Happy Birthday, My Mackensie!

It seems hard to believe, but our little Mackensie is seven years old! She has evolved into a smart, sweet, and amazing girl. I am so proud of her. She has a great imagination, and can lose herself in play or books. She reads chapter books on her own now, which is amazing. Her favorite show is iCarly, she still loves barbies, and plays with squinkies, LaLa Loopsie dolls, and littlest pet shop. Like me, she loves little or intricately detailed toys. I get so much of what she likes to play, because I was the same way. And this girl always has a plan.

It is hard for me to even remember her as a baby, even though it wasn't that long ago. Here she is the day she came home from the hospital

She was always spirited, although we had no idea what was to come. Here is a picture of her on a trip to Disney when she was 2:

and one of her first times holding her brother:

at the beginning of kindergarten:

and as a mature first grader:

and now as a big 7 year old:

In keeping with our tradition of the last few years, we let Mac choose where she wanted to go for her birthday. She chose Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Jimmy Buffet inspired restaurant. I wasn't sure what this said about our parenting skills, until we showed up and there were kids everywhere. We had a great dinner. Mac also got to pick her present. She got a LaLa Loopsie little sister doll, and a huge set of  LaLa Loopsie pencil toppers. It was weird, but at Toys R Us, I could tell that all of the toys didn't hold the same appeal. Even though she is only seven, she might be heading away from "kid" and closer to the dreaded "tween." I will do everything in my power to keep her a "kid" as long as possible!

In direct juxtaposition to that last sentence, she is having a party next week at Sweet & Sassy. Because we weren't really sure of the friend situation in PA, and she has wanted a Sweet & Sassy party for about 6 or 7 months, we decided to let her take her best friend from dance, Adriana, to Sweet & Sassy. Like cheer funk, the dance class that I was overruled on, this party falls outside of my comfort zone, but directly into Mac's interests. I think she is going to have a great time. And I have to admit that even I would love a scent spritz in my hair once in a while.

I guess it is all part of growing up. And she is doing a great job!

I am just that old

The other day, as I lay awake tossing and turning in bed, it hit me: I couldn't sleep because I had drunk a cup of coffee that afternoon. How could it affect me? I have always been an afternoon coffee drinker, although I've gotten away from the habit now that my afternoon commute is shorter. And then I realized: I can't drink caffeine late in the day because I am just that old now.

It has been coming for a while. Subtle lifestyle shifts here and there have led me down this path, and how, here I am.

A few ways I know that I just that old:

1. No full caff. in the afternoon.
2. I had Lasik ten years ago, and now I need glasses again. 
3. I have to wear makeup now. I made this realization on a day that I, unfortunately, did not wear makeup to work. I look so old and tired that I don't think people can even take me seriously.
4. I think I am getting jowls. If nothing else, I am fuller in the cheek/chin area. I also wake up puffy.
5. I constantly age-up my family. I practically assaulted Beth when she registered as 30 for a race we ran this spring, and accused her of lying. The whole ugly incident only took a minute, but for that minute, I couldn't believe that I was that much older than her.  And I always say Tim's age as one year older than he really is. For the record, he is only 33 now, and he just turned 33. I was 32 when Oli was born and that seems FOREVER ago.
6. I pee when I run and exercise. Forget laughing.

I'm sure that there is more, but of course I can't remember them, because I'm old!