Best birthday ever!

Frank planned a surprise party for me on Saturday night, telling me we were going out on a date that night to throw me off the scent, and strategically getting me out of the house all afternoon by having one of my friends schedule a cooking class for us that day. I'd never had a surprise party before, and it was AMAZING to have (almost) all of my dear friends gathered in one place. I loved it. After I got over the initial shock, I was so happy all night! I kept telling everyone, "I didn't think any birthday could ever top my 21st, but this one has!" (Just so we're clear—my 21st birthday was a Brideshead Revisited-inspired garden party with fancy hats and bow-ties and champagne. Not what you're thinking!)

I didn't get any pictures from the night (too busy trying to recover from the shock and then trying to circulate and talk to everyone), but Giedre made this awesome little video and said I could share it:

A few things I want to remember from that epic night...

Getting to introduce some of my pregnant friends to each other (finally!!!)

Getting to hold my friends' babies, while Frankie got passed from hand to hand like a hot potato (he was loving the attention!)

Catching up with friends I hadn't seen in a while

Fantastic food made by our friends and Frank... and my favorite red velvet cake

And the best part—at the end of the night, some of our friends who are in an Irish band pulled out their instruments (a mandolin, harmonica, and tin whistle that they just conveniently happened to have handy...) and played a bunch of great Irish and folk and Gospel music in our living room while the few remaining guests sang along. It felt magical. Frankie was enraptured with the music, and as he started to nod off, they played and sang "Go to sleep, little babe" until he was fast asleep. They joked that singing the baby to sleep was their birthday gift to me, but truly, the gift was having that beautiful music and singing in my very own living room. I told them they are welcome to bring their instruments over and practice in our living room any time! Live music, especially of the backyard singalong kind, is my very favorite thing in the entire world, so it was the absolute perfect ending to a perfect night.

I don't know how I can ever thank Frank enough for putting together such a thoughtful, delightful birthday surprise. He's the best. In spite of the baby's ongoing moodiness this month (I swear he is teething...), thanks to my husband, my 25th year is off to the greatest of starts.