My Funny Valentine

Last night, I put on a dress, believe it or not, and had dinner with my sweet husband. We all know I am not a "belly picture" person, so Mom, this is purely to humor you:

Talk about "Is your figure...less than Greek?"

I woke up at 6:18 to the sound of a fire engine--one of the loudest sirens I've ever heard. It was Cody, of course. A moment later, he segued lustily into, "Up on the housetop, click click click, DOWN through the CHIMNEY! Good Saint Nick!" The rest of the day was filled with "Happy birthday Mommy! Happy Valentine's Day to YOU," with lots of birthday kisses.
This was the front of my birthday card from Cody:

I asked who it was, and he said eagerly, "Granny?" I said, "Um, I don't think it's Granny..." and he said, "Oh! It's MARY!" : )

We went to early Mass, where Cody was an absolute prince. He sat on my lap the whole time, putting chapstick on his lips, over and over. And on his chin. And his "moustache." It was a fantastic diversion. Here's his little Valentine's Day getup (note the red shoes, just like Pope Benedict).

Cody's Valentine's Day present was...a mini broom and dustpan, which he calls "Cody's SWEEPER!" It was quite the hit.

He swept everything in sight. The cutest was when he said,"Mommy, stairs are ALL DIRTY! Cody make them ALL CLEAN!"

The we had a round of dancing with Bidi, who was downstairs because she always goes to church. And always comes up with Cody for Communion. (That's when he happily shouts "AMEN!" to the priest after he gives me the Host.)


We finished off the day with a giant peppermint cupcake.

Later, as I stroked his forehead in the rocking chair, my finger traced through a long and sticky line of icing. Yes, Cody, "you're my favorite work of art."