And Now We Are Three

A birthday tradition--Lily's birthday balloon bouquet, which she joyfully parades around the house.

For many weeks Lily had been counting down the days until her birthday ("it's December firteen!" she'd proudly proclaim if you asked her), and at the very first and faintest hint of dawn on her special day she called excitedly from her bedroom, "Mommy, it's daytime now! I want to get up!"

Three, we've decided, is really the most magical age--too young to be cynical, but just old enough to begin to understand the magic of things like birthdays and Christmas. And so it was with Lily on her third birthday. The idea of presents was not even on her radar, the sweet little thing. Instead, the first thing she eagerly asked to do on her birthday was to open the next little door on her sparkling advent calendar, our daily December ritual that she has come to adore. She was also giddy with excitement over the prospect of eating cupcakes and having "all her people" (her family) come over to her house later in the day to sing "Happy Birthday" to her.

And so, the girl was completely taken by surprise when, coming downstairs for breakfast, she found a brand new play kitchen all set up and waiting for her, right next to Mommy's. She was so excited she jumped up and down and yelled, "I have my very own kitchen!" over and over. Lily was in heaven. For hours that morning she played and played and played in her kitchen while I iced cupcakes and prepared lunch for our party guests. How fun it was, both of us "cooking" at the same time!



All of Lily's beloved "people" braved the icy, cold rain and gathered at her house that afternoon for lunch, cupcakes, and presents. It all made Lily so very, very happy. But of all these things, what truly made her happiest was having her family gathered around her. The very next day, on the way home from school, Lily asked if "all her people could please come over again today."


Gigi and Weezie help Lily to blow out her candles.


Lily, with cousins Grace and Nancy Rose, ready to open presents.


Lily (looking dazed after a long afternoon) and Grace hard at work in the kitchen.

Lily had a truly magical, special birthday. I don't think we've ever seen her happier or more sparkling than she was today. What a marvelous age, 3.