Yesterday was Mazzy's fourth birthday. But I think it was the first birthday where Mazzy actually understood what was going on and appreciated her party.
Last year, Mazzy had a great time but she was just excited to eat cake more than anything else. She didn't even care about opening presents. Especially when she realized she couldn't open them herself. Ripping paper and untying ribbons are more advanced motor skills than you would think.
This year, Mazzy was a lot more thoughtful about the whole experience. She was excited to see each friend as they arrived at her party, she opened her presents herself— each with equal amounts of fanfare, and she listened intently when I read her cards.
"Take a picture!" she screamed when Grammy got her a Cars racetrack. "I think I know what this is…" she grinned while unwrapping a pink pair of ice skates— the present she has been asking for since the summer.
The only thing that confused her was the fact that we have been celebrating her birthday for several weeks now. She shared a birthday cake with Harlow at Thanksgiving, we had her birthday party over the weekend and her actual birthday was Monday. For the past three weeks, she's been asking, "Am I four yet?" "Now am I four??" "Can I be four now???"
This was also the first year we threw her party outside of our home. Twelve four-year-olds is about eleven too many four-year-olds to host in a two bedroom apartment. We opted for the Downtown Dance Factory and threw a gender neutral "Creative Movement" party.
Downtown Dance Factory handles everything from activities to party supplies and you just take care of the pizza and cake. You can even have them do your gift bags for an extra fee. I had never been there and had no idea what I was walking into, but IT WAS PERFECT.
Besides the little cake snafu I mentioned yesterday ("Happy Birthday, Mabzy!"), the day went off without a hitch. Well, there was one other thing. There was no heat at the party. But the kids didn't seem to notice and the adults just kept their coats on. It really wasn't a big deal.
When I went to settle up, Downtown Dance Factory gave us 50% off the whole party to make up for the lack of the heat. I didn't even complain!
Honestly, I would take 50% off in lieu of heat ANY DAY.
During the party, I got to see Mazzy show off her dance skills. She's been taking ballet classes this year and watching her, you can really tell. She pranced across the floor in her tutu, paying extra attention to her posture and displaying something similar to (dare I say it?)— GRACE.
Mama was proud.
Not that I care if she's a good dancer or not. But you could see how much pride and joy she was getting from doing one of her favorite activities amongst all her closest friends.
Okay. I'm gonna get sappy for a second. Mazzy was so beautiful at her party. I mean, I know she's insanely adorable on a daily basis, but at the party, she was laughing with her friends, being extra diligent about following the teacher's instructions and being such a good girl.
I guess it's hard to misbehave when everything is designed to be exactly what you want.
Up until Sunday, I felt like whenever we've given Mazzy things, I've been underwhelmed with her response. She doesn't care or she takes things for granted and I end up wondering why we waste our money. I remind myself that she's three and that all kids think the world revolves around themselves.
But Sunday, Mazzy LOVED her party. She knew it was a gift from me and her dad. And I'm pretty sure she felt something close to "gratitude" for the first time.
You're welcome, Mazzy.
That night, after Mazzy went to bed, I decorated her bathroom door with balloons and a handmade sign. The door is directly across from her room, so it's the first thing she sees in the morning when she exits her room to come to ours.
Monday morning, she climbed sleepy-eyed into bed with us. A few minutes after lying between us, she leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"I saw something on the bathroom door, Mommy."
"What did you see?"
"There are balloons and it says Happy Birthday Mazzy."
"Really?"
"Did you do that?"
"I did."
"That's pretty cool, Mom."
High compliments.
Later that day, Mazzy talked about getting older.
"When am I going to be six?"
"In two years."
"When am I going to be ten?"
"In six years."
"I don't want to ever be ten."
"Why not?"
"Because then I'll be a grown up!"
I laughed because obviously ten is far from a grown up. But also because looking at my four-year-old daughter, she already seems a little adult.
Happy Birthday, my growing girl.
Please stay small a little bit longer.
