I’m kicking off my 35 year jubilee on my birthday, March 11th.  I think I’ve realized why I make such a big deal about my birthday… Since the dawn of Facebook, there’s nothing quite like waking up to all the good wishes and love coming at you from all over the country.  As a friend said, “nothing like Facebook to make you feel like the Prom King or Queen for the day.”  And it’s true.  It’s YOUR day.  The day you came into this world and why not celebrate it?? In my case, my birthday has almost always fallen on the week of Spring Break.  This was hard, especially in college.  When my friends were going to Cancun or Padres I was driving…home.  To hang with my parents.  Nothing against my parents – my Mom always makes me her amazing banana pudding – but it’s just different than ringing in a new year on the beach with your friends. Well of course this carried over into my 20’s – lucky for me my crowd in Chicago always did birthdays up big (we’re talking renting out a room in a bar, special cocktails on the house, dancing till dawn) – and for my 25th my roomie Court orchestrated this huge surprise where my college friends Marla and Emily jumped out of my hall closet and spent the weekend partying it up with us.  What can I say??  I’ve been spoiled. And so, naturally, when Vann and I met I had to school him on Mander-palooza and how in my world birthdays actually last a month and it’s very important to stretch the celebrating out.  For my 30th Vann planned this fantastic party for me that was followed with hours of late-night karaoke (one of my very favorite pastimes and something I definitely don’t do enough) and always took me out to dinner at some of the most amazing restaurants in town.  Don’t get me wrong – a birthday doesn’t have to be fancy to be special – believe me, sharing birthday cake with my girls is now one of the best things about turning a year older.  I guess sometimes I just get my feelings hurt when my birthday rolls around because I’m afraid everyone is going to forget.  Just like all those years in school when it would just sort of…pass by.  Do I love it when friends suggest a lunch to celebrate?  Of course.  Yes, yes I do.  There’s something about having something organized for you instead of always doing the organizing for yourself.  And so this year, the girls are going to their respective grandparents and Vann is taking me to the Four Seasons for a night (where we got engaged and spent the night after our wedding) where we will have a glorious kid-free time and hopefully my morning sickness will stay away.  There might even be room service involved (also one of my favorite pastimes and something I don’t get to do enough).  After that we have a few days before one girlie comes home so we’ll spend Spring Break having dinners and quality time with our closest friends.  This is all good stuff.  I admit, sometimes I long for a late night of karaoke and some early morning mimosas and brunch…but I have a feeling those days will come around again.  For now, after how terribly sick I’ve been the first trimester of this pregnancy, I’m looking forward to a few days of no kids and nowhere to be.  That, truly, is the ultimate luxury, no?? And speaking of this pregnancy, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share one of the greatest ah-ha moments I’ve had as I’ve been one with my bed for the past 6 weeks.  For 3 years we’ve been unable to come to a decision about Baby #3.  So much uncertainty, so much limbo…and I have to tell you now…I feel such a great freedom in my heart.  Now I see what our family is, what it will be, and Glory, Hallelujah, we will move on from the baby-making stage of our marriage into the great, beautiful world as a family of 5.  No more questions, no more back and forth.  Just life with my hubby and my 3 babes.  I know the first bit of life adjusting to a newborn in the house will be hard.  Scheduling, drop-off, pick-up, Charlie starting Kindy, all these things TERRIFY me.  Breastfeeding, no sleep, the hubby stretched even more than he already is…it’s going to be a biotch at times and I know that.  But as we move on, as the baby starts sleeping through the night, and nursing either takes or it doesn’t, and I get my body back, slowly but surely – Lord this is our life and what a life it will be!!  It feels glorious to move forward.  And as I hopefully reclaim my hair color (because Oh you do not want to see my roots right now) and my appetite in this next week or so, I can’t think of a better gift to be given on my 35 year Jubilee. My brother and sis-in-law both have their 40 year Jubilee this year.  Our motto for 2013: Treat Yo Self. 

And so I shall.  Merry Jubilee, all!!