Happy Birthday Baby Jo

Baby Jo.

She was given to us as a shower gift before Nora was born. We were given many wonderful blankets and stuffed animals, books and toys, lovees and rattles, the list goes on.

Somewhere along the way, Nora became attached to two specific items that we had in her nursery, and those two things are the only things that have stuck after all this time. Those two things are her Kickee Pants swaddle blanket that is oh-so-soft and now has holes and patched holes and new holes and also a small, plush, rattling baby doll: Baby Jo.

My dad {Pops} was over one day and it somehow received the name of Baby Jo and let me just tell ya, Baby Jo is now a necessary addition to any sleep routine, trip out of the house, or playtime adventure.

One day {June 9th to be exact} I went to pick up the girls from Primrose. We had swim classes to get to and then we were meeting family for dinner. I can't remember the exact reason why except for maybe Krista was out and about with us. Anyways, Nora's teachers started talking about Baby Jo's birthday like it was common knowledge between us. They had made her cards at school and heard all of Nora's grandeur stories about the tea party in the backyard that had been {apparently} planned for Baby Jo. They, of course, had already been invited over by Nora for the big celebration.

Needless to say, I was a little surprised. After a few laughs about her wild imagination, we headed out to go to swim class. Krista and I decided while we were waiting that we should have a Baby Jo birthday celebration after dinner. We were eating dinner just down the street from a tasty cupcake storefront that the girls like to frequent.

Eating dinner with Mimi.

Sharing with Auntie K.

So it happened. We ate mini-cupcakes in celebration of a tiny, rattling baby doll. We even sang "Happy Birthday" to her at the table. But it was really more than just a birthday party for a baby doll. I feel that we embraced the innocence and imagination that Nora has developed as a toddler and have created a special tradition that will hopefully have great meaning to her.

The birthday girl...

So good, Janie took a bite out of the wrapper!

Playing in the fountain together!

Singing to Baby Jo... 

Holding off Baby Jo's next birthday until next year will be a big challenge. She tried multiple times in the week following her celebration to convince me that it was Baby Jo's birthday again, and I tried multiple times to convince her that it wasn't. So far, we have yet to celebrate another birthday for Baby Jo, but I am looking forward to next year, on June 9th, when we can continue this sweet tradition, for who knows how long it will last!