party time

A year ago... two days old

a couple of weeks' ago

I’m in the full throes of planning my daughter’s first birthday party – which is really a toast to my husband and I for surviving that first year of parenthood.

Surviving. . . barely. . . I had my first night away from them both a few weekends ago – a luxury I had fantasised about for ages. I had thought that I’d have a sleep in, wake late feeling fully revived and go and get a beauty treatment like a manicure or pedicure. The reality was very different. I woke, like every other bloody morning, at 7am. Wide awake. I couldn’t – no matter how hard I tried – get back to sleep. The worst part is that I hadn’t gone to bed early the night before. I’d been at a friend’s birthday dinner that then turned into a surprise engagement party. So of course it was 1am by the time I got home. Yet still I was wide awake at the crack of dawn.

I made tea and toast and read my book in bed. I lay there for hours – umming and ahing about what to do. I couldn’t really be bothered rushing out the door. I had a friend’s birthday lunch so I did what all good mothers do and cleaned the house, thorougly. It shined and sparkled; I felt incredibly satisfied. Off I went to the birthday celebration feeling virtuous. I caught up with my family later that night – to a very sick daughter and never got to catch up on my sleep – but that’s a whole other story.

Sleep deprivation aside – I’ve learned to function on it. Very well. Clearly I no longer need a full 8 hours sleep. But the joy I get from my little girl is indescribable. She is simply amazing. She crawls at speed and babbles in her sweet little baby language. She has a few words and has learnt some pretty cool tricks. The changes that happen, and so quickly, are simply wonderful. But am I ready for another one? No, not yet. Absolutely not! I want to enjoy her for as long as I can.

So, the first birthday party is a celebration of her – our Snugsy as we currently call her. Or fluffy fringe.

There will be pink balloons and pretty pink lanterns. Party food for kids and a picnic selection for adults, beer for the boys and bubbly for the mamas. Cheerios and sausage rolls, fairy bread and cake. A pinata to bash and a parcel to pass. It will be fun and exhausting but we can’t wait. I’ve been looking forward to this event for the past 12 months!

Tamsin xo