Oh Normal Day,: Gabriel's 3rd Birthday!

Honk! Beep! Zoom! Crash!

It's Gabriel's 3rd Birthday Bash!

How many times has Gabriel watched the movie Cars since we've lived in Morocco? 769, 352.05 How many movies, total, had he seen before we moved to Morocco? 1 We have Cars in Arabic and English and Cars 2 in French. I should explain that these bootlegged DVDs are sold on the street corners and are extremely inexpensive and easy to obtain. I believe Gabriel's obsession began when we were living in our first, tiny apartment for two months with no furniture or toys. We did, however, have a tiny portable DVD player and some Children's DVDs that were sent from my parents just days before we left the States. I snapped Cars (English Cars as Gabriel calls it) into the player, thinking it would hold his interest for 20 minutes, maybe. The catchy song at the beginning of the movie immediately hooked Gabriel, and as soon as Life is a Highway came on, it was a dance party in our apartment. We cannot walk outside without Gabriel comparing cars to the characters in the movie. He also thinks that every other car is a RACE CAR! I find this particularly funny, seeing that he showed no interest in cars for almost 3 years. I remember thinking it was slightly odd that my baby boy didn't take to cars like many other boys his age. It didn't bother me at all, and I thought I might actually prefer if he skipped over that interest all together. Ha, little did I know...

Dear Gabriel,

The week prior to your big day, I often found myself in deep thought about your birthday, probably more than I ever did with your last two. Maybe it's because I wasn't spending all of my time at Michale's, Target and every party store in the city. Those stores, or anything like them, have yet to make their way to Morocco. Thankfully the online world allowed someone else do all the work for me as I waited for my packages to arrive. I was a little bummed about that, since I enjoy tapping into my creative side for celebrations, but in turn it gave me time to reflect a lot this year.

I don't believe that there's an official rule that states at 3 you're a boy and no longer a baby, but I sure have felt that to be true. My tearful reflections of Baby Gabey are overwhelming, and I wonder what your boyhood might possibly hold. You are growing up right before my eyes! How many times have you heard that line? Well, here's another one for you; but you will always be my baby! Those cliche phrases ring so true when you experience parenthood for the first time. You, Gabriel, are my first born, and it's beyond amazing experiencing all of these emotions and celebrations with you.

Let me be honest, sweet boy. This year has also been a doosey in some ways. You took the terrible twos, and you owned it! Jamil has several grey hairs to show for it, and I have broken down countless times over not only your behavior, but my own. It's hard being a parent, and it's hard being 2! I'm not expecting for something magical to happen on your 3rd birthday...well, I might be holding out a little hope. ;) Regardless, you have taught me patience and compassion (qualities I thought I already possessed) and how to love even more than I imagined.

Here are some of your personal favs: cuddling, strawberry yogurt, singing 50 Nifty United States, Cars, Word World, language in general (you love to talk), lollipops, purple, the library, books (you can read from memory many of the books in your room and I can see your imagination blossoming as I hear you make up stories to unfamiliar books) , your Barcelona soccer jersey, simple special treats, swimming, music, dancing (you prefer break dancing, but we keep trying to encourage you to stay off the ground and on your feet), anything that involves jumping or running, gummie vitamins, Abraham, Katie Perry's Firework, and going for "a little walk".

Waking up sweetly is a huge accomplishment and sharing with your imposing, little brother looks to be our next big obstacle. Not only can you recognize your ABCs in English, but also in Arabic, and you can count and associate numbers 1-10 in Arabic, English and French! You are extremely observant, intelligent, silly and oh so stubborn. Your genuine I Love Yous never fail to melt my heart. I pray you grow to be a strong man of God, and I can't wait to see what this fourth year of life holds for you!

I Love You,

Mommy

Jamil has been itching to go camping for a long time. What better time than Gabriel's last night as a baby and first morning as a boy? And what better place than the playroom on our new rug that "kinda looks like grass"?

Gabriel started school the week of his birthday! Being a summer baby, I alway thought it would be cool to get to celebrate my birthday at school. We did just that! Nothing says, "Will you be my new friends?" better than a batch of cupcakes!

Un, Deux, Trois!

Sweet Friends!

Check out this happy camper. First week of school (in French), getting a lot of birthday attention, and mom is suddenly here too...not sure what to think of it all.

A cupcake sure can bring about a quick attitude adjustment, huh?

On Saturday, we held a small party at our apartment. What theme? Do you really have to ask?

How adorable are these fondant toppers? I think someone ate the L in GabrieL...

The decorations, cake toppers, and G's shirt were all ordered from Etsy.

Graham crackers, nutella, and M&M traffic lights! Don't mind that they tray is upside down...

These car croissant sandwiches turned out too cute with lollipop drivers and black licorice wheels.

Thanks to our friends, the Updegraffs and the Benchekrouns, for celebrating with us!

This map was Gabriel's birthday present from Dad, Mom and Abey. The car pinata was from Oriental Trading and was filled with individually wrapped car gummies! What is the deal with pinatas these days? They are impossible to break, but I'm sure this weenie, little broom didn't help!