Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Happy Birthday to my Babies

Today is a pretty important day. It is the day I gave birth TWICE. Four years ago Zoey arrived early in the morning of October 2nd. And three years later Zander was born, just a few hours earlier in the morning. I know I say it a lot, but how amazing is that? Zoey & Zander, my perfect little pair, sharing the same birthday. I’m kind of obsessed with them.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

I think I might get a little more excited about birthdays than the average person. A few people teased me about my second birthday party for Zoey, saying it was too many gifts and too extravagant for something she would never remember. Do you know what I say to that? This is the day Zoey was BORN, the day she took her first BREATH, the day I gave BIRTH (which is not an easy thing by the way…). This is the day that I met my Zoey for the FIRST TIME. No celebration could ever come close to commemorating how important that day was. If anything, my party wasn’t enough.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

So with that introduction I can now tell you a little bit about our birthday party plans without any judgement. People keep telling me that Zoey and Zander are going to hate sharing a birthday. Obviously they don’t know me, there is no way any child could hate a birthday that I gave them 😜. We have a few different celebrations planned.

Birthday Party One:

We did a little unplanned pre-birthday a week ago. I had been planning a little play date with a few friends that day to shoot for my playroom reveal. Zoey has been asking me every day for about two weeks, “Is it Octovvvver yet???” because she can’t wait for her birthday. But the morning of the playdate was a little different. She woke up a few hours early and ran to the top of the stairs yelling her regular question at the top of her lungs over and over till I woke up, “IS. IT. OCTOVER. YEEEEETTTTT!!!?!?!?!?!”. She was SO excited, I couldn’t help but buy a few cupcakes and sing Happy Birthday when her friends came to play.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

The kids had so much fun eating the cupcakes, and look how perfect this mat from Soft Tiles was for the party?? It is definitely my favorite part of my playroom. It is the only place I have been able to find stylish play mats that can be custom designed easily with their MatBuilder. As you can see, I have both Zoey and Zander’s names in the mat, as well as the rest the alphabet! I designed the whole thing myself on their website where you can customize the color of each square individually, choose your die-cut shapes, alphabet letters, square size and mat size. Since they are so easy to wash it was the perfect place to enjoy some cupcakes for a mini pre-birthday party. There was icing EVERYWHERE after the party, but it was super easy to mop off the mat.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Birthday Party Two:

Next we are planning a really special birthday party for Zoey at Splash Lagoon. Splash Lagoon is a local giant indoor waterpark. As soon as I heard they host birthday parties for kids I knew I had to have one there for Zoey, she LOVES playing in the water. It is perfect for a winter birthday too when outdoor options are limited. Planning a birthday party at Splash Lagoon was actually quite simple. Simply head to this page, select a package (starting as low at $350!!) and click ‘Book This Party’. That will bring you through the whole set up process.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Birthday Party Three:

This birthday is to celebrate Zander. We decided to bring the party to Chuck-E-Cheese’s to celebrate Zander! I have never been to Chuck-E-Cheese for a party before, but people recommend it to me all the time. So I thought we would give that a try. We booked it for a few weeks from now, and I can’t wait!

Go ahead and call it overkill if you want. But seriously, have you met Zoey and Zander!?!?! No party could ever truly represent how blessed I feel to be their mama. Here are just a few thoughts for each of them on their birthday. I could write pages, but this post is already getting long.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Zander.

We waited for you for almost 2 years and I’d wait 100 more if it meant I could be your mama. You have been the sweetest blessing. I still remember the moment that pregnancy test said positive. After months of negative tests, I had no expectation of anything else. But then, just like that, you were there, and our whole world changed. During the ultrasound I cried when they told me you were a boy. Kris thought I was crying because I wanted a girl… But I was crying because when they said, ‘its a boy’ I suddenly felt like I knew you already. I sensed a calming, peaceful energy from you as you grew inside of me, and you have continued to bring that to our home. You are adventurous, tough, brave, smart and I love you more than words can express. Also, your hair 😍. I cannot talk about how I love you without mentioning it. Thanks for letting me run my fingers through it constantly and smother the top of your head with kisses. Cutting it for the first time was SO HARD. My brother got it right when he told me, “It’s like he knew you were an Instagrammer and so he thought he better be cute, he is the perfect Instagram baby!”. It is so true. You are my perfect Instagram baby 😂. I can’t get enough of you. How are you already one?! Happy First Birthday Zandy-bandy boy!

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Zoey.

How are you four already?? I have loved getting to see your personality grow this past year. I know you have been talking for awhile, but this year you have suddenly gained the ability to come up with clever arguments and funny jokes. It blows my mind every time you say something and I get a glimpse of how smart you are! You remind me so much of your daddy. You love being mischievous and making people laugh, just like him. Recently you have been coming into our bed in the morning and waking me up by poking me in the eye over and over, or sitting on my head. As soon as you can see that I am annoyed to be woken up this way you laugh hysterically, so proud of yourself. Even though it drives me insane sometimes, I love how you question everything. You will never do anything I say without asking ‘why’ (with at least two follow up ‘whys’). Once something makes sense to you, you are happy to go along with the plan. I love that even at four you don’t listen to me just because. You are thoughtful about your decisions, big and small. I also love your confidence, you have no problem telling me how beautiful you are 💁🏼. My hope is that you never loose that confidence, and always point right at yourself when daddy asks you who the prettiest little girl in the whole world is. I think everyone in the world needs a Zoey in their life, and I am so endlessly happy I have mine. Never stop dancing till you fall over (literally). Happy Fourth Birthday Oey with an EEEE💖.

Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

Well I guess I lied, those weren’t short tributes. But they still didn’t feel long enough to express everything I could say about my little Z & Z. Happy Birthday my babies!!!

Keep scrolling for more pictures or…

SkipButton


Play Mat: Soft Tiles | Moccasins: Freshly Picked (marigold, camo, fern, gold, spruce, city mocc, cactus) | Clothes: Peekaboo Beans (striped dress, black pants, gray pants, hoodie, black wolf tee, blue & gray tee)


Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael BurgessHappy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess Happy Birthday to Zoey and Zander | Rachael Burgess

4 Responses

  1. What camera do you use to take your pictures? Or are you using editing software on the back end? I am a stylist with Peekaboo Beans and I would LOVE to get some amazing pictures of my kiddos like yours! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More posts you might like

Hello!

Login to access exclusive, unfiltered content. New posts daily – straight from my camera roll.

Subscribe below for a free gift from me.