Today is my birthday.

I have always been a big birthday person. I love birthdays. I love celebrating birthdays, talking about birthdays, planning birthday gifts/treats/parties.

I actually always feel a bit awkward on my own birthday. I’m not really the all-eyes-on-me type. Casey isn’t either, which is a big part of why we want our wedding to be more of a big group party than a bride & groom stage show. But I have come to accept that on your birthday, you have to be the center of attention and just go with it:)

The day started off really well! I opened a birthday package from Mary Ann, to discover the most awesome hand-knit cupcake I have ever seen, complete with Nutrition Facts label (zero calories, 100% daily love!) and a Duff Goldman action figure. Awesome. Next up – breakfast with Casey, which is my favorite part of every day. Today’s featured delicious homemade banana bread (yum!) and a banana coffee smoothie. Then Casey had me open his gift, which was a super soft and fabulous North Face jacket! I was very excited:)

After work, I have to get through a short 4 mile run and weight set before the festivities can continue. Then it’s yummy homemade dinner at our place, and relaxing with my family. Tomorrow night I’m celebrating with my fabulous friends at my favorite sushi restaurant!

Standing in the shower this morning, I tried to think back to my birthday last year, and how different my life was just a short year ago. I lived in a different house, I wasn’t engaged, I was nervous about running 13 miles for the first time, and I was looking forward to a party that night at Monk’s Cove (which was really fun!).

This morning, I realized that even though 28 feels really really old, today I think my life is exactly where it should be. I pinch myself every day that I’m the lucky girl that gets to wake up next to Casey. I love my house and my dogs. I am healthy. I have a group of life-long friends that I cherish. I am lucky enough to have my wonderful mom and little sister who’s house I can walk to. I am marrying into a second family that I couldn’t possibly love any more.

Thinking of the difference between 27 and 28, I can only wonder what 29 will bring…

Thanks to all of you who love me and help me to celebrate me today. Your love and friendship are what get me from one birthday to the next.