Happy Birthday, Tessa!

Today was Tessa's 7th Birthday!

(this is when I start to cry)

It seems impossible that it's been seven whole years since we had Tess.  I can't even begin to express how unbelievable that is for me.

If I close my eyes I can see all these moments from her life, like they happened yesterday...

I can remember sitting on the couch, watching American Idol, holding her one night while she slept.  She was maybe 3 months old at the time. Matt was working late and it was just the two of us. I told myself to put her to bed, (holding a baby while they sleep will spoil them, right?) but ignored the thought and instead tried to memorize how her tiny body felt against mine.  Even then I was afraid time was passing too quickly.

I can remember the night she learned to crawl, rocking back and forth on the front room floor, wearing white terry cloth jammies, grinning her gummy baby grin, so proud of her accomplishment.

I can remember her learning to take off all her clothes and strip the bedding from her toddler bed...finding her naked in a pile of sheets and blankets with a smile from ear to ear.  It's impossible to be irritated with a 16 month old who is that happy with herself.

I remember how much she loved to wear my heels around the house.  Before she was 2 she could walk in 3 inch heels like a champ - and did so, often!

I remember how much she loved to be swung around, lifted high or thrown through the air as a baby.  Always, always she's been an adventurous girl.  Matt and I used to stand 4 or 5 feet apart and toss her back and forth (this is one of those bad parent things you don't tell people!) and she'd just squeal with glee.

I remember Birthday parties, Christmas's, vacations and illnesses...I, who has a terrible memory, can remember thousands of moments from her life with almost perfect clarity...

The constant is always how sweet and happy Tessa always is.  I've never known anyone who enjoys life as much as my little girl.  I've never known anyone who loves people as much as she does.  She is always ready with a kiss or a hug and is quick to say "I love you."

Despite a natural inclination to be naughty (seriously!) she tries hard to be good and loves to make other people happy.  She is mischevious and curious and has more energy than any other 10 people put together.  She is so smart she blows me away with the things she figures out, the places her brain takes her.

She is already one of the most amazing people I know, and every year she's more incredible.

Yet I still hate Birthdays.  lol

Now...on to more mundane things, before I use a whole box of tissue!

Daddy stayed home from work (we had projects!) and made Tessa waffles for breakfast, her favorite :)  She also talked him into taking her to school in his truck, which she loves because she gets to sit in the front seat.

(leaving for school - the shoe box has her play doh inside)

At school she was the student of the day.  The class sang to her and everyone signed a card.  She got to hand out a "treat" (mini playdoh - Matt and I tied ribbons and a tag that said 'love, tessa' on to them the night before.)  Her aunt Natalie (an instructor at Summit) brought her a Birthday card and a pencil to class - she was so excited to show them to me!  I wrote a note on a napkin and put it in her lunch yesterday.  It said "Happy Birthday! I love you, Mommy"

She brought the napkin home with her, and wanted to keep it in her 1st grade school box.  So sweet.

After school we had to run to the Home Depot (more supplies!) before going home and while we were there Tessa got 4 phone calls between mine and Matt's cell phones!  Everyone wanted to wish our girl a Happy Birthday.

Once home she got to open her gifts.  She got a bike, a hula-hoop, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 sets of hairbows, 2 shirts and a dress.  She was very happy with everything, of course.

For dinner she chose chicken fajita's, her new favorite.  I made her this cake from Lottie and Doof, which she loved.  She got 3 more phone calls last night, and 2 pieces of mail yesterday! A Birthday card and $10 from Matt's mama and a card/drawing from her friend Isabella Clark. She felt very special with so much attention!

At bedtime she told us it was "the best Birthday ever!" but we all know how Tessa throws around compliments!

Her friend Birthday party is tomorrow night.  She invited 9 girls for a late over/sleepover, but I think only 1 is actually spending the night - the rest will go home around 10:30pm.

Satuday the 23rd is her family/friend party.  We're having a picnic lunch in the park.  

She's very excited for both parties.  I'll post picture etc. from them later.