[x] I'm coming up on a very busy couple of days. The nice thing, though, is that it all slows down on Wednesday. Wednesday, October 6, is one of my favorite days of the year. Why? October 6 marks Little Flower's birthday--her FIRST birthday. :) To say I'm excited is a HUGE understatement. So much to do before then! I still have gobs of gifts to wrap. I took all of her presents out of the packaging so she can tear into them and they will immediately make noise/do their thing/etc. But I haven't wrapped any of them yet. I'm making her cake on Tuesday evening--a "big" cake for all of us, and a smasher for my sweet LF. Will she, in fact, smash it? I know not. But I can't wait to see if she does. :)

We have celebrations sprinkled throughout the month (LF is a very popular little girl, let me tell you!), and at the end of the month, my brother will be in from New Mexico, meeting his niece for the very first time. I am SO EXCITED--you have *no* idea. I miss him a lot. We don't get to catch up that often since we're both continually juggling a hundred things at once, but I love, love, love to see him. The kids ask about him all the time, and Bear is already planning on monopolizing as much of his uncle's time as humanly possible. :) I already know he will be entirely smitten with LF. I mean...who *isn't*, really?

I am also super excited to celebrate LF's first birthday with her amazing first mom and family. It hasn't been all that long since we were able to catch up, but I know LF's first mom will be in awe of how much LF has grown (the pictures do such little justice)! It's going to be such a great month for LF--so many celebrations and so much love heading to her from every possible direction. It's more than a birthday celebration--it's a birth *month* celebration. And she deserves it all and then some. <3

[x] I'm on "single mom duty" for the next 36 hours. *sigh* I so miss K. when he's gone, and so do the kids. But I'm grateful he's employed in this economy *and* that he works so hard to make it possible for me to stay home with the kids. I really can't say that enough. Over the next four days, it seems like a non-stop run of appointments, therapies, meetings, etc. I'm SO glad, though, that things will slow down in time for LF's big day. :)

[x] This week, the kids are learning a little bit about firefighters. They don't know it yet (it's a surprise), but K. is going to come in and talk with the kids for a few minutes--while in full turn out gear. My heart is bursting at the thought of how incredibly excited they will be. I am certain this is something they will remember for a long, long time.

Speaking of surprises, we're looking into getting K. a Robin costume (Robin as in Batman & Robin, not the bird ;) as a surprise for Bear. He told K. that he needed a sidekick, and K.--being the world's most amazing father--immediately decided to get a Robin costume if at all possible.

I swear, there are no luckier kids in this world than mine. They have SUCH a great dad. It just melts my heart every single day.

Gotta get a move on to get the next four days of insanity under way. I'll be back 'round these parts either Wednesday or Thursday!

<3