Monday, July 18, 2005

Gifts that keep giving

They say it’s my birthday. On Friday my BFF Patrice surprised me with a microwave veggie steamer set. This sort of practical gift is my absolute favorite kind. Some girls might prefer diamonds and perfume – but I’m a sucker for a veggie steamer and a Dustbuster. Mark laments “But that’s for the house,” but getting things for the house makes me happy. Mark and Noah gave me CDs (The Killers, Hot Hot Heat, and more Bollywood Favorites) and two nights next weekend at a Seaside beach motel. Music and memories – divine. And I got some overly generous cash donations from Mom, Mark’s Dad & Sylvia, and Mark’s Grandmother. I can’t wait to buy myself some clothes – these plastic trash sacks are getting a bit tired. And the best birthday gifts are all the warm wishes from friends and family members. I am one very lucky 31 year old to have so many loving people in my life.

Saturday we trucked to Qtown so that we could go out to dinner and leave Mr. Noah with my Mom. Once again she gave us a lovely gift certificate for dinner at the Washington House. The meal was good and so was the company – thank you Mr. Mark. Luckily we survived braving the Hawaiian shirt and lei bedecked crowds attending the Jimmy Buffet inspired Parrot Beach show next door at Sellersville Theater. Good Lord. Sunday we left the monkey with his Grandma again so we could go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The original is one of my favorite movies and though I don’t think the remake necessarily stood up, it was enjoyable and visually stunning. Depp of course was oddly darling. My one big complaint is that the Oompa Loompa songs were dreadful. There were a ton of kids in the theater – many belonging to the family in front of us, who had 7! The 3 year old boy directly in front of us got quite bored after awhile and began entertaining himself by growling, running up and down the row, and throwing a shawl up into the air. Sort of aggravating in a way, but I couldn’t help laughing. In fact he made the movie more enjoyable. All the popcorn, soda and candy we ate held us over until my Dad treated Noah, Mark and I to dinner at Bubba’s Pot Belly Stove. Our meal was good and ENORMOUS – especially after sucking down that piece of delicious Key Lime Pie. Mark looked like he might burst afterwards. Thank God I didn’t get to eat much of my salad – Noah knocked it on the floor with his foot while I handed him over the table to Mark so I could retrieve Noah’s pacifier from under the foot of another restaurant patron. Luckily the restaurant was busy and a bit loud – so people weren’t disturbed by Noah’s loud squeals of excitement at dinner. My Dad said that people don’t mind loud, happy babies – as long as Noah wasn’t crying that he was a model restaurant patron.

It was a fun and filling weekend. Tonight we’ll celebrate the actual day of my birth with a trip to Babies R Us to price gates. Of course much of the weekend was spent marveling at Noah’s crawling. That boy gets around. It’s insane how much has changed in one week. Last Monday – no crawling. This Monday – all crawling, all the time. It’s a whole new world. It is this sort of exciting change that makes the passing of another year feel triumphant rather than sad. In the past year my life has changed drastically, I've learned volumes and received the one thing I've wanted more than anything else in the world - to be a mom. It is a very Happy Birthday indeed. Love to you all.

13 comments:

hazel said...

yay crawling! and yay birthday. I'm glad you had a good weekend with both of your parents. I know that means alot to you.

Kathryn said...

Happy Birthday!

amandak said...

Happy Birthday to you! And congrats on your crawler. I found that mine were much more satisfied with their lot in life when they could prople themselves toward whichever toy or household item they were craving.

Have fun at Babies-R-Us. Love that place.

amandak said...

that was supposed to be propel, not prople, but you know what I'm saying, right?

dasereht said...

There once was a woman named Niki
Who saw two lines on the doohickey

After months four plus five
Master Noah'd arrive

And her whole world would change very quickly!


Now this boy is a lovable sprite
(Though sometimes he won't sleep through the night)

He's cheerful and pleasant
The best birthday present

Since he brings his sweet mom such delight.

Happy Birthday!

NME said...

Amanda- I hear you loud and clear, no matter where you put the e.

And I'm putting Theresa's poem in the front of Noah' baby book. FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

The funny thing about movement milestones is how easily you forget what it was like before they could move. When my son started crawling within a couple of weeks it was hard to remember him just being a lump on the floor. Now that he's walking it's strange to see him crawl.

Kodi said...

Cool. 31 is a great birthday. I loved my 31st birthday. So here is a big smooch and Happy B-day from me. MMMWWAHHH! I, unfortuneately will turn 34 on July 27th. Missuzj is turning 30. It's a birthdaypalooza for then next little while.

MC said...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Missuz J said...

I had thought to write you a b-day haiku, but it would SO pale in comparison to Theresa's fab birthday limerick. So--I'll just be dull and say happy birthday. I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog, and that you were sweet enough to become interested in Sophie and I. You and Noah have brightened several of my days. Thanks

Katy said...

If we lived in the same town I would bake you one of my famous carrot cakes. Which is really saying something, they're a pain and I only make them for the people I really REALLY like. Happy Birthday to one great lady.

NME said...

Birthday Palooza! Bring it on. Are Kodi & Becca Leos?

Missuz J - That was so sweet. I'm so glad you stumbled across us too. I always look forward to a new post from you. I really enjoy your perfect balance of the funny realism and the sweet appreciation of being a mom. And Sophie just makes me laugh.

Katy - Mmmm. I LOVE carrot cake. I wish I could fly you out to bake it for me.

Missuz J said...

I'm a leo, erik's a leo and sophie is a leo. Dude. We really should just hire a family therapist to just live here. I guess Kodi is too.