Mama's Memories for M: My Baby is 5!!

Maliana ~

So, putting you to bed on Sunday night and this happened...
my Facebook status below:
~ got to love when you're putting your kid to bed and they exclaim with a fist pump..."I can't wait for tomorrow! It's my lucky day!" ...wish I could get that excited about a Monday!
You crack me up!

Home from work on Monday...Lao Lao surprise-picked you up from school and took you to run errands to Jo Ann Fabric. Brought home a crazy "Nuts and Bolts" set to make a dinosaur...it has a crazy insane number of pieces to it, but you love it.

working on assembling your million piece dinosaur

Then as I finished cooking dinner, I hear you exclaim "Daddy!!" and knew that Daddy had just pulled up outside. I absolutely love hearing your excitement when you see your Daddy get home, but I'm sure Daddy probably adores hearing it twice as much as me. No matter what kind of day either Daddy or I have had...any stress or disappointment just melts away when we hear that squeaky little voice yell our name and feel your arms and legs wrap around us in a big bear hug. Definite perk of parenthood!

Birthday prep was well underway after school on Tuesday, with you helping me put the finishing touches on your dinosaur cupcakes and at various moments exclaiming, "I'm so excited!" and skipping or hopping or dancing around the house. Love to see that kind of joy in you (even when I am dog tired myself and barely able to keep up)!

most important job...putting the dinos on top!

love that funky outfit of yours!

I got a little sentimental though, just before bedtime when I realized it was your last night to go to sleep as a four year old! Where has my baby gone? Of course, my sappiness was soon replaced with a case of the giggles when I asked you to give me your best four year old pose and this is what I got...

oh my...so much sass in this picture...
where did you come up with this pose anyway!?!

Before I went to bed on the eve of your birthday...I sat down and wrote a little note to your birth mom, your first mom...if you missed it before, here's the link.

So...let me just say that your birthday surprise, the one I've been worried about pulling off for the past week or so, was a smashing success! I went in to wake you up at about 7:30am and you were slow to open your eyes, but as soon as I said, "Mali...you're five years old today!" you gave a big grin, even before lifting your eyelids. Here is a little video of what happened once you emerged from the bedroom...

SURPRISE!!

As you settled in for breakfast and ate a blue donut from your donut tower, you looked around and surveyed the decorations a bit more and said, "Mom, I want to do the same thing when I turn 6!" Ha. I love that you loved it so much that you want a repeat and are already thinking ahead to next year!

balloon gauntlet down the hallway

streamer finish line to bust into your fifth year!

kitchen decorations

Buddy the T-Rex balloons

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

check out the snow outside too...so pretty
and one perk of a March birthday

whoa! look at that donut tower!

mmmmm!

holy blue teeth Batman!

I left work early and brought your special dinosaur cupcakes and goodie bags for your preschool class, with you bouncing over to me as soon as I walked in the door, exclaiming "I am so excited to be 5!" Your friends loved the cupcakes and excitedly chatted about what kind of dinosaur they had on their treat. I sat back and watched you happily take charge and proudly pass out plates and napkins to all of your friends. You are so sweet and kind to everyone. Warms my heart to see.

homemade dino cupcakes for your preschool class

all your idea...chocolate with blue, white, and orange icing

For dinner, went headed to CPK with Daddy and you caught up on all of the texts and calls you kept getting from friends and family to wish you a "Happy Birthday!"

I think this was Audrey Ayi who was wishing you a Happy Birthday!

While we waited for our food we let you open your gift, a bunch of toy figures from your favorite Dinosaur Train, and an actual train for them to ride. Your reaction was priceless as you peered in the box and realized what it was. You were so excited and appreciative...I actually got tears in my eyes just watching your joy. You exclaimed, "You're the best mom ever!" and "This is the best birthday ever!" at dinner...counting down the minutes until we could go home and you could play with all of your new critters. Not only were you so grateful for your gift, but Daddy and I are so grateful to have such a thankful and considerate kiddo. How did we get so lucky?

first glimpse

second glimpse

YES! just what you wanted!! love that face!!

And while we walked back to the car, you wanted to carry your own box of dinos and walk all on your own...which was refreshing since you usually demand to be carried at times like this. Daddy I joked that now we know the trick to getting you to walk places...just give you a box of dinos and you're good to go. Ha.

