Happy Birthday, Casey

Casey got to wake up with pink balloons on the floor of her room

Sunday my baby turned 8.  She was so anxious to know the exact time that she would be officially 8 that I had to scramble through birth certificates, the little card that is on the plastic crib things the newborns sleep in at the hospital and other memorabilia to try to find the time she was born.  I swear at one time I knew this, as well as length, weight and head circumference like my social security number, but I found it all gone when I was asked to call upon it.  I did finally find it in the baby book that I have completed all of 3 pages of (this is why I need my blog! my scrap booking skills are terrible!).  Casey came screaming into this world at 1:53 p.m. on November 18, 2004. 

One of my favorite pictures - Casey at her baptism, 3 months old

2 days old

 

In searching for the time she was born we found the little pink hat she received at the hospital :)

After already having some of her friends over for a party and all of our families over the day before, her actual birthday was going to have to be low key.  I was partied out.  We did go out to breakfast at First Watch to celebrate and then we just played outside the entire day.  Having a November birthday myself, I know not every year will be 60 degrees and sunny, so we took advantage of the day and hung out kicking the ball around, swinging on the swings, running through leaves and going out for ice cream.  I had the opportunity to play around with my new camera and managed to capture some good shots of the birthday girl AFTER 1:53 p.m. :)

 

 

 

 

 

And at her party on Saturday, I was completely in love with the fact that she still isn't too old to get ridiculously excited about receiving gifts.  (Note: none of her gifts were big budget items or electronics).  I hope she never becomes that kid that feels the need to play it all cool when opening a gift or, even worse, take it all for granted and not even get a little excited inside about what might be inside pretty paper and bows.  Let the joy live on forever, sister!

 

Of course birthdays make me a bit sentimental.  (A lot of things make me a bit sentimental.)  So I couldn't help but look back at all the birthdays my big girl has had.  I can already look in the crystal ball and see myself elderly, sitting in a rocker pouring over old pictures of my girls with a handkerchief tucked in the sleeve of my shirt.  I've made peace with that lady of the future as long as all the pictures are of my kids this happy.

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

 

4 years old

5 years old

6 years old

7 years old

8 years old

So Long Soccer

Soccer season is over.  Today Casey and the Red Firecrackers lost in their little state tournament game.  She was sad and there were tears (and some actual sobbing - like the moaning kind). Controlling emotions isn't one of the things you have mastered when you are 7.  One of our family members teased me a little for taking a couple of pictures of the tears, but I want to capture all of our memories, not just the ones that look good on paper.  I think one day, she'll appreciate seeing her 7 year old self so emotionally invested in something and truly caring that the fun of the season was over.  But probably not any time soon...

 

One last huddle

A hug from daddy

 

This was the first time Casey seemed to really enjoy a sport and we enjoyed watching her learn, have fun, and make new friends.  And it was a really good group of girls, too.  They all learned about the game and cheered each other on like no body's business.  And yet, no one took it all too seriously to lose perspective that they were really all just 6 and 7 year olds and playing Barbies was a priority, too. 

Winning smiles from last weekend

 

Different sports and activities will inevitably come and go for Casey in years to come, but for a while, the concept of 'team' will be compared to the fall of 2012.  Casey is old enough to remember how fun it was to jump up and down when another teammate scored a goal or get jumped and celebrated on when she scored.  And how bad she could feel for a friend who played on another team that lost.  And how there was no jealousy or cattiness that will soon come when a group of girls gets together at all, much less to compete (ugh!  I am soo going to hate that business!). 

Celebrating a teammate's goal

 

The excitement of all of our families coming here to celebrate her birthday today has made the end of soccer all but forgotten.  She'll have her memories, our pictures, a medal and a trophy to remember the year she started to love sports and being a member of a team by.  (I'll have to remember to tell Casey one day far in the future how she actually got that District Champs trophy - I think it will make her smile). 

 

 

At the team party a few weeks ago Emily was given a participation trophy and medal for being such a good cheerleader and (Casey-appointed) team mascot.  It was a sweet gesture that Emily beamed about for weeks. 

Emily is still shaking her thing at dance class and her dance competition will be the next opportunity for me to go all sideline-mom at.  For now, though, someone has turned her tears into silly grins.  She's turning 8 tomorrow and is just a little excited about it! 

This is one of my favorite pictures. :)

Getting Older

Yesterday was my birthday.  37.  Crap, that just sounds old.  This is the first year that I actually feel like, 'No!  I want to go back.  This can't be happening - I can't be this old already!"  For some reason I still think of myself like 25ish.  An age where I've established myself as a professional, married and thinking I'm ready for kids soon and college not that far behind me.  I look at neighbors and think I am so much younger than them.  This friends, is called denial.  And I imagine sh*t's going to hit the fan when 40 rolls around...

