Four.

This morning we woke up and got ready for our day. Our weekend was filled with birthday parties, more packing, a vet appointment, and a lot of birthday party planning. So this morning, I was just dragging. I knew I should not have stayed up so late, and then kept hitting the snooze button when my alarm went off this morning. But I was just so damn tired. It was a miracle that we were ready to go by 7:15.

However as we were leaving I kept feeling like I was forgetting something. I made another turn through the house: Draco fed and watered- check. Lights are all turned off- check. Computer in backpack- check. Emery's day bag in the car- check. Still, I knew there was something not quite right. My planner was packed, and my iPhone notifications don't go off until after 9 am every morning. But I KNEW there was something important that I was missing. When I turned around to ask Emery if she was ready, I stopped mid-sentence with a pretty loud "Are you ready to - OOOH MY GOSH! It's your BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday my love! Omg, I can't believe it. Happy Birthday my lovely little girl!!" I looked over to my husband and asked him to confirm that today was in fact the 17th, and he said that we were officially the worst parents for almost forgetting. And then I started crying. My baby is four years old now, and I was this close to spacing on it. What the heck?!?

You see I had this whole day planned. I was going to wake up early and make a trip to the local bakery to get her a cupcake, and we were going to have a small present for her to open. Since we are having her birthday party this upcoming weekend, we weren't going to do a huge celebration. Just us three. And then we'd take her out to dinner. Only, for some reason when I woke up this morning I thought we still had a week. It wasn't until I was sitting in our driveway that I realized what the date was. And then I felt like crap for almost forgetting, and for not having that damn cupcake.

So now, I'm hoping that I can make it up to her. It's going to be another late night for us since I have classes, but she usually waits for me anyways. I'll have the present, and the cupcake. I'll even throw in a candle because I know she'll love getting to blow one out. I know people say that she won't remember this, that to her it'll be as if we're celebrating it all on her actual birthday. And maybe they're right. But, I'll know. I'll always remember that time I almost forgot. And it kind of makes me feel really awful. I mean, it's not like she's 17 years old, and I've been doing this for soooo long. No, she's only 4. Oh man, that makes me feel even worse.

So now, I just have to say: 

Happy 4th Birthday My Little Love! Mommy loves YOU very MUCH!

first picture as a four year old :)