Because today was Benjamin’s first and his last third birthday and because I didn’t buy him a single present in Austin I spent my lunch break on a mission.
My mission was to buy everything I would need to transform his room from a nursery/toddler room…
[Click to continue, although, be warned - there are TONS of photos in this post and a video - although I think you won't believe what you see. I still can't believe I pulled it off]
to a big boy’s room.
I only had 45 minutes to do it because the birthday boy himself was patiently waiting for me at his day care. Where he looked a little confused when I arrived shouting something about this thing called a “birthday”.
When we got home I told him there was a big surprise up in his room and so up we marched… and I, of course, turned on the camera. I’m so glad I did.
While he played in his new room I ran downstairs to wrap presents, order pizza and put the cake in the oven.
Then two of our favorite friends, Justin and his son, came over. While Benjamin hung out with his buddy in his cool new pad, Justin helped me move all of the furniture wedged in the hallway and at the bottom of the stairs down to the basement.
Benjamin didn’t seem to notice.
Then I attempted to cover the cake with whipped cream. (This picture is blurry because I was laughing so hard.)
But some sprinkles and candles turned the cake into the perfect Ugly Cake.
And then it happened.
Benjamin turned three.
For the first and the last time.
Hard to believe how much he’s grown. We don’t stop growing when we’re adults either… at least I hope you haven’t.
That would be boring as hell.
Happy Birthday Mr. Benjamin, may you always be as free as you are now.
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Aw, happy birthday, big boy!!! (and great job, Mama!)
how sappy am i that the changing table in there made me a little teary-eyed?
i love his new room.
Oh my gosh! That video is just the best!!! His reaction is so priceless – the giggles and the exclamations of "my room!" I've been hemming and hawing about updating Bubba's room. 3 seems like a great age to make the transition – gives me 6 more months to get used to the idea!
Happy Birthday Benjamin! And Way To Go, Mama!
I love this post and that video was just too cute! You did an amazing job with his room way to go! (I think I'd love to have something like that now haha) Happy Birthday Benjamin!
-random reader from ny
The big boy bed. His reaction is priceless. That's definitely something to remember. I must get out the vid more often for these types of moments for my son. Happy birthday Benjamin.
Aww…these little ones grow up too quickly. No one told me how difficult that part of being a mom is.
Happy Birthday Ben! Great job on the room mama – it looks so fun! Can you come and sort out our house?!
The laughter and joy that Benjamin gave you as a reaction to the new room is something you'll cherish forever. That's an awesome video!
And the room looks fantastic, too! I'm hoping my Benjamin also gets into Thomas the Train a little more by the time he turns three. For now it's still The DoodleBops and Yo Gabba Gabba.
Very happy that everything went well. My fingers are crossed for your party this weekend.
great blog!……..benjamin is so cute..i have a two and four year old and they are growing up all too fast!
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Fantastic! To hear his excitement and laughter brings back memories. He is too cute!
Great job on the transformation and just what a big boy of three needs…"A Big Boy Room"
Note on the Ugly Cake…my kids have all told me they liked the homemade ones better than store bought. Reason; the love poured in, the lady at the bakery always leaves that out.
That video was priceless. He is just beautiful. You gave him such an awesome birthday. Those are the things that they remember. And I liked your comment about us adults still growing. Yes we do. It's all part of this wonderful process. Enjoy your newly three year old and treasure him. My "baby" just turned seven and I can't believe it!
PS : I made a heart cake for my son's birthday that look suspiciously like your one and you know what, it was the best cake we ever ate because we all made it together.
Nothing quite as bittersweet as moving to the big boy bed.
And now my own Ben's train table (he turned 6 last week) is void of the last remaining Thomas toys and is instead covered in Star Wars characters and NFL football figures.
I've got to figure out a way to slow this growing-up stuff down.
______
And I see the signs of a good mom in that room… lots of books.
kudos for pulling that together so quickly! it looks amazing…and far better than my 4 year-old's room.
Holy smokes – his room looks awesome!! Well done you! And in 45 minutes? I would love to have seen a video of that! You must have been working like a mad woman!!
my baby girl turns three next week and she can not stop talking about getting "earrings and a barbie slide". The piercing of the ears to me is such a big girl moment, and we are moving from playing with babies to barbies….She is growing so fast. Great job on the big boy room. The cake killed me….it looks just like the one i made for the kids last night…except mine sunk in the middle.
You're such a great mom. I can't see the video, but I'm sure it's priceless. My daughter turns 3 in may, and she's still in a crib. I guess I better get a move-on!
His room is amazing.
Awww the video doesn't work. The ugly cake is funny, but as long as it tasted good thats all that matters right? LOL nice work on his room it looks great!
How freaking adorable! Oh, so, so sweet.
Great job, Alaina. It's awesome and organized! It's inspired me to go get some bookshelves for my 5 year old. The video says unavailable. Bummer. Happy Birthday Benjamin! I hope the party goes well this weekend.
What browser are you using? Trying to figure out this video thing…
uh–that's kind of like speaking another language, but i think the answer is internet explorer.
You're cute!~ okay, I'll check that out.
