Now that the birthday celebrations are over, I can finally share the details. It was a sweet day. Turning 29 didn’t feel dramatically different from recent birthdays, but it was full of memorable moments—from an accidental shaving-cream foot massage (John grabbed the wrong bottle) to Clara attempting her very first crawls. Watching her start to crawl was incredible. Most people, even our pediatrician, assumed she’d skip crawling and go straight to walking since she’s been scooting on her bottom and recently started pulling herself up. Instead she decided to try crawling for fun, and we even filmed the moment.
So yes—baby talk ahead. Clara is kind of amazing, and I can’t help gushing. It truly felt like the best gift. The weather on Saturday was gorgeous—around 70 degrees and sunny, which was especially funny since my birthdays up north usually involved snow. We took a long walk through one of our favorite neighborhoods with Clara and the dog, and admired the scenery and houses along the way.
During our stroll we spotted turtles in the river, which Clara loved. Burger, our dog, was more indifferent but still enjoyed the outing. I was wearing the new Reebok EasyTone shoes John gave me for my birthday—his gift to help tone my buns and thighs. I’d nagged for them and he was kind enough to oblige. After the first three-mile walk I felt fine, but the next day a similar walk left me needing a serious break. So yes, they do make your legs and glutes work harder than a regular sneaker.
We also went out for sushi—one of our favorite casual dinners—and spent the evening enjoying good food and company. I received some thoughtful gifts from John and his family. Besides the Reeboks, John surprised me with a lovely book titled Love Life, which he picked up from a local shop. The cover is a cheerful green-yellow, and the book itself is full of gentle reminders about balance and presence—perfect for someone trying to put family first in a busy, always-connected life. A few of the quotes in the book really resonated:
- “The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you finish the work.” – Pat Clifford
- “If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.” – Lin Yutang
- “I think the most significant work we ever do, in the whole world, in our whole life, is done within the four walls of our own home.” – Stephen R. Covey
- “It is a great art to saunter.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “I haven’t a clue how my story will end, but that’s all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that’s when you discover the stars.” – Nancy Willard
Birthdays always seem to prompt reflection—where you’ve been and where you’re headed. We joked that maybe our blog name should become Middle Aged House Love as we keep inching toward new milestones. It doesn’t have quite the same ring, but the comment made us laugh. Back to the fun stuff: John’s sisters gave me some home-related gifts I’m excited to display. We often do wish lists for gift-giving, which makes it easy for everyone and ensures I get things I truly want. I picked out a few prints to add to our growing hallway frame gallery, and I can’t wait to hang them among family photos and keepsakes.
John went the extra mile with a sweet surprise: in addition to the shoes, he gifted me an adorable bee-themed print. We admittedly have a soft spot for bees, so it was a perfect choice. I’m looking forward to arranging these new pieces alongside the stack of Ikea frames that’s been patiently waiting in the kitchen. Someday soon we’ll put more holes in the wall and finish that gallery—pics to come when we tackle that project.
On top of everything, my friend Heather surprised me with a bouquet of lilies in a lime-green vase she knew I’d love. I adore the flowers and find myself wandering into the room just to admire them. Little thoughtful gestures like that made the day feel even more special.
All in all, my 29th birthday was wonderful. Life is good, and I’m trying to savor these small moments—baby snorts, puppy sniffs, and quiet family time—without getting too swept up in worries about the future. Sorry if this sounds sentimental or overly personal, but that’s where my head and heart are right now.
Psst—if you’ve asked how we manage Clara’s toys or wondered about the big brown basket next to our sectional, we posted our simple “dump & cover” toy storage method on BabyCenter. It’s an easy system that’s been working well for us.