26

On August 8th I celebrated my 26th birthday!  That morning I took the kids to a pet store (just to look at the animals for FUN.  We are not at all buying a pet!), and then to Barnes & Noble next door so Eli could play with their train table (oh the things moms come up with to do to keep their kids busy and happy).  : )

David took a half day of work, and at 3:00 his mom came over to baby-sit Eli while the rest of us drove down to Castleton.  We wanted to spend some of our gift card to Buy Buy Baby, and that's where the closest one is.  It really wasn't a very good idea to shop with David (especially for baby items), because we can really disagree on how (or should I say IF) we want to spend money.  So it wasn't the most pleasant of outings.  However, I did pick out several adorable little girl outfits from their clearance section!

After we shopped, David hung out at Nordstrom Rack while I fed Clara in the car.  It was my first time ever nursing a baby in the car and boy am I not a fan!  It was hot and neither one of us liked using the cover, and even though we parked away from other cars I still felt like people could see me.  A very stressful feeding session!

Next we ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory!  We've never had dinner there before and I couldn't believe what a huge menu selection they have!  I ate a super yummy dinner (the best I've had at a restaurant in a long time).  I had to hold Clara through dinner so I spaced getting a picture taken of us.  She just barely made it through dinner and then I had to go feed her again while Dave ordered me dessert to go.  Even though it wasn't the smoothest evening, it was still really nice getting a night out (sort of).  : )  Back at home David and I watched the movie Big Fish.  We'd never seen it before (it's a little older) but we both really liked it.

The following day my mom came over to help get some more work done in the nursery, and then host a family birthday party for me at my house.  She made a delicious dinner--BBQ chicken, fruit salad, seven-layer salad, with my traditional chocolate cake with raspberry filling and cool whip topping.  My parents, sister, and brother-in-law came for the dinner and party.

I received such terrific presents!  A new dress, slippers, cookie sheets, Target gift cards, gift cards to restaurants, nightgowns, magnets, flip-flips, a new cookbook, several good recipes from my sisters (as well as some ingredients to make those recipes), and two awesome books!  The books I got are A Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood by Linda Eyre, and Deliberate Motherhood: 12 Key Powers of Peace, Purpose, Order, & Joy by The Power of Moms.  I'm 1/3 of the way finished with the first book and have really enjoyed it.  I love reading mothering books as they give such great ideas and help me think about the way I'm mothering and what I can do better.  As I've been reading though I thought that it'd be good to get some books on marriage relationships, too.  Good thing Christmas is right around the corner!

The birthday girl.  I look a little tired, wouldn't you say?  Life with a two-year-old and two-week-old.  : )

Eli grinned from ear to ear when he saw the birthday cake all lit up.  He was so helpful at blowing out those candles with me!

I have so much to be grateful for in my life, and am thankful for my friends and family who made my birthday feel like a special day.