40th Birthday

I had a perfectly lovely fortieth birthday.

It's hard to believe I'm forty. The beginning of a new decade. I don't feel any older, and being pregnant doesn't exactly jive with my concept of what forty year olds normally do.

I wasn't up for a party this year. What with my mom dying this past May, I'm still not feeling all that celebratory.

So my dear friends Emily and Amy treated me to a prenatal massage, and I enjoyed a lovely lunch by myself beforehand (babysitting by Amy was included with my prenatal massage). The quick stop at the tire store for a patch on my leaky tire was a bit less festive, but not having to bring Calliope along with me but was pretty darn nice.

I arrived at Amy's to find the girls frosting my birthday cake. Or rather, Calliope was gamely trying to help frost the cake while Eleanor had given up on that project and was focused on licking frosting off as many utensils as she could find. I took the girls for a quick trip to the playground so Amy could have a few minutes to recover from their project, then we all headed over to Emily's for my birthday dinner.

Emily had strung up lights and a beautiful homemade banner in my honor. We three friends enjoyed dinner with our three girls before the lovely homemade chocolate cake.

The next day, Calliope and I headed out for an early breakfast together before coming home to have some unstructured time at home. Emily invited Calliope to come play for a while so I even got to work out by myself. It felt very strange to spend so much time at home but I got some things done and even started a beautiful grass fed brisket cooking. We had another dinner with Emily and AB downstairs before bringing the girls back upstairs for a bath together.

Next weekend, Amy is watching Calliope again so another friend can take me out for a super fancy schmancy brunch. In November, my friend is taking me to Spa Castle, a place I have long wanted to visit. And in December, we are going to Mexico with my sister and her family for a combination 40th birthday/babymoon trip. I'm beyond excited. I love travel and it's been years now since I've been anywhere. I'll be six months pregnant by then and no doubt ready for some lounging on the beach. And with two cousins to play with plus all the swimming she could hope for, I think Calliope will have a blast.

Beautiful birthday banner ("Happy 40 Abby") and birthday dinner table

Calliope waited all day long to help blow out the candles. Amy and Eleanor made the cake.

But C was instrumental in helping to frost it and, of course, adding lots of sprinkles

and peanut butter chips.

Showing off her considerable sense of style. Note the new and very sparkly shoes as
weel as the faaaaaabulous sunglasses, enormous matching barrettes, and of course, the
beloved overalls with flowered fleece shirt.

She looks so big!

Since Calliope and I both had our flu shots this week, it was only fair that Baby Jenna
get one as well.

A beautiful birthday lunch. All. By. Myself.
What a treat!
Too bad my belly seems to be shrinking and the soup would have been enough. I enjoyed the leftovers the next day.

Birthday roses from Susie

Birthday roses from a co-worker

Girl on a mission

Two braids without pigtails! Very satisfying. 

Forty years young