Anyhow, I had no intention of blogging about my birthday with the exception being that, once again, Tom rocked it in the gift department.  I'm getting a DSLR camera!!  It's my Christmas gift, too and Merry Christmas to me! I'm still doing research on which one I want and bargain hunting for deals, but I'm sure I'll write more about it when I do get it.  And I'm ridiculously excited to see the pictures!.... On the camera I don't yet have.  :)

So I wasn't going to write anything about getting older, but then last night as we were walking with the girls upstairs for bedtime, out of nowhere Casey asks, "Mommy, when you have a syndrome does it ever go away?"  It's amazing how fast my mind tried to come up with a thousand different answers at once, trying to anticipate what her little head and heart are getting at here; what is making her question or worry about syndromes on November the 7th at 8:06 p.m.  It's an easy enough question to answer:  "No, Casey, a syndrome is something that never goes away."  Her response was, "So what Emily has will always be with her?"  "Yes it will." 

Cue the music and get the tissues.  In four and a half years, I have accepted almost everything about Emily's diagnosis as fact except that Casey will never know the relationship of a typical sibling.  Even now thinking about it, tears burn in my eyes and my chest hurts.  I know deep down Casey will be a better person because of her sister's syndrome and they will have a special bond that only they can forge.  Emily's diagnosis will be as much of a part of Casey as it is Emily.  But as Casey wonders if it will ever go away, I worry how big of a problem it will be for her as she grows older.  Will she one day in the far (or not so far) future wish she had a typical sister?  I'm sure there will be times.  Of course there will be.  I remember being a teenager and wishing my sisters were not so annoying :)  But it will be different for Casey and it will be difficult for me.  But she'll grow older and gain the perspective that only comes with maturity and it will be all right.  I'm sure of it.  Oh, but I wish it was something I could change for them both...

But for now, Casey loves her sister and if she thinks about Emily's syndrome, she doesn't let on.  They wake up each morning and hug and say Good Morning to each other.  They fight (Lord knows they fight) like typical siblings and eat breakfast and watch TV together.  All typical sister stuff.  And if, anything, Casey has embraced Emily's diagnosis in ways I never thought possible.  Tonight at the Special Olympics' Young Athletes Program, Casey was the only typical kid there and she took it upon herself to try to help out all of the other young children participating.  At one point she pulled me aside and asked me if she should act like she had Down Syndrome because it might make the other kids feel more comfortable.  :)  Yeah, we're going to be okay.

 

 

Okay, I've put the tissues away.  Do you know after Casey asked her question last night, she never asked anything else about syndromes.  Even when I put her to bed, I asked her if she wanted to talk more about it and she said no that she wanted to know if she could stay up to play with her toys and if she could buy chocolate milk the next day at school.  After I had gotten all my mommy armor on and was ready to discuss life with a sibling with special needs, she never gave it another thought.  Kids just have a way of accepting information so much more easily when they are young.  It changes as we get older, but I so wish it didn't. 

 

Tom is saying I, once again, am waaaay over thinking all of this.  Of course I am.  This is me we're talking about.  At 37, I don't think my emotional sappiness and worrying over these girls is going to go away anytime soon.  I'm glad I have these girls to worry about.  Helps keep my mind off getting older.

Party like a Rockstar

Today we had a friend birthday party for Casey at our house.  There were 11 girls including Casey and Emily and, yes, I am decompressing now with Miller Lite in hand.  In all seriousness, it was a lot of fun for myself and I think all the girls had a good time.  Tom hid in the basement.  There was a lot of very loud music and screaming.  Lots of screaming.  Lots.  Casey's birthday isn't until the 18th, but our families have 7 birthdays in the next 6 weeks, so this weekend was our only weekend free for a while.  And before I get started describing the party, I just want to acknowledge that I am a whole lot cooler mom because of Pinterest. I swear I couldn't come up with this stuff myself: 

Casey came up with the theme of the party.  She wanted a rock star party.  I realize the years of cute-themed birthday parties are numbered.  Soon, it will be a few friends at a sleepover talking about boys or, God-forbid, gossiping about other girls.  :(   

But for now, 7 and 8 year old girls, loud music, and cake.  Got it.  I can rock that.

First we took out everything from our toy room (formerly the dining room) and set up the stage and dance floor.

My helper, Emily, helped bake the cake.

I cut out cardboard guitars for decorating.

The girls let me take some pictures before the guests came.

 

Each girl got a Backstage Pass when they got here.  Half went to get some glitter makeup and tattoos and the other half started decorating their guitars.  Then they switched.

 

 

 

 

 

Before the dancing started, they gave me their best rock star poses for a group picture.

Then it was freeze dancing and a game that involved everyone imitating how one girl was dancing.  It was fun :)

Pizza was delivered and we played the telephone game.

My birthday girl blushed and seemed embarrassed when everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' :)

Then it was cake time.  I'm no good at cake decorating, but I will say, I was thrilled at how the inside of the cake turned out!!  It's zebra striped!  And it was yummy! (go me!!)

After opening gifts, there was some more dancing with the inflatable microphones each girl got and then it was time to say good-bye to everyone.  Casey said it was a great party and, I quote, "Mom, you've really out-done yourself this year."  I'm glad she had fun and that's all that matters.  I love this age, where something as little as some rockin' music can turn into so much fun.

 

Birthdays Rock!!