"Mommy, it's your birthday!"

Friday was my birthday. I have to admit I'm one of those people who's pretty birthday-centric. And besides my family, thanks to Elizabeth, Stacey, Donna, and Jill for playing along and indulging me. I decided while there was nothing wrong with spending my birthday doing our usual Friday routine (Oma visit), it wasn't going to make the day special and I wanted to do something special. I decided that I wanted to go to the American Museum of Natural History. We haven't taken Katie there in a while, though she did go there with Ania. I've loved this museum since I was little - what little kid doesn't? I used to call the dinosaurs "dinosaurs without skin." But it's funny seeing a museum from an adult perspective. The mammal exhibits have not aged well and the dinosaur exhibit is completely different now. It doesn't have the vastness of the old exhibit, but I think it's more educational.

Katie was very excited it was my birthday. You have to love that she shares the excitement in birthdays. For days before she was talking about having cake and candles, but I had to explain to her that grown-ups don't always do that. Though I did have a mini cupcake to share with her and she sang me happy birthday at least 3 times (thanks Danielle for baking).

Anyway, Katie and I were heading off to the museum and I told her she might want to wear a pull-up because we had to take the bus and the subway to get there [my choice - we walked home]. "No Mommy, I want to wear panties." And she did great! I think the museum was a little much for her. There were tons of school groups and it's not that interactive. While she liked the dinosaurs, she didn't really want to do much. By noon she said she was hungry and she wanted lunch. "Katie, we're having lunch with Dima, we'll leave soon." And it became I want lunch now, I want lunch here, I don't want to have lunch with Dima.

Katie and Puppy (Brother Puppy) and the dinosaur without skin

I stalled her for a little while and we headed off to Dima's school, conveniently located a few blocks away. Yes, my mom works pretty close to us and we don't see her often - one of those weird NYC idiosyncracies because it's not easy to find a parking spot and stop by. I thought that there would be no better way to spend my birthday than with the woman who is responsible for it. So thanks Mom. And Katie did great in the dry-panties department. She wouldn't go before we walked home, but she later told me "the restaurant and lovely soap." Where did she get that one?
Aunt Rachel came to babysit and Katie couldn't have been happier. Rachel tried to teach Katie to draw flowers and they made me a card. Very cute.