THREE

It was easily the best birthday yet.


Three.

This past Monday, we celebrated the little man who made us parents.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said the celebration was confined to only one day...we went ahead and wrecked all hopes for small-scale birthdays in the future by welcoming surprises, gifts, and visitors for several days before and after the actual day...not to mention throughout all hours of The B-Day - not just at the party. Go big or go home, right?!?

Jared's mom came in all the way from Tampa on Saturday, so we enjoyed a few days with her before the official festivities got under way. With her, we took the boys out to The Rainforest Cafe in Katy for the first time and it was such an awesome adventure. The boys had the best time exploring the jungle, and Henry was ecstatic when we had the waitstaff bring out a giant chocolate cake with a sparkler on top. They even sang him Happy Birthday, and the little man soaked it right up!! Last year, I think it would have completely overwhelmed him to be sung to by strangers...I love the difference a year makes. :)

On the big day, Jon-Jon brought birthday donuts over before the Birthday Boy even woke up. As he came down the stairs and realized what awaited him, the excitement began. I'm not sure it's ended yet...six days later.

Paw Paw dropped by with a few flying surprises.

Jonathan came back by for a second bite at the birthday present apple...he just couldn't wait until the evening for Henry to open his gift. Ha! Heyyer came over too, and we all had so much fun trying out the new weaponry. So much for age-appropriate and politically correct.....well on my way to winning my bid for Mother of the Year, I know. 

For the party, we enjoyed another family-only, low-key affair. We started off with dinner at a local Hibachi grill, which proved to be a perfect choice. Both of our kiddos scarfed down their suppers and loved the chef entertainment. Everything went so smoothly at dinner that, as we were leaving, I think we both sort of felt like we stole something, you know? Perfect dinners out are not exactly in our reportoire these days, so we were so pumped that the birthday magic was with us on this oh-so-special evening.

My mom and dad had everyone over to their house for the cake and presents part of the evening. We needed the space of their downstairs for the cake part (a small family gathering amounts to 16 people!)...and the cul-de-sac outside for the present part. Needless to say, Henry is at no risk whatsoever for becoming un-spoiled anytime soon. He received so many wonderful gifts from our family, and he has enjoyed every single one of them this week. Note to all parents of boys: I highly recommend ANYTHING by Imaginext (Fisher Price's toddler line) for boys of this age....since the bday, Henry is never without one of his new airplanes, helicopters, space shuttles, etc...all Imaginext...all suhhh-weeeeeet!

Family birthday cake picture!   


Mommy and Henry


Mommy and Daddy's big surprise!
 
It was a hit!!! We were just a little nervous that he would be scared to ride it...haaaa...
    

The kids were jumping curbs (on purpose) within 5 minutes.

The day was exactly as we had hoped it would be for our little big man. All of his favorite people, doing all of his favorite things, eating all of his favorite foods, and playing with all of his favorite toys.

I stumbled across this picture from last year's birthday...look at those chubber hands and babyface!! I just can't believe another year has flown by already...this is all going by much too fast for me.

A few days after the party, we visited our pediatrician for the big 3-year old check-up. It was his first "shot" appointment since, I think, 18 months...so I was a little nervous for him. Y'all know he isn't the least demonstrative kid on the block. :) He did cry a little at the stick but he was far and away more pissy about the band-aid that the nurse tried to put on his leg afterwards. The H-man just doesn't 'do' sticky things (band-aids, stickers, tattoos), so as soon as we got into the car, he ripped it off. As he did, he proclaimed loudly and laughing, "Now I'm better, mommy...I took that hurting shot right off!!" When we got home, he told Jared that he was sad when he first got his shot but he was much better after he ripped it off in mommy's car. Works for me.

So, on the week he turned three years old, Mr. Henry was 42 inches tall, 41.5 pounds, had hit all of the milestones for this age, believed that band-aids are shots, was ready for a car-date, learned how to shoot a gun, loved his family more than anything else in his world, and had the very best birthday ever.

Happy birthday to our special boy!