November 28, 2012

Birthday Balloons


The big birthday morning started at 5:30AM, when we reluctantly crawled out of bed to inflate balloons. James filled them and I balanced on the bed, collecting floating balloons and tying on ribbons. I think we were both hoping to go back to sleep once this chore was over, but Little Smith seemed to know it was his day and wanted to get it started early.

We collected the balloons in two giant handfuls and entered his room singing Happy Birthday. He was still half asleep and totally baffled... then completely fascinated... then utterly delighted. The kid loved it and hasn't stopped asking about the balloons (which he still calls 'ah-dn') ever since.

He didn't want to leave his birthday crib, so we let him play and watched the sunrise before turning him loose to play with his new easel (and the many other toys from family... I can't believe there is another holiday coming up).


Our celebration was pretty mellow, especially since we had driven home from New York the evening before; lunch with friends followed by a cake-ish. The truth is that I just didn't have time to make a proper cake, and I actually shed a tear or two over it. I know it seems like a stupid thing to beat myself up about, but for me the cake is the heart of a birthday and I definitely wanted to make Little Smith one every year. I just had to accept that I can't always accomplish everything I'd like to. Parenthood is slowly teaching me that lesson.

Instead we bought a fruit tart from Whole Foods, which was a hit with our fruit lover, and just enjoyed an evening by the fire with some deflating balloons. It was a very sweet welcome to the year of two!

17 comments:

  1. Aaawww happy birthday little smith!

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  2. That is so sweet with the birthday balloons. I love that 2nd picture. You know, he'll maybe remember the balloons but he definitely won't remember that there was no "proper" cake - go easy on yourself !! one of my brothers birthdays involved a flooded bathroom and us tearily singing happy birthday to him and eating cake amidst drying bathroom drawers and shampoo bottles...

    x

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  3. Happy birthday! I love that zebra in the background! Hee hee!

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  4. This little boy is so cute and charming! Happy birthday!

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  5. Aww - so darn cute, happy birthday to him! :-)

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  6. What a wonderful balloon wonderland!! No worries Mama, he looks like he didn't miss anything & if its any consolation I'd take a fruit tart over cake any day.

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  7. What a great way to celebrate! I love that you guys woke him up with balloons and singing... I wouldn't dare! And don't feel bad about his cake-- it sounds like the tart was right up his alley!

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  8. So cool!! It's so much fun making them feel special now that they can actually get that stuff. And seriously, don't worry about the cake. You showered him in balloons!! And gave him an easel! That's an awesome birthday, if you ask me. :)

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  9. The balloons look amazing! I admire your dedication. Did he actually blow them up by mouth? That's what I hate about doing balloons. I get my husband to do it too. Sorry about the cake. I know how you feel. I'm always beating myself up about what I can't get done.

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    1. No, we didn't blow them up (lucky for us) we got a helium tank because we wanted them to float. I 'pinned' a natural version where you use vinegar and baking soda and was all ready to try it, until I looked more closely and realized it was more of a science experiment and not terribly practical!

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    2. Duh, yes, I guess I should have picked up on the floating thing!

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  10. Such a special day and what a wonderful idea - all that wonder and imagination in such tiny eyes. A memory kept forever.

    Nina x

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  11. How special! You're a great mama, cake or no cake :) Looks like Wyatt had an amazing birthday.

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  12. Love this idea! So going to try it! He is so cute!

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  13. happy birthday wyatt! i'm glad that he had a positive reaction to the balloons -- i know it was a bit of a concern if he was going to like them! what a lovely idea :)

    and don't beat yourself up over the cake...but i know what you mean. i wanted to get that traditional photo of your child with father christmas for every childhood year...but olive was only four months old last year and so i just didn't get round to taking her to a busy shopping centre, etc. and i did beat myself up over that for a while. oh well. we need to remember the more important things that our children *will* remember us doing for them.

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  14. Beautiful photos! And happy 2nd year to Wyatt!

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  15. Oh man, Wyatt lucked out with some pretty amazing parents. :) Happy birthday to him!

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