Happy Birthday Naida!

Dear Naida,

I can't believe it, but you turned 3 years old just a few weeks ago. I remember the night I found out I was pregnant with you and we called Nana and Grandpa to tell them Zebadiah Moon was on his/her way. Little did they know we were kidding and knew your name would be Naida Lynn long before you were a little bean in my belly. You have always been a great kid to have around, but now that your 3, you are so much fun! We have real conversations and your quickly developing likes, dislikes and the many ways to let us know what they are. I love how you can't yet manage the word 'lollipop' for some reason and have to say it as 'larry pop'. I offer them to you more than I should just to get a good laugh. It's like I can see your tongue turning in your mouth and something just won't let 'lolli' come out. It is funny! You still have plenty of time to get away with mispronouncing things, so I'm going to let it slide for a while for my own entertainment.

You became a big sister this past year and I was really nervous about how you would feel and act about sharing us with a new human. Well, you've really taken to this new human, Sabine, and have shown us we had nothing to worry about. You have to know where she is at all times and you are the only person I know so far that can make her smile and laugh anytime, anywhere. She adores you and I can see the joy just beaming from you as you wear the big sister shoes around here! Just today I picked you up from daycare and you immediately said 'Where's my baby?'. Good to know if I ever forget her somewhere, you'll let me know (but don't worry, I won't).

I have to say that I am super proud of you for figuring out how to take care of business so that I don't have to pay for diapers or pull-ups for you anymore! You learned this on the week of my birthday this past September and I couldn't have asked for a better present! Thanks kiddo!

You light up my life and heart and our home and the earth just wouldn't spin right without you on it. Thanks for the wonderful ride these past 3 years, I can't wait for what our lives together hold!

I love you Naida Bug...Love,

Mom


I'll recap the wild and crazy birthday celebrations below in pictures, since that's what most people read blogs for anyway!

Naida's actual birthday fell on a Friday, the day I choose to do all scheduled doctor's visits. Since we now have Sabine in the mix, it was time for her 6 mo checkup, Naida's 3 year and Naida's first dentist visit. Yes, I am Mom-of-the-Year and scheduled all appointments on her actual birthday! However, she didn't have to get any shots at the doctor and we played up the dentist so big, that she was super excited. Let me tell you, if you ever schedule a dentist appointment for a child at a pediatric dentist, do it on their birthday - this kid walked away with enough toothbrushes to get us to age 8, stickers, bouncy balls, jewelry, a glove balloon, pencils galore, toothbrushes for her sister, toothpaste, and floss things for kids that I didn't even know existed and find quite impossible to use! We also had a talk about how bad fruit snacks are for teeth and Naida came home and trashed them all and tells me often that they put ouchies on teeth! This visit couldn't have gone any better...I can't wait to go back, I mean, Naida can't wait!

The anticipation...not too terrible since they were playing The Backyardigans on a tv above her chair!
First she pics out a beautiful yellow bracelet and then the entertainment begins with rubber glove balloons!
Getting a play by play from Dr. T about how this adventure will goDr. T showing Naida how all the instruments would feel in her mouth
This chair was magic and would only move up and down if Naida pressed on her nose :)She did spectacular and followed directions to a T for Dr. T

Daddy, Sabine and I took Naida to Chuck E Cheese on her birthday weekend. It was something she'd never done before and really not too bad of an experience. I was imagining boogers all over the place or having to watch kids puke on a ride that my child was also on. However, none of this happened and we're about 2 weeks from it and nobody is terribly ill so we must have dodged any mean germs!



This year we decided to throw Naida a birthday party. She hasn't had an official party since her 1st bday with some family and friends, so we thought we'd do something small. Well, that idea escalated into a birthday extravaganza that I can say many lessons were learned, but it turned out so great, that I wouldn't change a thing! Biggest lesson learned - Subway party subs are double in width. We ordered 4 party subs since we figured we'd feed parents too...about 35 people, and we have a whole 1.5 subs leftover. I had to walk the whole sub down to a neighbor's house that has 3 teenage boys or it was going to go to waste because Nick and I just can't eat subs that fast!

We decided to have the party at the gymnastics gym Naida takes classes at. They typically only do parties for 4 year olds and older, but made an exception because they like Naida so much (but who doesn't). The instructors actually said it was a wonderful party and all the kids payed great attention and didn't run around like lunatics as most 3 year olds do apparently!

Krista and Lukas came to visit from Indiana for the party! These kids have been hanging out since they were babies and now they're finally old enough to really enjoy each other. It was a great weekend!
Making non-Weight Watchers cookies. The things you do for kids!Krista helped Naida put together the goodie bags for her friends
The birthday room...a side room off of the main gymnastics room where the kids were tumbling

Naida and her BFF Elana!Bouncing with Ms. JillAJ rocketing off the trampoline!Bang, bang choo choo train (is that bad when talking about 3 year olds?). Lining up we have Naida, Maisie, Elana and good ol' Andrew
A slightly longer train and Charlie, Lukas and India have joined!Balancing on one leg. It's funny to watch kids master things like this...something only parents can get all giddy about b/c otherwise, who really cares!
Bear crawling up the ladder. This was the first event in the obstacle course and when the instructors expected complete chaos to ensue with children running every direction. However, this crew lined up and did each little stage one by one. I think it might have something to do with the fact that these are all daycare kids and they've been doing things in a line and as groups for a couple of years. Who knows, just an opinion.Bounce yourself right to a good nap Naida...thanks!Lucy on the rings! Naida hated these when she started gymnastics a year ago and now swings from them and lands in a circle mat...she loves it. Kids are funnySuper Andrew!! One of Naida's main squeezes (yes Charlie, you are the other)Sabine was all smiles just watching all the kids run aroundAndrew and Pat on the high high balance beam! Go Andrew!Charlie man on the balance beam!AJ and India on the uneven bars and rolling matParachute time!Parachute Madness!Time to eat! Subway sandwiches, chips, juice boxes and cake. I just couldn't do the typical pizza and be on Weight Watchers - yes, this was me being controlling.
So Nick and I didn't understand why the kids here never open presents at the party. We were starting to think it was a regional thing and we were just weird Texans and the kids always opened presents. Well, it was quite clear when the party was over and these kids are not old enough to hold attention on one kid opening presents! It is a much better idea to do this at home for a few more years - now I think these northerners are smarties!Sabine enjoyed watching Naida open presents and neatly folded all the wrapping paper for me!This kid can't get enough lip gloss and chapstick or anything girly! Her friends gave her the best gifts ever!!
Yes girlfriends, that is Strawberry Shortcake and yes, she still smells super plastically fabulous!This picture is only on here to show the dress up shoes she's sporting. Hilarious!
Thanks to everyone who was a part of Naida's 3rd birthday celebration! It was unforgettable!