Birthday Bliss and Bathwater

Yessiree! 

I think she's almost got the spoon and bowl thing down!

Writing my bday post was depressing and after writing it, I wrote down all of the awesome things that happened on my birthday:

The Bday Spoil

• All had king cake for breakfast 
• Wore my PJs to the store, which I must admit sounds cooler than it really was bc there are 2 things in this world that don't lie: young children and leggings.
• Waited most of the day to do the dishes 
• Had a grape in the mouth catching contest and reclaimed victory from e followed by an obnoxious victory song and dance 
• Forced my children to let me kiss them extra long 
• Finished listening to my audiobook by Sandra Cisneros on the very day it was due and then downloaded a new book: I am Malala, a book that I feel both hesitancy and a sense of duty to listen to, but if I want I can switch to Love in the Time of Cholera. Not a bad decision to make. 
• Got a coupon from Claire for 2 "Take 5s": my favorite candy 
• Leisurely jog with baby in the park as she giggled
• Organized
• Removed and banged nails 
• Bike ride to the park with kids
• Amazing local food with my parents, bro and sis-in-law, and Superman...

Most of which I do regardless of whether it's my birthday.

I am a pretty lucky gal.

Yep, I really think she's got it.

She went straight to the bath after this picture. Which made me think about something I've heard many people say: you haven't really started living until you've diarrhead in your own bath water.

She's just getting an early start on life.

January 15th

Every year on January 15th I expect to soar euphorically above responsibility, worry, calories, chores, and to-do lists while all who stand in my shadow bow in reverence. Instead, as per usual, starting at a blurry and despicable a.m. hour, I trudged through the nightlife of 3 little girls who share my house and sometimes my bed, which is really the front room carpet as soon as the boogeyman (or the need of a bottle) attacks their slumber. Sybil was planing on giving me a poo-less birthday but caved soon after waking. Claire and Iris are going to get 100% on their spelling tests and Elijah is going to unchain his inner-angel, creating an atmosphere of peace and warmth. That would be the metaphorical soaring, but I enjoy trudging too because here I am, trying to cross-off a to-do item that's been lingering for a few months: documenting the China trip, then Christmas, then the move and the new house....


But wait...
the baby is crying.
She probably pooped again.
Happy Birthday Mom!