Until then if you can not see the video try this link and let me know if it works:
http://www.youtube.com/mssinglemama
oh well, that didn't work either, all of the other videos on that link worked no problem. regardless, you are an awesome mommy and you continue to inspire me. keep it up!
SO adorable. I love what you did – it's looks so much fun!
Looks like Benjamin had a wonderful 3rd birthday! Good Job
Happy Birthday big boy!! Wow, wow, Benjamin's laugh. It's contagious, you can just feel that joy through the video. And, Alaina, you're amazing.
Happy 3rd Birthday Ben!
He is so adorable in the video, and what a great job you did with the room!
WHERE did you get the bean bags and the quilt???? LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Been looking for bean bags!!!!!
Yes! I want to know too! I'm in love with the monkey bean bag… that would work perfectly for Anna (in a few years, of course!)
Target! They were $19.99 a piece – maybe less, they were on sale. And they coordinate with the bed spread and the wall sticky things.
You made me all cryey!!
Thanks for that.. you are an amazing Mommy… how fun would it be to be your kid???
Wanna adopt me?
This post has me tearing up, almost a full cry. What a very sweet moment! Every milestone is just so amazing to me. You are an awesome Mom to that little boy. I hope for myself (a newly single mom) and for my 17 month old baby boy that we can always have the same fun and love that you two do every day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN!!
Oh you will… just takes a while to get used to your new “family” model and then things just seem to fall into place. Also more “fun” when they're older. So hang in for the ride but enjoy it along the way because soon yours will be as big as mine!
This post made me tear up….so sweet, and I can just picture when my little guy gets to be that age!!
His big boy room looks very cool. Good job!
This post made me tear up….so sweet, and I can just picture when my little guy gets to be that age!!
His big boy room looks very cool. Good job!
How exciting. My son will turn three in 11 days. I can't wait. You did an awesome job redecorating. I especially love the bean bags! All that work and no cigarette! You rock!!
Happy 3rd Birthday little (or not so little) Ben. It's amazing how quickly they grow up, isn't it? Looks like you're cherishing every moment.
What a fun gift! It looks like he liked it alot. What a cute theme!
Great job, mama!
I love it… and am totally feeling inspired.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN!
Happy Birthday Benjamin!
What a great present, and way to go mama getting it done so FAST! Impressive.
I seriously hope I do something just as awesome for Noah's bday in May.
Just as you gave him an awesome gift of a new room and fun day, he gave one right back to you. The precious moment caught on camera of his joy and happiness is yours to cherish for life! Imagine when he's a grown man and you look back at this? Simply beautiful
Don't you just love Ikea???? So happy for you guys….NOW is when it really starts to fly by. I urge you–beg you–to get a video camera or voice recorder (like used for dictation) because I promise, you will never remember all of the amazing things he is about to start conversing about. Will, newly four, blows my mind constantly–and same for my 7-yo, Henry. As much as I love to write, I'm already regretting that I don't jot down all of the things they say–so witty, so intelligent, so just "out there"….if you thought your adventure started upon his birth, just wait….oh, it gets so much better!! Love to you!!
Aww Happy birthday. I take my daughters out to lunch by themselves the day before and talk about the past year and what we want to happen this next year. Anything to prolong it.
Hey Alaina. Just saw the video of Ben seeing his new room. Loved it. He totally reminds me of my boy who just turned 3 as well. Sadly – him and I have to share a room right now but hopefully I'll get to surprise my boy soon as well. Excellent gift Alaina. Your boy's joy brought tears to my eyes… You get 1000 mommy points.
The room looks great! I got to show Lucca these pictures when I get home.
He misses he buddy.
You rule. Seriously. You rule.
Happy birthday little dude!!!!!!! Three is a fun age!
The cake reminded me of the cupcakes I made for my daughters second birthday party, the decorating gun broke and I did them by hand from a tiny cake decorating bottle not made for decorating with so much frosting, took forever but they looked like flowers when I was done. Overnight the heat of the house melted all the frosting and they were piles of pink mush!!! You try to be supermom but you can't do everything and not everything will always be perfect but that's not always what counts, my daughter remembers that her daycare helped her celebrate her birthday with the cupcakes mommy made for her and that is all that counts!!! Do what you can to make memories single mom's and don't sweat the small stuff!
How do you do it???? I'm truly in awe….
yup, i remember this one. thanks for linking me back to it. this post actually always sticks out in my mind as something one day that i’ll be able to afford and do. which is: have my own space and create a beautiful room for my daughter all her own (we share one now). i knew that other party was an addition to this one- his real party. lots of love and support coming your way.
I just have to say – that cake was awesome. As far as the familial discomforts – keep your head up.. Every move you make is in your sons’ best interests and thought about carefully. You always know what you’re doing, even when you think you don’t know what you’re doing (…and we all have tipsy moments….).
So cute!!!
Had to comment – can’t keep my mouth shut – Don’t let the turkeys get you down!! You’re an incredible writer, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, thank you for sharing your life with us. The good you do in this world is so wonderful and actually pretty selfless – taking your own time and energy to bring together a community of single moms that are looking for each other, and need each other, so we can all feel connected and not go insane trying to figure this thing called single-mommyhood out all by ourselves. You are awesome! Thanks for not pulling the plug on your blog. I would have cried!
Heads up! and have a great day.