Still asking funny questions

Lexi has fallen into a bit of a pattern. During snack time, Mommy reads her one story, then I read her one story. I just finished reading her Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.

At the beginning of the story, the month of August is mentioned. Lexi said that her birthday is in August. Then she asked me, "How did you decide that my birthday was in August?"

This was followed by a bit of conversation about babies growing in their mommies' tummies and then coming out after they've grown a certain amount of time. I managed - this time - to avoid any further talk of anatomy!

Happy (half) birthday to Lexi

In late January-early February, my parents and sister came to Washington, D.C., for several days for a visit from their home in Seattle. Over the weekend that they were here, my brother and his partner Russell came down from New York City. And on that Saturday, Russell's sister Michelle, who lives here in Washington, D.C., came over, so we had a full house of visitors. While the snow fell outside (one of our milder storms), we were cozy inside as we made two full batches of lefse. A good time was had by all.

Everybody stayed for dinner that evening, and at the end of it, I was surprised with a cake that Michelle had made for an early birthday celebration for me. Everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to me as usual, I asked Lexi to help me blow out the candles, and she helped me open the cards and gifts I received too.

A few weeks later, Lexi and Sarah went to a birthday party for the son of one of my college friends (I was busy that day with a church meeting) who lives out in the suburbs. There were cake and ice cream and presents to open, and a fire truck even paid a visit, since the birthday boy is very much into them.

This has all added up to a lot of confusion on Lexi's part. While my birthday, February 9, is Lexi's half birthday, she, as a 2 1/2 year old, is having a hard time understanding that it's not her birthday. So she has been telling us regularly in the month since we started all of these birthday celebrations that it is her birthday and having us sing "Happy Birthday" to her. I thought it might have been over as we've moved into March, but this morning she brought up the fact that it was her birthday again, and so I had to sing. Perhaps we'll be doing this for the next five months until we really do arrive at her birthday.

You are invited

All readers of this blog are invited to the open house birthday party for Lexi on her birthday next month - on August 9. If you can make it to Nairobi, of course. Drop by if you're in the neighborhood! There will be lots of Swiss/French food (the party's theme is Switzerland in honor of Lexi's birthplace and the country's national day, which is on August 1)!

The official invitation: