Lucy 4 year celebration!

In years past, Lucy has been notorious for being sleepy/cranky/tantrum-y at her birthday party, because of a lack of sleep the night before.  Whether that's because she's excited prior to the big day, or just a child's knack for knowing how to thwart her parent's best laid plans, I don't know, but I did know that I wanted this year to be enjoyable.  Enjoyable for Lucy seems to be low-key and laid back, so we pared down the celebration and kept it quieter this year - and didn't mention the party to her beforehand ;)

Laid back.  Low-key.  Quiet.  Dress by Mama, Lorax hair clip by Kind Kreations.

Lucy's friend Mateo came too!

Lucy's other love, besides her loyalty to Sesame Street, is Dr. Seuss.  She doesn't care much for the movies, but she LOVES the books - particularly The Lorax and Horton Hears a Who.  I bought The Lorax for her before she was born, and was attempting to read it to her when she was a week old, so I guess my plan worked!  I decided that would be our theme this year.  Surprisingly enough, for all of Dr. Seuss's sage wisdom and character appeal, there are scant few birthday decorations available, so I had to come up with some myself!

My love for Etsy and Pinterest really came in handy here.  Fortunately, I found an office supply site online that provided cutout wall decor that would have taken me eons to draw myself (and they were then recognizable, score!), as well as cardstock book covers that I hole punched and strung with ribbon.

See the Truffula trees in the corner?  Tissue paper and pool noodles - thanks Pinterest!  And the centerpiece was all me :)  I saw some marabou Truffula trees online, so I stocked up on various colors of marabou, wooden dowels, and craft paint, and added them to a great Who border that I got from the office site.  My dad drilled out some holes and a divot for the border, I crammed them in and slapped some moss and paint on, and voila!  I know, I know, Whos and Truffulas are not natural together, right?  Not like a Lorax popping out of a tree, or an elephant hatching an egg.  I don't think Lucy minded!

And then there was the cake - I was hoping for something that Lucy could easily see and appreciate from her vantage point.  Printed on graphics were not going to cut it.  I contacted a local baker, Josh from Josh's Cakes, to concoct something for Lucy based on cakes I had seen around the web.  This is what he came up with - 

See any resemblance?

Just spectacular, right?  I was beyond elated when he sent me the pictures.  I made up a few extra Truffula trees to add in, and we were all set!  I was so excited to see what Lucy thought.

She loved it, and she loved being sung to.  In the right, controlled, comfortable setting, she is a huge fan of being the center of attention :)  Then it was cake time!  We got a cake that we thought Lucy would be able to taste most of; one with raspberry filling and key lime cheesecake, along with regular white cake and a divine buttercream frosting.  It tasted as good as it looked!  I already have an idea in mind for next year :)

More!

Mateo liked his too :)

Then it was time for presents!  Daddy got Lucy up for a little break off of her back, so she could check out the decorations close-up...

...and then we made our way over to the unwrapping corner.  Lucy decided that she had had enough party, and was trying to go to sleep.

Once we got started, though, she perked up :)

Had to sneak some Sesame Street in there anyway!

She was having fun, but had to throw some sassy eyerolls in after awhile.

We were getting to the end, and started opening some clothes that were decidedly too small for Lucy.  She was amused at first, and then not so much.

Seriously, Ma, what is this about?

We saved ours for last - Lucy has been more interested in dollies lately, and we've been scoping them out on our Target runs.  They have an Our Generation line that is akin to the American Doll brand, and she seemed the most interested in those (they have blinking eyes!), so we chose one for Lucy.

Not opening fast enough!  Eyeroll!

It's a dolly!

Look everyone, a dolly!

And she matches me, because Mama's a freak.

She stayed awake, she did not have a meltdown, and she liked her presents and decorations.  Major success!

Lucy is 4.  When she was initially diagnosed, we were given the same grim diagnosis that almost every SMA family receives - even the type 2 families, sometimes.  But when we saw Dr. Schroth a couple of weeks later, we were discussing Lucy's sleep patterns (she would go to bed at 1-3am and wake up late,) and Dr. S said "Well, you'll have to take care of that before she starts school!"  Just like that.  Matter of fact.  And that took care of it for me.  My kid was going to beat SMA into the ground, and I was going to do whatever I had to to help her do it.  So if I said I was surprised she made it to 4, I'd be lying.  But do I feel blessed?  Absolutely.  And shouldn't every parent?