Officially 30.
I won't lie, I have been dreading this day. It isn't that I necessarily cared about turning 30. What I have been anxious about was reaching such a milestone and entering a new phase of my life without my mom here with me as she has been for every part of my life. This week was tough for me.... Really, really tough. It brought uncontrollable sobs, unexplained bouts of tears, and mood swings up there with a hormonally charged pregnant woman! Thankfully, the anxiety-filled week was able to work out the kinks in advance because the actual day arrived and I was somehow NOT a basket case. This might be, in no small part, due to the fact that I have an amazing support system that surrounds me. My inner circle is fabulous and I spent the day feeling completely loved by those both physically near and far from me. Thank you to each of you.
What does a day in the life of "April turning 30" include you should ask? Waffles in bed, parks, coffee, movie nights, and a day full of junk food were the highlights. Enjoy some pictures as I walk you through the day :)
Friday brought a scary doctor's appointment that Eric ushered Brecken to solo, as I had an ESL conference that I had signed up for months ago. Brecken has been having these bizarre "blue lip episodes" and after multiple times in the past week, our pediatrician referred us to a pediatric cardiologist. Thankfully, the testing that was done Friday morning determined that B's heart looks FINE and that the blue lips, at this time, cannot be medically explained. It is really bizarre and makes me want to worry.... But the fact that he's had multiple tests and everything has come back "normal" let's me sleep at night. As you can see from the below picture, Brecken has NO time settling in and finding a spot to play in between doctors, nurses and tests. Here he looks like he has lined all of his animals up as if they are in time out??
Brecken and Daddy at the cardiologist.....
Friday night, April 16th, as the clock struck MY BIRTHDAY, I decided that I NEEDED to see Brecken. What started out as a quick cuddle with my sleeping Bug.....
.... quickly turned in to, "He is such a heavy sleeper! Do you think if I jumped on his bed he could sleep through it?
I can officially say Brecken IS one of the best sleepers on this planet!
It's a bird.... It's a plane.... It's SUPERMAN!
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT!!!!!!!! This included Toy Story 3, Pop. (long pause as if it is a totally different word, in a new sentence, in a new paragraph) Corn." as well as "can-ny" and "wawa" (water).
Picking out his favorite- "ye-yow" (yello)
Mommy and Brecken
Daddy and Brecken
The three kiddos
Enjoying the movie..... And candy and popcorn..... All equally I believe!
Brecken immediately assumed responsibility as the popcorn and candy owner and when Daddy asked if he could have some popcorn, the ONE kernel you see in this photo was the allotment Brecken saw fit.
Family Movie Night. What started out as "one kernel at a time" quickly turned into "one handful at a time."
As it turned out, Brecken did not just crash during the movie as we originally assumed he would. Instead, he was awake for the duration which concluded around 10:30. This might have been, in no small part, to the fact that he managed to eat almost the entire movie-theater-size box of Reeses Pieces himself. Our kid on a sugar high was quite the sight! After some 10:30pm snuggling with mommy, he was coaxed to sleep...
Family Movie Night has officially ended with a sleeping Brecken. We are currently camped out downstairs by the fireplace for the night :) What a great way to spend my 30th birthday.
Brecken has picked up on the art of "adult crossing of arms." It's funny to watch him imitate people.... And boy do we need to be careful of what he might pick up on and decide to mimic! Eeeeeek!
One of the many parks we've visited over the past few weeks....
Brecken and cousin Julia (Ju-ju)
Another park....
Helping pick out dirt to add to Mommy's garden....
A Brecken sized shopping cart seemed like a great idea.... Until we remembered that Brecken only goes one speed (which unfortunately happens to not include walking feet) and we realized how much damage one small cart could do to a display of cans and bottles :)
Celebrating the big 3-0.
Celebrating the big 3-0. Brecken's favorite part was singing and helping blow the candle out.... So he insisted that we reenact this scene a few hundred times during the eating of this dessert. Take a bite.... Put candle in.... "Happy Birthday to mommy" (sung by Brecken).... Spit, er, I mean "blow out the candle".... bite... Repeat.
Coloring on the table is always fun.... Where it is allowed. Wonder if this will cause any confusion later?
Brecken also learned (and loved) to "cheers" with Mommy and Daddy!
Eden Prairie Center indoor park....
Kids' play area at Once Upon a Child....
Some early morning reading....
Ride 'em cowboy....
Breakfast in bed for my 30th! I'm not sure if this was more exciting for me or Brecken.... He was CERTAINLY excited for his "waffles in bed!!!!!!!!"
Turtle and Brecken checking out the SNOW ON MOMMY'S BDAY?!?!!
Checking out his new playset as it is being set up in the backyard. We got a text on Wednesday that someone we know was taking theirs down and were we interested? Ummmm.... YES!
The finished product!!!
Now where did that bunny go??
Helping mommy with her make-up, or as Brecken calls it when applying the brush to anyone's cheeks "gettin' pretty."
Another park....
And finally, a few pictures from the last few weeks.....
Is that Woody from Toy Story in our kitchen?
Woody and Buzz. Disclaimer: "One size fits all" does NOT include parents, as it turns out :)
Woody
Woody's hat and Buzz's glove. Brecken assigned me the outfit and who am I to judge his ability to put things together?
Woody puts a puzzle together....
Loungin' at Papa Gott's a few weekends ago....
Brecken has taken a liking to putting his own hat on. He clearly no longer needs us!
Riding the see-saw with Michael:
Dirt shopping for mommy's garden...
Family Movie Night
Singing happy birthday to mommy..... Which was sometimes changed to "Happy Birthday to ME!"