Annie's First Birthday

I know, I know. I know what you are going to say. I've heard it probably 100,000 times since I was pregnant enough to warrant the statement. I've even said it many times myself.

"It all goes so fast!"

Or some variation of that phrase. I've heard it, I've believed it, and ever since Annie was a week old and visibly changing from day to day, I've unequivocally known that it's true. The sandman must be stuck on fast forward because I'm only a tiptoe into mommyhood and I'm already thinking: "Where did my baby go?"

Growth, in the context of childhood, is a paradox. It's happy and sad for the parent who rejoices in their child's progress, yet longs for days gone by. For the child, growing is simultaneously awkward and the most natural thing in the world...well maybe just solely awkward for 13-year-olds, bless their hearts. For both parent and child the whole growth process is exciting and intimidating all at the same time. One thing I think every one can always agree on is that growth is challenging, and rarely, if ever, easy.

You want to know what's challenging about growing your babies? Birthdays. Birthdays are challenging. Whether your kid is 1 or 21 birthdays are hard. Over-stimulation, too much attention, sugar highs, sugar lows, parties, presents, tears, and cake, cake, leftover cake. Plus, there are all of these expectations that are impossible to meet.

This year I was the one with the too-high expectations. Expectations that were ultimately dashed in the 9th inning of my "Annie's Birthday Prep Plan." I'd planned ahead for Annie's Garden Party birthday party--sending out e-vites early, scouting out a beautiful location for the soiree, baking and freezing the smash cake way ahead of time, staying up late making decorations days before the event ...you get the idea. This was going to be a party to remember. And I have Pinterest to thank. Or to blame...

Then life hit. BAM! "Welcome to Earth." The weekend prior to Annie's big 0-1, she came down with a terrible, terrible fever. While I adored all of the baby snuggles, I ached for my little girl! I just wanted her to get well and for her to be her bubbly little self ASAP...and by ASAP I mean any time before her birthday would be great. For multiple reasons. Wow does that make me sound like a selfish mom or what?

Thankfully her fever broke Monday morning, but by Tuesday, the BIG DAY, she was still fussy and uncomfortable and just not our happy little girl. Poor thing! To party or not to party?? She was showing signs of improvement, and the whole shindig was already planned for that evening so we thought we'd go for it anyway.

Then the curse blew in. And by the curse I mean the weather. We have a small curse that follows us around and only strikes on special occasions. Our wedding, anniversaries, random important events...all inflicted with rain, snow, heat waves, wind, you name it. The weatherman must hate us. It was a sneak-attack curse this time, blowing in around 3:00 in the afternoon, mere hours before we were to set up Annie's Pinterest-perfect Garden Birthday Party. So we have a sick and cranky birthday girl, despicable weather, and guests arriving in a few hours. "Pfffffffffffft" - there go all of my, I mean Annie's, First Birthday dreams.

So we did what we always do, we made it work! Our Garden party became a Porch Party. We nixed the lawn games and turned on the mood music. Away went the picnic blankets and up went the banners, flowers, and twinkle lights. Good thing twinkle lights make everything magical because the end result was just that.

The guests, dear friends and family who adore our adorable girl (love you guys!), arrived to a quaint Porch Party (yes that is now a thing) to rival anyone's Porch Party. We had rainbow salsa, mini fruit pizzas, pinky chocolate cupcakes, and every good thing. With everything pretty and pink and practically perfect, I was feeling more hopeful for the main event of the night--the Smash Cake.

***Ahhhhhhhhhhhh*** (birthday cherubs sing)

That glorious, beautiful smash cake that I'd spent hours on. Hours of scouring Pinterest for inspiration (or intimidation, drat that Pinterest!), baking "practice cupcakes" to get the recipe just right, frosting, perfecting...I hate to toot my own horn, but I've gotta say it's probably my best work right here. So don't knock it 'cuz I might cry.

Here's the thing about Annie and food--she likes fruit. And that's basically it. I've tried to be a good mom and not give her any sweets that will inevitably make her a sugar addict. Because that's a fact, right? Well, turns out making sure your child doesn't get addicted to sweets at a young age results in a very anti-climatic Smash Cake experience:

Sorry sweet Annie, for never letting daddy feed you brownies or icecream. Sorry for making you wait a whole year taste the goodness of refined sugar. Totally my B. The good news: she finally ended up going for a cupcake. I guess I wasn't the only one suffering from "Pin-timidation."

Won't even sit in her chair

Frosting is gross

Noooooo!

Maybe this cupcake thing will be ok

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

So, what's the lesson learned by this rookie mom here? Birthdays are hard. Babies never perform. Being sick stinks. Friends and family who love your kid make parenthood all the more fun. Don't bake a big, beautiful, Pinteresty smash cake--cupcakes "take the cake" for 1-year-olds. SIMPLIFY momma--don't let urge to go big make you go crazy--'cuz your child would be just as happy with tissue paper and Animal Crackers. And also, Porch Parties rock.

Happy Birthday Annie girl!

So sweet even when she's sick