Three

Since Charlotte’s birthday was on a Tuesday this year we held her party the Saturday before.  Which left us with a day full of whatever she wanted on her actual birthday.  The whole birthday party wasn’t on her actual birthday did confuse her a little, she’s only three after all, but she was excited to have ANOTHER day that was all about her!

The night before Jason and I worked hard to get everything ready for her birthday.  We hung the birthday banner that I made for her first birthday, wrapped her presents and set them out, arranged the purple flowers that Jason got her for her birthday, and made a — what we thought would be fun — streamer and balloon concoction for her door!

After I fed James we headed upstairs to wake the birthday girl up.  I continued the tradition that my Mom started with me and my brother by playing the “Happy Birthday to You” song from Mickey’s Splashdance as I went into her room.  James and I danced and sang to wake Charlotte up while she looked at us a little like we were crazy.  About halfway through the song she said, “This is a REALLY long song!” but she let me sing all I wanted.  I then snapped some pictures of the birthday girl in all her sweet bedhead glory.

When we started talking about what she wanted to do for her birthday she said that she wanted to go to the playground in our neighborhood.  Every time we drive by it she says, “You’ve GOT to take me back to that playground!” so we thought that her birthday would be the perfect re-introduction.  Unfortunately, it rained the whole afternoon and night before her birthday so it was foggy and wet on her birthday and we didn’t want to get stuck in the mud on the way to the playground.  So I improvised by suggesting a trip to Memma and Papa’s.

Charlotte was pretty disappointed about not being able to go to the park but perked up when I mentioned that I had a special birthday breakfast for her.  Her favorite: doughnuts!  With that she was quick to jump out of bed, pick out an outfit, and head downstairs so that we could take doughnuts down to Memma and Papa’s to eat them.  We also took her yearly birthday plate that I got, again, from Paper Doll Designs.

After breakfast Charlotte opened her presents from Memma and Papa.  Since it was soggy outside Papa cleared out the garage so that she could open her biggest present down there.  She was so excited to see her very own big red ball!

Almost as soon as we got down in the garage I checked my watch and it was Charlotte’s birth minute!  Every year I’ve gotten a picture of her at her birth minute and this year was no exception!

After her birth minute picture it was time for some fun playtime!

After Charlotte ate lunch and I fed James we moved on to Charlotte’s second request for her day: a trip to the yogurt place!  Memma and Papa joined us and we had fun watching Charlotte drink every last drop from her bowl!

Sadly, it was then time for a nap.  I was afraid that Charlotte wouldn’t sleep but she must have been exhausted from all of her morning activities and napped really well.  When she got up we played at home and waited for Daddy to get home from work.  Once he joined our party it was time to open presents!

I love her expressions in the pictures while she was opening presents.  She was so excited about everything!  Her most excited face was probably for the set of purple sheets that I picked up a few months ago! She is loving them!  She is also loving her Minnie that she can dress up in birthday gear!

After opening presents we took some pictures before heading to dinner with Memma, Papa, and Char Char.  I forgot to take pictures but our dinner was wonderful and Charlotte enjoyed yet another bowl of ice cream!  

We had a wonderful day celebrating Charlotte’s third birthday.  It’s still hard for me to believe that we have a three year old.  It seems like just yesterday Jason was putting her in my arms for the first time!  Happy Birthday Charlotte!