Happy Birthday, Lucy!

Guess which little girl turned 3 this weekend!



Lucy has been looking forward to her birthday for months. and months. and months.  Every few days she has been asking for such-and-such on her birthday.  Requests have varied widely in reasonableness (it's a word).  From the very feasible (donuts for breakfast, for example) to the truly unrealistic (the example I want to use is escaping me at the moment.  It was completely absurd, and I told her straight-out that it would not be possible, even on her birthday).



I had been looking forward to this day for a long time, as well... excited about her excitement and anticipating it being a really fun day filled with activities she loves.



Then mastitis happened.  Again.  I had it back with Lucy.  For those unfamiliar--it is a horrible thing.  An infection that happens to nursing moms sometimes and causes you to curl into a ball and wish you could fast-forward time.  It happened the day before Lucy's birthday.



And I was in bed the entire day of her birthday.  Not just tired or a little sore, but completely unable to do anything and alternating between violent chills, high fever, and drenching sweat.  I was so disappointed to miss her actual birthday.  I saw her a few times, and her first words to me were--each time--"how you feel?"



Still -- I am so happy that she did have a good day.



Daniel was back at work, but his and my moms alternated taking care of the kids during the day, and they (the kids) ended up getting to make blueberry pancakes (with whipped cream and sprinkles!) and go to the library and make cup cakes and play with their grandmothers.



The cupcakes Nonni made that evening were a big hit.



I opted for Reddi-whip instead of frosting.  Big time-saver, and the kids can't really tell the difference at this point.



Actually, the sprinkles probably stick better to the Reddi-whip than they would to real frosting.



That night I was so discouraged.  I thought I would be feeling significantly better by then, and I was actually feeling worse, with higher fever, and no indication things would be better by morning, when Lucy's swimming party was.  I prayed for a miracle.



...and I think a miracle is what I got!  I woke up fever-free and felt pretty decent, all things considered!



We piled in the car (after some help from Daniel's parents getting party food packed and kids ready, etc.).  This is what it looked like.



Awesome.  I prayed for another miracle -- that it would stop raining just in time for the party.



...and again!  I think a miracle is what I got.



The clouds parted, the sun shined, and we had a beautiful couple hours to enjoy the pool!
 

Not only that, but there was actually a pleasant breeze that helped keep those non-swimming guests comfortable and cool.  It was amazing.



Lucy was speechless when she saw the cake (Mimi picked it up and met us there with it).  She was literally speechless.



And then she was all grins and excitement.
 

She returned to the cake several more times before the guests arrived, just to look at how pretty it was.



She loves Disney's Cars.  And she loves blue and green.  She had been looking forward to blue and green cupcakes for months.



But the cars on top were a surprise, and she was beyond delighted.  I think the cake actually made her day.
 

When I asked her later what her favorite part of the party was, her answer was simple: the cake!



I gave Elliot a good long chance to get into the water on his own.  He opted not to.  But he needs to practice his survival skills, so I tossed him in at some point.
 

Sure enough, he can still swim--float--swim pretty well.  We need to practice more frequently so he stays solid.



Between sick kids, deaths in the family, and the rainy start to the day--I was pretty sure no one was going to come to the party and was trying to prepare myself for that.



But can you believe it--several of Lucy's (and my) friends came, and it was a really nice turn out!  Not so many people that it was overwhelming, but enough that it felt like a party.



Lucy got very embarrassed when it was time to blow out the candles, though she loves it when we sing the birthday song to her. 

 
I've never seen her act embarrassed like that, though I think it's really normal for this age.







 




Lucy was excited to see her friends and was so excited about her birthday presents!




Sweet Lucy -- you have become such a little girl this past year.  You are a caretaker of your little brothers and are so thoughtful towards them.  It has been a joy to watch you grow and help you learn exciting new things over the past year.  We (you and I) go back and forth as to whether God will be "the boss of you" when you get bigger.  You contest that you want to be your own boss.  For your sake, I hope you move from that position at some point (we all struggle with this!).  But until then--and ever after--you are in His hands, and He loves you so much.  And we love you, too.