It’s Great To Be Eight!

*Just a little note: I wrote half of this on Friday on her birthday but finished it Sunday. Lame how it didn't save the date of her birthday for the post.

My little girl is not so little anymore.  Téa finally turned 8 today.  The anticipation for this birthday has been at it’s peak all week.  She’s just really sad that she has to wait a whole month to be baptized. 

Of course, Téa had to wake up early since she was so excited to open presents.  She’s lucky it was her birthday or I would have sent her back to bed.

Don’t you love the crown Mark made?

Since her birthday was on a school day it was low-key.  I made her favorite breakfast, Dutch Babies (some of you call them German pancakes, whatever).  They are a great excuse to have lemon juice and powered sugar in the morning.  Yum.  I did buy some treats to share with her classroom.  I had Calista and Piper with me when I brought the brownies to the school and Téa was just so proud to show off her sisters.  Most days my girls do love each other.  We topped the night off with Movie Night and let Téa pick the movie (and eat endless amounts of super buttery popcorn). 

It’s hard to believe it’s already been eight years since the day I became a mother.  I still remember so well the feelings I had the day she was born and how worried I was when I didn’t hear her cry for a few minutes.  I didn’t even get to see what she looked like for a good 25 minutes and it about killed me.  After 9 months of carrying her I just wanted to hold her in my arms and see her face.  The doctors whisked her away to the other side of the room before I could catch a glimpse of her.  That day was the start of a whole new life for me; one I would never change for anything.  What greater calling is there in life than being a mother? 

I normally don’t get sappy on here but turning eight is a big deal in our religion and I guess it makes me ponder things a whole lot more.  And the fact that last night we found The Perfect Dress for her baptism was kind of an emotional moment for me.  We made it a date night for just the two of us.  We went to eat first and then headed to Dressed In White.  A few hours before I had checked out the website to know what to expect cost wise.  I found the dress that I wanted for her but didn’t say anything about which one it was in the store.  We tried on four dresses which according to her weren’t too “frilly”.  I was excited that my favorite was in the running.  After trying on all of them she chose her favorite…which just happened to be my favorite.  It is simple, yet elegant for our little lady.  Only 27 more days until the baptism…but who’s counting?  And the birthday party is tomorrow.