline said, I don't want any of these lets go find the one with a princess kissing a frog. I tried to explain these were the only options. She said, it's ok then I don't want a cake! Ouch! I then talked her into the Rainbow cake.
Our neighbors were nice enough to come over for dinner last minute to make her feel like we were having a party for her. We kept saying, isn't this this greatest party ever! She kind of kept looking around for the party to appear. We ended up not even giving her any gifts and thanks to our neighbors and grandparents she got fun things to open. I should have wrapped up my medal and said, here Caroline for your birthday you get a marathon running mom. she probably would have kept the medal so instead we gave her a big hug!
When she blew out the candles we said make a wish and she squeezed her eyes so tight. Which I thought was cute and wondered if she had been practicing it for the past few weeks like I had been practicing my arms in the air for the race.I am sure if there was a caption for this photo is would read,
"I wish that next year my mom and dad will remember my birthday"
I love this little Caroline she is truly a mini me, happy birthday sweetie.
I love this little Caroline she is truly a mini me, happy birthday sweetie.
16 comments:
Don't feel bad, your not alone in this experince. I have done this with 3 of my children this year. I end up giving them money and taking them shopping for their own gifts. It really did not bother all but one. Infact my little guy that turned 5 this year thought it was cool to pick his own gift. As for the cake you did better than me. We ended up with a late home made one at about 10pm. It is amazing that they still hug us and love us after all, isn't it?
Oh man, I am sorry Kristi. This is what I fear is going to happen every time we start a new tradition, that one year I just won't feel up to it and by then they will be old enough to know that 'this isn't the way we do things'.
You are so creative, and I seriously pull so many of my fun mom ideas from you. Plus, she is 4, so I am sure the day ending with cake and a mini-party made up for it. Kids are forever forgiving.
SHe is adorable!! She looks happy, so I wouldn't worry too much about it! Besides, maybe you could make it up to her on her half birthday!! That would be a fun thing to do!
Oh Kristi this is SO funny, who of us hasn't done this? (Rhetorical question...rhetorical question girls... I really don't want to know if I'm one of only a few--I prefer my bubble thinking that we're all in this together!)
I was so bummed when our kids could start reading a calendar. It made birthdays so much more difficult because it's not like they were born conveniently.
Hapy Day after your Birthday, Caroline!
What a great way to tell this story.
Oh Kristi this sounds like something I would do, and probably will do a some point. I love how Caroline "rolled" with it--all of it. That says so much about how y'all are raising her--which is most important. Even though it may not have been like last year, it was still special and memorable. And funny. :)
We are all human and just do the best we can.
You know what when she is all grown up she will probably not remember her 4th birthday, but she will never forget that her Mom and Dad ran a marathon!
i love that you are able to journal this, because for many, many years, i know this will be a funny memory for you all!
The good thing about 4 year olds is that they're very forgiving! She is so darling.
Oh Happy Birthday!!!1 I think the magic about children is that they are very adaptable...and they do with soo little and still are very very happy. I am sure she loves you as much as last year...That is such a cute picture of her with wishing her wish...
Every mom has had an "Un-Winner of the Mom of the Year" moment! You're so not alone & don't we all feel better when we admit to imperfection?! :)
When my friend was a tiny baby in a carry-seat, her mom left her in the fabric store, packed the other kids in the car and did not realize it 'til they all got home and she was unloading them all.
Funny thing your worried about being a bad mom for this and it's pretty much what I have done for my kids until they are 5 anyway! My kids are so deprived. I was never in the running for the mom of the year award, so your one up on me!
I think it's probably a relief to everyone that you are human enough to have had indulged in a post-marathon, all-about-me week! Usually we're all reeling from the birthday cuteness, embroidered clothing, and everything you do because we don't know how you do it all. So hooray for Caroline's birthday and for being a human mom!!
Oops! I hope she had a lovely day anyway. You surely had a memorable one, didn't you? Hahaha.
Give her lots of Very Merry UNBirthdays instead, perhaps?
You know, everything else I read about you points to you being mother of the year. I doubt this one tiny slip is going to take you out of the running! :)
This is a cute post, the pictures from last year are a funny contrast. And the caption under her 'make a wish' picture cracked me up!
Does this birthday make up for the time we celebrated your birthday by having a garage sale at the Seegmillers all day. I then took you to The Popular and bought you a much needed winter coat to further celebrate> Actually, we may have done that the day before so i wouldn't have to do it on your birthday. Sorry!
I think Caroline still looks happy and still had a party and lots of love.
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