Happy Happy Birthday Gracie Dear

Wow. Four years old. Gracie has been such an amazing blessing in our lives. I can't believe that she was born four years ago. I remember having this discussion with one of my friends the other day (she just had her fifth baby) about how you love each of your children differently. I said how I will always have a special bond with Grace because she was our first and for nearly 2 years it was just her and I. All of the time. Shopping, walks, eating out, everything I did in the day, I just would drag her along with me. I will always have a different bond with Mikey because he is my second and we spent all of that time together alone at the hospital, but I'll save that for his birthday post. When I was pregnant with Gracie, I was so sick I lost over 50 pounds throwing up about every hour every day. for NINE months. It was the hardest thing I had ever gone through up to that point. I remember laying in bed, not having the energy to go out on the couch, crying about how sorry I felt for myself... there were a lot of days like that. I remember promising the baby inside me that I would do everything I could to be the best mother to her if she would just get me through the rest of the pregnancy. Well, she kept up her end of the deal and I try every day to keep up mine. I wanted to put pictures up of some of my favorite's over the last four years, but this is a new computer and I haven't switched them over yet. Gracie is an amazing little girl. She is so patient with me and she is as sharp as a knife. She is always one to call me out when I do something wrong. I love her so much and I'm so lucky to have her as my own!! Happy Birthday Gracie!!

I woke Gracie up singing happy birthday to her and made her FAVORITE food ever. Scratch Pancakes with buttermilk syrup.

This is the traditional picture of her saying how old she is. (okay, about the cake... this was my first time ever using fondant, and it was so hard!! I got it everywhere and it was the most cock-eyed looking fish ever. I later fixed it as you'll see.... She wanted a little mermaid party so the cake is Flounder)

The fixed product

What's a party without a little pin the tail on the donkey?

And a pinata??

Gracie with her mouth full after cracking open the pinata

I had to try and transform my kitchen into the sea... it didn't really work, but I did my best!

Her gift from mom and dad. She LOVES this thing.. she didn't want to go to school today because she wanted to stay home and ride it.

Happy Birthday Gracie... we love you soooooooo much!!!!

xoxoxo