Is it STILL my Birthday?

Molly's birthday is at the tail-end of birthday season

...after Cole's

 ...after Megan's

...after Kate's

...after Mommy's

...and after Daddy's birthday.

Finally...finally...it was time for Molly's big day.

 But...

When Molly woke up, she joined My Man and I in our bed and as she does each morning wiggled her way in between us and said, "I'm reawwy hungee." We realized then that Molly had forgotten that it was her 3rd birthday. 

Eventually, Kate joined us in the bedroom, and began to wish Molly a happy birthday but was interrupted by a sleepy woman who wished to enjoy her covers a bit longer. Kate, bless her heart, understood and climbed into our bed with Molly, as is her morning habit.

My Man, thus crowded out, as is his morning habit, exited the bed and got the ice cream cake out of the freezer so that it would be ready to cut when Molly finally remembered. 

Molly's memory wasn't nearly as active as her hunger pangs, which eventually drove her from bed and down the hallway where she met Meg who said, "Happy Birthday big girl!"

"Ith's today????" she squealed and turned to take in the kitchen and its decor. 

Oh what joy! 

(Can't you just see the weight of the moment on her face?)

Then...finally...the moment she had been waiting for since way back in March when we first sang to Kate, it was time to sing "Happy Birthday to Molly..."

She literally basked in the glow of that singular candle as we sang on...

"Happy Birth-day to youuuuuuuuuu."

She loved it so much we sang again...

After which she asked, "Mom did you get a picture of me bwowing out my candle?"

"Yes Molly." 

Then she opened her gifts and cards. She loved them all but was especially fond of a card that sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and later declared it her favorite thing of the whole day!

 (Thank you Mrs. Barbara!)

Once the cake had been eaten and the gifts had been opened, it was time to get ready for church. Happily, there was a dress in Molly's closet that seemed to be waiting for this little girl to turn three on a Sunday...of all days!

When we pulled into the driveway after church, Molly asked, "Is it still my birthday?"

After being assured that indeed it was, she was off to ride her new scooter under the watchful eye of her "brudder Cole"...

After lunch and more cake and a nap, Molly awoke asking, "Is it still my birthday?"

"Why yes, yes it is," we told her and we took her to McDonald's for a swanky birthday supper. 

Molly ended her evening in a new birthday nightgown as she showed Grandma, Poppy, and Granny some of her birthday treasures via internet camera. She even serenaded her audience with a rousing rendition of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" accompanied by her birthday card.

The next morning when she woke up, she checked to make sure that the decorations were still on display in the kitchen and requested ice cream cake for breakfast. My Man was the one who had to break the news to her,

"Molly, yesterday was your birthday. It isn't your birthday today." To which she replied pointing to the streamers that were still flying, "Well, it is still my birthday in the kitchen."

Then by all means...bring on the ice cream cake!

Happy Birthday

Molly Joy!