Happy 4th Birthday, Elle!

Elle was surprised and thrilled over the streamers and balloons greeting her in the dining room this morning. Eric went in late to work so we could enjoy Elle's requested banana muffins and watch her open a few gifts at the start of the day. Soon after, we headed to ballet. At the end of class, Elle passed out a hair clip that I made for each of her girlfriends in celebration of her birthday. While out, we stopped for cookies and spent some time at the play gym where she climbed all the way up, for the first time, and rode down the slide twice over.

For lunch she wanted popcorn, so popcorn it was, with some carrot and celery sticks thrown in too. :) After her two-hour nap, she played with the dancing ribbon-wands she got that morning. They are much like what she had seen at the Chinese New Year celebration and how she likes them! She really got a pretty good rhythm going.

Uncle Kevin and AA arrived for dinner -- chicken nuggets, green beans, mashed cauliflower and applesauce. We've been planning the menu for weeks and Elle had approved everything with great enthusiasm! And for the main event, chocolate chip cake with pink icing and chocolate chips sprinkled on top. :)

Everything was homemade, gluten-free and almost dairy-free (splurged on the buttercream frosting - mmmmmmm). We reminisced about the anxiety we had making her first gluten/dairy-free birthday cake two years ago...how far we've come. She is no longer allergic to either, but it has become a desired lifestyle choice for us and is nearly effortless now. She enjoyed the meal immensely, especially sharing it with family.

After cake, she was genuinely surprised that there were more gifts. So in the living room, we received multiple kisses and watched her jump up and down over the surprises she unwrapped.

Already past bedtime, Eric and I spent some extra time cuddling in bed with her and saying blessings and prayers over her. She too thanked God for her birthday and being four! She went to bed with her new friend, Roo, and no cloth for the very first time.

The next morning, she looked more mature. ;)