This is easy for me to say because I didn't actually get sick, but I think this sickness was kind of a blessing because it meant that we were all together today to celebrate. (I'm sure Danny would have rather celebrated without involving quite so much toilet.) It would've been sad if we'd both gone to work today and picked Jack up at 5 and had the usual crazy couple of hours before getting him to bed. It was nice to have the day with Danny, especially, because I feel like this is as much our celebration as Jack's. Today seemed like a celebration of our own triumphs in many ways-- hey, we managed to keep our kid alive for a whole year! Hey, we made it through the first year of parenthood! Hey, remember a year ago how I pushed a kid out of me? That was awesome!
So how did we celebrate the triumphant first year? First we took a drive up into the hills to our favorite park, Tilden. (You may remember this from such things as Becky & Danny's wedding and the recent Golden Hills Marathon.) It was a spectacular day, in typical California fashion, giving you her very best the day after she's convinced you it's time for the winter rains to start in earnest. We had to pull over to admire the view.
Then we continued on to our intended destination, Little Farm. We've been meaning to take Jack here for, oh, about a year, so it seemed an appropriate one-year celebration. He loved the chickens most of all, of course, but he can see those any Tuesday at Tuesday Mom's house, so we tried to get him interested in some of the other animals. He did pat a nice old cow and watch some silly ducks splash around.
Then we went to the park. Actually, first we took a two and a half hour nap because we're still recovering from the yuckies, and then we went to the park.
Then we had presents. Actually, first we had another hour long nap, because, hey, when it's your northday you can do whatever you want to and Jack wanted to sleep. That was okay, because it gave mommy time to bake his cake. When a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Jack rejoined the party, he found himself amidst all kinds of great loot. Mommy and Daddy got him his own little piano that I hope he will enjoy for years to come. We played with that for a while, until we remembered we still had all the other presents his family had showered upon him.
Jack says:Thanks Grandma Melissa and Grandpa Bill, for the wooden rabbit toy!
Thanks Grandma Sue and Grandpa Steve, for the warm clothes and peekaboo book (I love those books!)
Thanks Aunt Alison, for my great new wooden blocks!
Thanks Nana, for the donation to my college scholarship fund and for the very special card that I have already tried to eat the felt off of twice but mommy and daddy keep taking it away from me!
Then we had cake.
It was gingerbread with peaches & cream frosting, because I know how Jack loves his peaches, and because in lieu of knowing what kind of cake he likes best, I figured the ginger may at least settle his tummy? But it didn't matter because he wasn't interested in eating anyway. He enjoyed rubbing the frosting all over his face and his hair, but his appetite hasn't returned yet. That was okay. Mommy and daddy enjoyed it. (And there are 11 more for breakfast tomorrow!)
Happy first northday, Jack! You may not remember it, but I promise that you had fun.
3 comments:
Special day for a special boy and his special family.
we loved the northday story. it will go down in the annals of the Chaplin-Kramer and Kramer family history.
Hope all are feeling better and that the porcelain god has had fewer worshipers in your home over the last 24 hours.
Our love.
A great birthday story Becky. Well, at least you'll have healthier birthdays to look forward to in the future. So sorry Jack had to feel icky on his first one. Love to all (and good health!)
My kids all screamed at their first birthday cake. At least Jack just decided to bypass it altogether. It's very sad when a child screams about a cake you spent four hours laboring over. But, then, that's motherhood. :) Happy birthday Jack!
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