Happy Birthday, Part 2

So, I obviously didn't get around last night to showing off our new hi-speed internet by posting again. I was too busy being surprised by Blake. I have to say -- he sure does know how to present things well. His motto must be "Presentation is Everything." Because last night, after we'd gotten dinner in the oven, he suggested that then would be an ideal time for me to go to the bathroom. The pregnant part of couldn't agree more. As soon as I'd shut the door, he set to work. I could hear the DVD player being set up and wondered what in the world he could possibly be up to. I had to wait to leave the bathroom until he told me the coast was clear, and as I did, I came into a romantically dimmed living room and was offered a seat on the couch by my scheming husband. He sat down next to me and pushed play on the remote. And what should begin playing, but pretty much the best animated short film EVER:

This has been one of my favorite movies since I saw it on PBS a long, long time ago. I had tried to get my hands on a copy a few years ago, but apparently because it was only being distributed to libraries, it was far too expensive for my meager income. I guess, though, that since then, it's been distributed more widely (and more inexpensively).

So Blake and I sat on the couch and while our French dinner of Quiche Lorraine cooked in the oven, we were taken away to the harsh French countryside made beautiful by the tree-planting efforts of one solitary, generous man. It was perfect.

Only when it was over, Blake said he had more. More? I thought. What could top this? And then he pulled out the DVD cover. Turns out he got me this: A DVD with 9 animated short films by Frederic Back, the animator responsible for The Man Who Planted Trees. We watched another one of his Academy Award winning films called Crac!, a cute tale about rocking chair, done in the same beautiful colored animation. It was wonderful, and, Blake -- I couldn't have been more surprised or pleased! I think we should visit "France" more often.

Aside from the France theme, the rest of my birthday seemed to be as much for the baby as for me. My family sent two nice informative books on pregnancy/baby stuff, The Cheerios Play Book with an accompanying Cheerios-shaped Cheerios holder (a staple in my family), and some long-coveted ABC magnets. They also sent me a little pack of monogrammed stationery which I'm excited to use.

So, it was a great day. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it so!! If any of you wants to make the trek to Muncie to help us eat the rest of the cherry chip cake, feel free...there's plenty leftover to go around.