Birthday Baby

Back when R's first birthday was imminent, I was clear about the invite list for his party. This was a celebration as much for me as for him. What an achievement on both our behalves. As it turned out, it wouldn't have mattered if I'd invited the football field and its entire fan base or no-one at all, since R fell sick on the day and his party was cancelled (to all but the diehards).

I was less sure who to invite to F's first birthday. The thing is, experience has withered me somewhat. I've experienced enough babies and toddlers now to know that parental effort expended towards birthday (and Christmas) celebrations does not correlate with star-child satisfaction or appreciation. Certainly, one year olds have no idea. They are just as likely to get overwhelmed by, or sleep through, the event as they are to enjoy the fanfare.

Ultimately, this knowledge inclined me to opt for the simple pleasures of family gathering this year. Which is not to say that the effort wasn't invested. Indeed, I spent the best part of three days prior shopping, baking, getting acquainted with my new food processor (which I LOVE!) and whizzing up an array of dips and finger foods.

We took the celebration down to an enclosed park/playground. Something I appreciate about having a summer baby is that an outdoor party is a serious possibility. In Melbourne, it's no guarantee, of course. But odds are fair, which is more than will ever be said for my winter–baby R's birthdays. I was mostly on camcorder duty this time, so didn't get a heap of pics. Here's what I did manage to capture. 

It took me a while to realise who F resembles in this pic... it's Russell Crowe!

Birthday baby.

My little cutie.

But, ambivalent about the cake. Actually, I wonder if he was having a premonition
about the imminent group discovery that I'd transported his birthday cake
in a dog bowl!

Dora loved the cake (or at least, the smarties on the cake) nonetheless.
Here she is showing us her baby teeth gaps with newly emerging big teeth.