Birthdays, Crafting and Name Writing

The first few months of the year are always busy in our home.  We have three birthdays, an anniversary and Valentine's all in a 7 week time frame. The first of our celebrations this year was my birthday followed by Jim's (Daddy's) birthday two weeks later.  Two weeks from now we celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day all in one day and 2 short weeks after that is our baby's first birthday... sound exhausting?  Yup, but also tons of fun especially with a 3 year old who is wild about birthdays.

We have run with this birthday enthusiasm to teach her about the calendar, time, seasons and the chronological order of events.  She can now list all the birthdays we celebrate in our home in order of how they occur and will recite this list to any living person or animal she encounters. She also knows that her birthday is in the SUMMER while every one else in her family was born in the WINTER but even without any birthdays during it she has declared FALL to be her favorite season.

Mommy's Birthday

Daddy's Birthday

Jenna's Birthday

Lucy's Birthday

Duke's Birthday

Jesus' Birthday

As part of the celebrations, we have been busy making everything from banners to poof balls, custom hats topped with crepe paper roses and yarn pom poms.   I honestly don't know who has had more fun, the 3 year old or the 3 year old's Momma.  Here are a few pictures of our creations....

These banners started out as practice for the birthday ones we are making for Jenna's party but ended up being used at one of the events by our Women's Ministry at church.

Last but not least I am so psyched to share that Lucy wrote her name for the very first time Today!  She normally traces it but for a while now I've known that she could do it on her own even without the tracing paper.  A pink lollipop provided all the motivation she needed to get courageous and go for it.  She did add eyes and a nose to the U and the C after hearing Mommy tell her that these letters are just like a happy face, one looking up and one looking sideways :)  Take a looksie!

I don't know what it is about this name writing milestone that has got me all sentimental.  My little girl is growing up :(