It's My Party, & I'll Cry If I Want To!

I can't believe I'm officially IN my thirties now.  It feels weird when I realize I am old enough now to have a husband, a daughter, my own house to clean and care for, my own flower and veggie gardens, a car, a job that I've been at for 5 years and counting, I've had time and money to travel the world, I'm done with school after getting a Masters degree, and I could go on.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was playing M.A.S.H. with my bestfriends and thinking that turning 18 was so old?!  Yet here I am with a few stray strands of grey hair (yes, I looked and I even pulled a few out...I so hope that Old Wives Tale isn't true and that they don't multiply now), a husband of almost 2 1/2 years, a beautiful daughter, a home we built together from the dirt up (crazy!!), two cocker spaniels, a good career, and ::gasp:: a life.  Where did the time go and how did I reach my thirties so quickly?!

Alas, I'm not going to cry on this birthday!  It's actually been a great day.  I got to spend time with my family and shared cake with my coworkers.  A.R. & M took me out to dinner at Red Lobster.  Can you believe that in my 31 years I had never eaten there before?!  It was delicious.  I had scallops, shrimp, lobster, stuffed mushrooms, and the cheddar biscuits.  OMG, heaven is a cheddar biscuit from Red Lobster.  I totally see now why my Food Network Magazine did an article with a recipe trying to replicate those golden rounds of delicious in one of their very first issues (Note to self: FIND that article!).  A.R. gave me a smooch and a great big hug- God, his hugs are addictive- and said there's more to come, but he needed an extra couple days because he's been buried at work and trying to recover our lost harddrive at home.  I told him I'm okay...I got to spend time with him and our daughter and that's plenty...especially considering the sweet camera I just got as my new toy last month (Canon EOS Rebel T2i).  Little does he know how much the new lenses, tripod, speedlite, and other accessories I want are going to cost and add up to over time. He, he, he. :P

Here's hoping I have at least another 31 years to spend with my husband and daughter as we grow as a family and hopefully add to it someday.  A.R.- You are the best husband a girl could dream of.  I'm so very thankful and blessed that we found each other and said "I do".  I hope you know how much I love you. M- You are an angel from heaven, my precious baby girl.  I love watching you grow and learn new things.  Your developing personality makes me smile and I look forward to each new day with you.  Dream big baby girl and know that even in a few years when I have more grey hairs and am embarssing you, I will always love you and you will always be my baby girl.

Happy Birthday to me!