Lucky for our kids, Sandi had amazing birthdays as a kid. They were always really magical and memorable and, as a result, we work hard to make the girls' birthdays really special. Balloons are a must and, because helium doesn't last long inside latex, a 3 A.M. wake up is essential if you want your child to wake up to balloons decorating the kitchen. I look at Sandi each year and say, "Is it really necessary?" to which she gives me the stern "It's very necessary" look and I get up with her to fumble my still asleep fingers into curling ribbon. Thankfully, she does allow us to go back to sleep. And every year, I'm always so glad she advocates for the wonder and the magic.
(I did not grow up on a diet of amazing birthday and likely that is why I celebrate my birthday now like it is a national holiday.)
Maya is a very easy child to please. She doesn't ask for much in the way of material things and is psyched just to find a cool leaf on the ground. In some ways, this makes it hard to shop for her. I suppose we could just scavenge in the yard but you can't really give a child detritus from a tree for her birthday.
Sandi came up with the idea to give her Ella's Leapfrog Tag reader (with Ella's blessing of course) and buy her a bunch of new books.
She was thrilled and has played with it every spare second since.
Ella (we) bought her this fairy she has been eyeing up in the checkout at Target for about 3 years. She was over the moon.
We also got her...wait for it....a little electronic drum set. Yes, we should have just gotten her a megaphone, but she had really wanted to be Marina from the Fresh Beat Band. We bought ourselves ear plugs.
Then out to Dysart's for breakfast!
And a waffle candle!!
Maya isn't big into cake. She requested rice krispy treats. How can you go wrong here?
When Maya was a baby she was, well, challenging. She fussed a lot and didn't like to stay still and taking her anywhere felt like walking next to a ticking bomb. But as she has aged, she has become the silly, affectionate, incredibly generous, easy going, hilarious and adorable child that we know and love. She still gets mad if you tell her no and she still stomps her feet and tells you "I DON'T LIKE YOU ANYMORE!" if you get in her way. But she always comes back for snuggles and hugs and to tell you: "I love you so, so, so, so, so, so, so much. You're my best friend. You're the best Momma/Mommy in the whole wide world."
There is no curly-headed, blue-eyed firecracker like her. She is our Maya. Happy birthday, baby girl.
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