Ugh, my aching heart! So cute!! Glad she had fun, but the “That’s pretty cool, Mom.” has me weepy.
Mine will turn 13 this year, not just a “tween” like she’s been insisting since she was 10, but an ACTUAL TEEN. Now she’s counting ahead to when she will be able to drive, and I am tearfully wishing she was my sweet little four year old in pigtails.
What an absolutely precious post. I can just envision the scene of snuggly Mazzy climbing into your bed and whispering about the bathroom door in her sweet little voice. It is the small, extra efforts like that which really make birthdays special. Thank you for sharing the love, joy and beauty of the day!
Ugh! you always manage to make me cry while I’m at work haha 🙂 What a precious post Ilana! I know how you feel about the gratitude thing, I feel the same with my 2 year old hahaha! then I remember he is just a little guy and he doesn’t even have a concept of that! LOL. I’m glad Mazzy had a terrific time on her birthday party! it is wonderful seeing her grow, I feel I know you all and I wish nothing but the best for you and your family <3
Love
Patty
Such a sweet post!
Happy birthday Mazzy!!!
aww. sooo sweet and love how she was so into it!
the multiple birthday celebrations seem to confuse 4 year olds (at least in my family). we had a party for my son before his 4th birthday. so, on his actual birthday we celebrated with just the family (went to a baseball game). since we celebrated again, he concluded that had turned 5. ie, everytime you have a party, you are older, no matter that it’s only been a couple days.
when I was a kid and turned 3, I had 3 birthday parties (1 at preschool, 1 w/ mom and dad, and 1 with the 2 next door neighbors) so apparently, when I turned 4, my mom said I expected 4 birthday parties.
Ok good, I am glad I am not the only one who cried! I’m such a sap, it was the whispering in your ear about the door. Happy Birthday, Mazzy!! And good job, Mama. You are doing fabulous 😉
Wait till you have 4 and 7 … golden. I want to freeze them forever.
Happy birthday, Mazzy! What a fun party! Great idea. My daughter turns 2 in January and, my God, how she can be so fun… and at 4, I can imagine even more fun (because, you know, without the majority of tantrums). But, oh how it breaks my heart to see her growing up.
Aw Happy Birthday, Mazzy! I’m sure it was bittersweet. I love that you felt she had gratitude towards her party. That’s so special. You seriously give your kids the best of everything! I totally look up to you and hopefully will be able to give my kids as much as you give yours.
How do you get her to stay still long enough to do the beautiful hair styles you do on her? I can’t get my 5 year old to stay still long enough to put in a barrette!
Such a great birthday party idea! My daughter turned 4 in Oct. and my head is still swelling as I try to figure out how she became a real girl out of nowhere! She still sounds young but those chubby cheeks are gone and her long legs are always on the run. It just flies by like everyone says. Happy birthday Mazzy!!!
sniffle.
Happy birthday Mazzy!
Thank you for alerting me of the SAP. I literally did one of those – squeeze my eyes and the tears rolled – silent cries when i read Mazzy’s feeling of gratitude for the balloons. You have a gorgeous and gracious girl Mommy!
Absolutely adorable! Your little girl is precious
I can’t believe Mazzy is four!
Four years ago, I began reading this blog because I had a little baby (Birthday the same as Mazzy’s) who was eight months.
Monkey, (her nickname, her real name is Josephine) is four now and I feel more confident as a mother because I get advice about growing girls. I also have one Harlow’s age, and I have learned what to do and what not to do.
Thank you, Illana. Our children grow at the same time, and I promise I will forever go into your blog, and watch your children grow up from babies to teens.
I want my little girl with “pinky tails” back. I have a sixteen year old now and I miss diaper changes, (Sixteen years ago I wouldn’t have said that) Dora the Explorer, and throwing big birthday bashs.
My sixteen year old didn’t celebrate with family this year. She celebrated with a friend because family parties are “lame”
Harlow makes me cry when I see this. Jennifer looked just like that, and they just grow and grow.