Birthday Princess

OK, so we're going to pretend it's last Sunday. Happy 3rd Birthday, Alayna!!!

I've been a bit of a slacker with blogging - blame it on all the holiday and birthday festivities, and the fact that my baby has decided to start waking up every 2 hours during the night again. But I've finally managed to sit myself down at the computer and download the pictures from Alayna's pretty princess party. I appologize in advance if you feel like you might choke on all the pink and sparkles in the following pictures, but just think how we felt actually being there. In fact, I do remember getting a sparkle or two lodged in my throat in the midst of all the present opening. I guess that's a small price to pay to have such a sweet little princess for a daughter!And here's the Birthday Princess, all blinged out in her gown, crown, and new costume jewelery, posing like a diva in front of her new pink-and-purple-and-sparkly-all-over castle.

There are only 5 female cousins on the Wardle side and 12 boys, so I did feel a little bad for those dozen boys who were forced to play "I am a little princess and I won't kiss you..." Oh well, they were good sports about it and were actually pretty excited to be able to whack the other kids over the head with the golden sceptre.

Alayna absolutely loved the pink castle cake with all the Sleeping Beauty figurines. She felt very special to have such a neat cake, and I felt very special knowing that the cake made it through the party without falling over or getting squashed.

Me and my princess. I can't believe she's 3 already! Where did the time go?

This is just after she managed to blow out all 3 candles in one breath. She was very proud of herself, and rightly so. Blowing out candles in one breath is a big accomplishment when you're 3.

And here's one more look at that pretty little cake. If you can't tell, I'm quite proud of myself for putting this one together and making it look somewhat respectable (and edible). I can't take all the credit, however. My mom and sister came up for Alayna's birthday this year and helped a ton with the cake and party.

And now, in honor of our birthday girl, here's a little Ode to Alayna:

Favorite colors: Pink and Purple

Favorite word: Pretty (the word "cute" isn't allowed in our home. Everything is "pretty")

Favorite food: Anything containing high levels of high fructose corn syrup. Oh, and broccoli.

Favorite movie:Sleeping Beauty

Favorite princess: Sleeping Beauty

What she wants to be when she grows up: A pretty Jazz cheerleader

Alayna has come a very long way in three years. She was once a painfully shy and ornery little baby and was so shy as a toddler that when anyone so much as looked at her, she would freeze her whole body kind of like a dear in the headlights. I wasn't sure she would ever be brave enough to leave my side! Now, however, Alayna is the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful little girl I've ever known. She is smart, funny, outgoing, loving, and absolutely beautiful inside and out. She's a fabulous friend, daughter, and sister. Alayna is a princess through and through, but still loves to wrestle with her dad and brother and has a pretty good arm for being a 3-year-old girl. She has the most stunningly beautiful blue eyes and a smile that can melt your heart. Alayna loves to dance, sing, twirl, act, and make other children laugh at the dinner table. She eats like a druck driver and looks like a doll. She flat out refuses to wear her plaid purple shirt but loves her fishy undies. In Alayna's world there is no such thing as too much candy or lip gloss. She has a new "hurt" every hour or two, from her lip (pronounced "yip") to her finger to her belly to her knee, but recovers miraculously everytime a shopping trip is mentioned. Alayna has us all wrapped around her little finger and I'm so proud of the girl she has become. I look forward to watching her grow and I know that she will do amazing things in her life, even if she does become a "pretty Jazz cheerleader" as she so wants to be.

We love you, Alayna!!!!