My birthday effectively started early this year with a weekend trip to Williamsburg last Friday, followed by an outpouring of cards and thoughtful deliveries over the next few days. Since today is actually my 26th birthday, I thought it was the perfect time to share what I received.
First up: an adorable, playfully edited photo of my baby boy dressed in birthday attire from my best friend Heather.
My husband tugged at my heartstrings with a custom portrait of Burger crafted by a silhouette artist. The piece was intricately cut from black paper and captures Burger’s complex personality—snuggly, wiggly, soft, and sweet. Even small details, like his eyelashes, were preserved. The one-of-a-kind portrait looks wonderful on our asymmetrical gallery wall.
Because of our new kitchen, John’s parents treated me to a selection of cupcake-themed gifts: a charming cupcake carrying caddy, pastel sugared sprinkles, and a box of gourmet cupcake mixes in tempting flavors like vanilla strawberry, poppy lemon, and chocolate caramel. These were wonderfully paired with a set of festive cupcake pajama pants, which completed the themed present.
John’s family also gifted me two oversized glass vases from ZGallerie—beautiful pieces that instantly elevated our home decor.
The biggest surprise came next: John bought me a silver iPod nano and even loaded it with photos (some of us, but mostly Burger). His sisters and their partners added two Beatles anthology collections to my music library as well. Believe it or not, this is my first iPod—I’m officially late to the white earbud club. The new model plays videos, stores pictures, and holds plenty of music, so I’m excited to use it on my nearly daily three-mile walks with Burger. I only hope he forgives me for listening to music instead of focusing on the soft thump of his paws beside me.
All in all: it was the best birthday I’ve had—filled with thoughtful gifts, sweet surprises, and time with the people (and pup) I love.