Yet Another Pretty Awesome Milestone

Bean was recently invited to her first birthday party (and the parents kindly included Peabo too, which was lovely and generous), so we are off to the Hillsdale Mall Build-A-Bear this afternoon to accumulate more stuffed animals.

The aide in her class is the mom in question, and her now-6-year-old daughter is in another of the kindergarten classes, but knows Bean from recess and lunch, and such. I do recognize that the invite comes from mom, but you know what? Who cares? We're going to a thoroughly typical childhood experience, with thoroughly typical children and probably the thoroughly typical result of utter and complete chaos.

ROCK ON. It was profoundly sweet to make the Target run this morning for a gift and card, along with everyone else and their brother. Seriously, I think half the people in there were trying to find birthday presents for parties later in the day, it was mad. As I was checking out, I thought 'here is yet one more milestone I was hesitant to let myself even hope would happen, even just once. And here I am, loaded up with gift and card and wrapping paper."

And for the record, yes, I bought Barbie crap. Of course.

As long as it was pink and sparkly, it's okay if Barbie is involved.

It was probably less sparkly than other options, but it was pretty pink, and involved horses and rosettes, so I figured it came pretty close to six year old girl Nirvana.

Having "normal" childhood experiences with a non-typical child ROCKS. It's the best. :) Someday, maybe I'll let the Wiz spend the night some where else.