Birthday Girl

I turned thirty-one on Saturday.
Wow, that number didn't seem old until I just now saw it in print. 

I am ankle deep into my thirties & the truth is, I am loving it here. I am celebrating these glory years--fine lines that are popping up around my face & all. I am celebrating these best days of my life years.  I am celebrating the fact that I've never felt more settled, more at home with myself, more me in all my life. The view from here is pretty splendid.

Forget the birthday cake--Yogurtini, baby! Clearly, we were both pretty excited over our frozen yogurt.

And if you lived here at my house or hung out with my group of friends, you would learn real quick that we don't simply celebrate a birthday DAY around here; we celebrate an entire birthday MONTH. I'm talkin' as many birthday dinners with friends as we can cram into thirty days, little prizes sprinkled throughout the month, extra trips to Scooters for blended coffee treats--one day simply wouldn't be enough. Oh, & get this... I've even got my hubby trained for birthday month--he came home a handful of times throughout the month of April declaring the moment he walked in the door from work, "You're not cooking tonight. It's your birthday month." Sa-weet deal!

I have felt nothing short of celebrated over this entire month--from the packages & cards that have flooded my mailbox {I opened my mailbox one day to seven different packages}, to the phone calls, heartfelt presents & endless trail of facebook messages.

One of my friends summed it up quite perfectly--"You are one lucky girl." Indeed, I am.

And while I know birthdays aren't really supposed to be about gifts--I simply have to gush over the presents I received this year: a beautiful handmade quilt, in pops of pink & green & turquoise & orange--my best friend had a lady from our church make it for me & it could not be more "me". An outside glider swing from my mom & dad--perfect for the summer evenings that are on their way, where two certain littles will scrunch up next to Momma for some relaxin'. An ironing board cover that matches my hot pink laundry room to a tee--you know how I love me some household pretties. A new pair of Toms, a fabulous new Mom swimsuit. A book I've been dying to get my hands on & my nose into. The list goes on & on. Birthdays definitely are not about the presents...but let's face it, they sure do make it a whole lotta fun!

Saturday morning, after sleeping in until 9 {thank you, Jett Jett!}, I woke up to pink balloons & a bagel breakfast with my boys. It rained outside & we lounged together inside, just the three of us, noting that our family, in just a few short weeks was going to be taking on a whole new look. We cherished the togetherness & found pleasure in the simple--like reading Meatball's Dinosaur books to him over & over & over again--a perfect birthday, if you ask this momma.  Saturday evening, Jared & I were able to slip off for a little dinner & movie date night while Jett had a date of his own with Coach & Gigi.

Come bedtime Saturday night, I laid my head on my pillow, at the ripe ol' age of thirty one, counting my blessings & wondering how in the world I got so lucky. I have a full, abundant, overflowing life & I hope to never for a single moment, take it for granted.

Thank you to all of you who make this life of mine so blessed. You know who you are.

Now if you'll excuse me...according to my watch, I've still got a few hours left of Birthday Month. This birthday girl is going to grab her new book, sink into a warm, bubbly bath, & not emerge til' her skin is transformed to a wrinkly raisiny state.

Sounds like a pretty good finale to Birthday Month if you ask me.