Once home...you began getting excited about our beach trip this summer and here's what it led to:

my FB caption on this picture read:
"So...Mali has begun packing for our beach trip with family and friends in
June ...I don't know whether to be excited or nervous."

Thursday night...this happened:

we're going to see Lily and the Plastic Purple Purse!

my FB status/caption read:
"Daddy gets a boys' night at the hockey game so we get a girls' night at the Columbus Children's Theatre!"

You loved this play...with mice as all the characters and a spunky little girl mouse named Lily who burst onto the stage with a guitar, wore red cowboy boots throughout the entire play and was very outspoken and unique. Reminded me of a certain other little someone I know. It was such a spontaneously fun evening with two of my favorite ladies. Love it when nights like this just work out!

Friday was our second trip to the new speech therapist and our girls' breakfast before school tradition. There was quite a bit of skipping on your part so I could tell you were enjoying yourself. The entire way to school we played a game of "watch out for semis and flying monkeys (aka green cars)" and I must say it got a little crazy. I can only imagine what the other drivers thought as we zoomed past. I guess I got a little carried away too because at one point you stopped and asked, "Mom, are you just playing?" Ha. Once at school you gave me a huge hug, unwilling to let go, but what made it a little easier to leave was the fact that your friends announced your arrival and were so very happy to see you, welcoming you into their activities.

Saturday we headed to your dance class and then to an impromptu breakfast at Bob Evans with Mia and her mom Michelle. It was nice to sit and chat while you girls did your typical preschool thing. Luckily we were in the corner so you could scoot around on the floor with your cars without disturbing too many people. Before we left you both got a little silly as you can tell by this picture of me paying our bill...

don't we look like one of those horse Halloween
costumes where one person is the head
and another is the behind?

Saturday continued to be a gorgeous day with lots of blue skies and sunshine so once home we decided to hang the bird and squirrel feeders.

ahhh...blue skies how we have missed you!

As we were putzing in the garage, you heard the mailman come down the street. When I asked if you wanted to go get the mail, you exclaimed, "Hey Mom! Maybe it's our friend!" Yes, you love our mailman Will. He is a big guy with reddish brown hair, a big bushy beard to match...and a heart of gold. He is so sweet and you treat him like a rock star. You ran out with a spring in your step and a huge smile and got the mail directly from him in the mailtruck...I'm not quite sure whose day was made more.

That night, you were supposed to have a Grandma Date to Melting Pot, but Memaw was really sick and Memaw Lisa had made other plans, so the Grandma Date was postponed but Lao Lao made sure to still come over and scoop you up, take you to the park, and then to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt. When you came home you were so excited to show me the dog toy you had picked out just for Abby, were singing (and doing a silly dance to) Heywood Banks, and evidently when you had originally gotten in the car with Lao Lao had told her, "Lao Lao, I want you to stay here forever!" Her heart not only completely melted but darn near exploded. While the official Grandma Date was kaput, I am so glad you got to spend this special time with Lao Lao. It doesn't take much to make a world of difference...you had so much fun!

you wouldn't cooperate with any pictures until
you were captive in the car, ha!

It was gorgeous outside once again on Sunday so while Daddy and I finished getting ready to leave for the afternoon, we agreed to let you hang out and wait for us outside on the porch with a neighborhood girl, Addison. The screen was open so I could hear your little conversation and it was so cute. You are an amazingly sweet kid and such the "little adult" as I heard you yelling, "Hi Zach!" and "Hi Jenny! Hi Roman!" to each of the neighbors next door as they arrived home. So friendly. Glad you feel so comfortable in our neighborhood and even more glad that you are so awesome at obeying the rules...you stayed on our porch even when Addison wandered off, just hanging out and enjoying the fresh air. You are such a good kid through and through.

it's almost that time...when kids will once
again rule the neighborhood

Once Daddy and I were all ready, we capped off our weekend and headed to Lithopolis for a great visit to your Aunt Beth and Uncle Kevin's where you enjoyed the wonderful spring weather with your cousins, getting good and muddy in their backyard, driving their golf cart around, and laughing your butts off. I love that all four of you get along so beautifully!