A birthday: 29!

I turned 29 on Tuesday. 

Teetering dangerously close to the big 3-0. 

30. 

It's a little bit strange because I am in such a different place than I imagined I would be at almost-30. My expected graduation from my PhD program was right around November 2013, so I always imagined I would be finishing up my education at this point and just starting to think about marriage/family. 

But clearly that's not the way things turned out. 

My life is so much fuller than I ever dreamed/hoped/planned. 

Instead, I turned 29 on a quiet Tuesday spent at home with two little boys, the loves of my life. 

Meltdowns, blowouts, and timeouts handled with all of the grace and patience of a 29-year-old, I've only been 29 for two days, but I believe I am ever so slightly, yet perceptibly, deeper and wiser. Or, at least, I hope so.

 We are big on tradition around here...

Daddy arrived home a little early and we made our way to our favorite book store. 

We spent my birthday here last year too, and technically Eli was with us. He was snuggled up in my belly; we were just days away from finding out his gender (although I already had a strong feeling that he was a boy).

last year, 2011.

 

This year, 2012.

Last year. Max at 15-months.

This year. 27 and 7-months old.

We go to this bookstore about once a week and it's one of Max's favorite places. 

He used to make it his goal to pull every book he could get his hands on off of the shelf, but lately he has been picking one at a time, browsing the pages,  and pointing out/talking about all of the things he finds interesting. 

We camped out in our own little corner and read little bits of lots of stories.

 Eventually, Max found a book that plays the song ' Wheels On The Bus', and pushed the button over and over and over...our cue that it was time to go. 

We grabbed a quick dinner at Corner Bakery, a slice of cake to celebrate, and my birthday was complete.

It's a little bittersweet saying goodbye to my 28th year. The year I first heard my oldest son say, "I love you too, Mommy." The year I met a piece of my heart I never knew was missing; we welcomed sweet Eli into our family.

Hopefully there are many more good things to come at age 29, more learning and growing, more loving and giving. I contemplated making a list of things to do before I turn 30, but I can't think of a single burning desire. As I rocked Eli to sleep, I thought about what I would wish for on my birthday candle. The first thing that came to mind was, " I wish Max would sleep in later than 5am." Clearly a sign that we are blessed beyond measure with health, happiness, and love.

I do have a goal for myself though.

Get in the picture. LITERALLY. Although I have thousands of pictures of my boys' childhood, there are only a handful of me with them. I tell myself they will know I was there, the one behind the camera, but this year I want to get in front of the lens with them more often.

So hold me accountable friends and family.

P.S.- The last two mornings, Max has slept in until 6:30 :)