Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is my birthday.  I'm going to be 34.  It seems like a good age.  Not too intimidating.  I'm still in my early, or maybe mid thrities.  At least I'm still closer to 30 than 40, even using correct rounding principles.  I'm excited.  I'm excited for this coming year.  I see good things.  I've had a lot of change in my life over the past 6 months and I'm at a good place.  I'm excited for life.  I'm setting goals and I'm acheiving them.  There are new things on the horizon.  Great things are coming and I'm excited to see them.

I have learned that happiness is linked with expectations.  I've had birthdays where I have expected too much, especially since becoming a mom.  I expected to be pampered.  A one year old doesn't care that it is your birthday.  He will still want to be served, taken care of and will most definately still poop a lot.  I have ended the day of my birth feeling sad and under appreciated because I expected too much.  Maybe this seems sad to some of you, but really it shouldn't be. 

I tell my husband exactly what I expect.  This year it was the cake of my choice.  This year I asked him to make a Double Chocolate Mouse Cake.  That's it.  That's all I want.  He is a good cook so I know it will be good and I've been drooling over the picture for weeks waiting for this moment.  I also will buy me something.  I like to do that because then I get exactly what I want.  Unromantic, but perferred.  Then I will go to the store and buy myself those Lofthouse sugar cookies and maybe cupcakes too.  I love them both and don't eat them except once a year.  So excited.  I'm going to a potluck/play group tomorrow so I can bring the left overs, if there is any.

I'm noticing how much revolves around food.  Junk food.  Oh well.  I try to eat healthy most of the time.  Sometimes I don't want to.  On my birthday, I don't want to, but I will still get my fruits and veggies in and maybe a healthy fat and protein here or there too.

I will still clean and I will still cook for my family and I will still change poopy diapers.  And I'll be happy because I expected to do those things.  If someone gives a little extra help, I'll be grateful, but I don't expect it.  My boys are getting older so they do TRY to help out.  They are sweet and I appreciate any effort they exert. 

I'm excited for my birthday.  It's going to be a great day and it's going to be a great year.

Speaking of Cakes. Two of my boys had a joint Lord of the Rings Party. (Even though the younger one had never seen the movie, my oldest son tried to fill him in on how cool it is.) One is the ring and the other is of a Hobbit home in Bag End.