Happy 2nd Birthday, Annie!

What a Hooray-ish thing to celebrate, as Pooh says. Two years ago on this day, we met our baby girl face-to-face. Our Honey is a Pooh fan, so we invited some pals over Saturday for a Winnie the Pooh party. What a day! Anne knew we were planning a party. She talked about it all week. She'd say, "Party Annie! Cake, balloons, party hats, Mommy!" It was like a little ongoing reminder checklist for me. We invited her playpals Caden, Georgia, Sally, and Melody. For weeks I planned and shopped. After we put our girl to bed Friday night, Charles and I decorated with streamers and a 'Happy Birthday' banner and with all things bee and honey related. I stuffed party favor bags and 'mommy favors'- my favorite book _The Secret Life of Bees_ by Sue Monk Kidd. Given to me by Uncle Jon last Christmas, Kidd's book is what prompted me to start a journal for Annie in which I continue to record the everyday joys of knowing Anne Lilley. We set out party games: Pin the Tail on Eeyore, Pooh coloring pages, Pooh puzzle and books, and Bee Toss (a "hive" basket in which to throw the black socks I wrapped in yellow tape to resemble bees). We were ready!

When Anne awoke early Saturday morning and saw all the decorations, she thought the party should begin immediately. It was a rough morning! Both Annie and I were on the brink of meltdown. I feared that the 2-4 inches of new snowfall mights keep little guests at home. I feared Anne's sour mood would last all day and she wouldn't enjoy her party. I tried desperately to get her to nap while I picked up balloons. No luck. Half an hour before guests were due to arrive, Annie refused both her Pooh costume and her party dress. She told me she needed to poopie, which I soon realized was just a stall tactic and a ploy to get "M's". After compromising on a denim skirt and glittered heart tee and after bribing her with two M&Ms, the party girl was dressed. Hallelujah! She even permitted me to put pigtails in her hair. She was adorable.

Once guests began to arrive, both our moods improved markedly. Annie played with her pals as I finished the Birthday buffet: Honey-Battered Chicken nuggets with Ranch and Honey dip, Rabbit's Garden Veggies and Fruit, and Pooh's Recipe Peanut Butter Honey Dip. With Pooh tunes playing in the background, Annie and her friends played and colored and danced (mostly Caden ;) and moms visited. Daddy took video footage. After lunch Anne opened gifts and we sang Happy Birthday, sharing cupcakes and sugar highs. Guests left shortly thereafter to take their afternoon naps (except Caden ;) As Anne finished her cupcake, we sat together and talked about what fun we'd had.

That night as I carried her up to bed, Annie said, "Night-night, Party. Night-night, cake." In Annie's journal, I wrote, "I have to be honest- It was fun, but it's a relief to have it behind us, too. I love your friends, Anne, and I love my friends, their mommies. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives. Night-night, Birthday Girl."