Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

I worked ten hours without a lunch break yesterday. I stayed up late baking cupcakes, and I was up at 4 a.m. so I could get them frosted before having to head out this morning. I found out yesterday afternoon they're doing the glucose tolerance test on me at the OBGYN today, so I've not been allowed to eat anything since midnight, and likely won't be eating until 11 a.m.

But I have no time for self-pity, for today...

The-Four-Year-Old becomes The-Five-Year-Old.

It's amazing how fast five years flies by.

Here's a picture of her aged about seven months or so. As you can see, her love of books started early.

Here she is almost aged two. She picked up her fashion tips from her father.

What's most amazing to me is that she was born less than two hundred miles from where we live now. Considering how much we've moved in the last five years, I never would have imagined we would be so close to where she was born.

My darling child has only asked for three things for her birthday.

A chess set.

Dinner at Carrabba's Italian Restaurant.

A chocolate cheesecake.

She's getting all three.

TFYO has been asking for a chess set since last summer. When I told her she was too young to have a chess set, she said she'd be old enough when she was five. I told her if she still wanted a chess set when she was five she could have one. And she's been reminding me of that promise ever since.

When I asked what she wanted for dinner, she said Carrabba's, because they sing "Happy Birthday" in Italian to you.

And when I asked what kind of birthday cake she wanted she said "Cheesecake, a chocolate one, with blue writing. But the writing has to be blue, okay?"

And that's all okay by me.

Happy Birthday, dear one, I hope you enjoy it.