Rock's First Birthday Party

Lots of friends came. We had so much fun. Of course, it started late because people got really lost on the way. I don't know why "I live in the airport" can't mean "park in that huge airport parking lot," but it never seems to mean that. When we have people over more often, it will get easier, I'm sure, and maybe things can start on time.

I made a beautiful tractor cakewreck with a field cake for everyone. For Rock (and my diabetic dad), I made a mild apple spice cake with homemade applesauce, almond flour, and fresh whipped cream. Yum!

I was a little surprised Rock still fits into the shirt and overalls that my mom and dad got him for Christmas, but he does. It's still so cute. We had to change him into short overalls after the cake because he had cake ALL over his pants. So cute.

I loved the tractor theme. I can't wait to have another tractor party. Maybe two.

And my birthday…

I can't believe that I didn't say anything about my birthday, either. I love my birthday SO much. I am a little bit of a fanatic. Every year, I try so hard not to mention it, but I am just so excited that it's all I can talk about for weeks beforehand. I feel like such a five-year-old about my stupid birthday (I don't really mean stupid, because my birthday is easily the coolest day of the year). I always say, "I love my birthday" in a way that reminds me of when sweet little Elena Vargas turned five. It was on a fast Sunday and she got up and bore her testimony and said, "I want to bear my testimony and today is my birthday and I turned five and I love my birthday." That is how I feel about my birthday. I just love it so much! And I can't help it. I get so excited like the sun rises and sets for my birthday and my birthday alone.

This year, I finally got a beautiful birthday cake. It was waiting for me when I got home on Tuesday evening (April 28th, the day before my birthday). And I got a wonderful card from Michael that came with a huge button that says "Another Year Sexier" that I totally wore to work (and left on my desk) on Thursday the 30th (when we celebrated at work). I had Wednesday off (hooray my Special Person Day!) and it was a great day. Michael took me to get a massage and we ate cake and treats all day and then had soup and sandwiches for dinner (because that is what I've been wanting for weeks--and I can't stop eating that for lunch and dinner practically every day!).

So my birthday was awesome. We took a long walk in the middle of the day and it was so nice outside--there was fresh-cut grass (which Michael is allergic to but he toughed it out for me because I love the smell so much) and we got to explore our neighborhood. It was just a really nice, relaxing day. My massage was so good. I wish it lasted more than an hour, though, and I already need another one.

I sang "happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, dear Amanda, happy birthday to me" all throughout my shower. But it's really echoey in there, so I tried to sing really quietly. I got some really great gift cards from Michael's family (and cash from his mom "so [I] can buy whatever gift card I want"). And I got a ton of emails from people I hadn't heard from in a long time (and a couple people I didn't know) thanks to my mom announcing to everyone that it was my birthday. Thanks, Mom.

But it's my golden birthday, which only comes around once in a lifetime, so it was really great to get to celebrate so much. I just love my birthday! I can't wait until next year.