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Evangeline turns three today. Don't bother asking me how this happened, because I'm still trying to figure it out myself. She's such a little person and constantly amazes us. I know, I know, everyone's kid is a genius, exceeds expectations, surpasses milestones, and has the promise to be the next prodigy, so I won't list off all the reasons why she'll graduate college by the time she's twelve.

No, what impresses me most about Evangeline is the amount of empathy and compassion packed into this little three year old. She's sometimes a fighter (ahem, she's still a toddler), but always a lover.  She's the kind of person who stops out of concern when she sees another child crying. She hugs, she includes, and she's ever observant. She's the girl you'll always want on your side and we get to call her our daughter. Happy birthday, sweet girl!

We're celebrating her birthday with an enchanted forest party in a redwood grove this year, but I thought I'd look back a year and share with you the inspiration behind her second birthday party.

My talented sister-in-law made all the chalkboard signs.

We picked up baguettes from Arizmendi bakery and made sandwiches.  A favorite was the prosciutto and arugula with apricot jam, mascarpone cheese, and a balsamic reduction drizzle.

It's hard to see in this photo, but my incredible aunt handmade a little French doll for Evangeline.

I was about two months pregnant when Evangeline turned two, and Hons and I had already booked our babymoon to Paris for the beginning of the summer. Little Evangeline had a fun-filled week planned with my parents while we would be gone, but we still had twinges of guilt at the thought of leaving her (side note, we had the time of our lives being kid-free for a whole week), so I decided to bring a little Paris to her.

I planned a Parisian picnic in our backyard with close friends and family. With baguette sandwiches for lunch, macarons and a homemade strawberries and cream layered cake for dessert, French children's books to read, and a token Madeleine doll to look at, we were all transported to the Luxembourg Gardens (definitely a mind's eye kind of a thing, because we were still very much in a small San Francisco backyard). 

I love planning parties, but I must confess, I do look forward to the end of the festivities, when I sit back, relax, and reflect on the day's details. I'm excited for this weekend, when we will celebrate our Evangeline with family and friends again, but I can't wait until later that afternoon when she and I talk about all the goodness we just shared together.

(2nd birthday photos by Hons)