Margaux's Party

There are a few birthdays that I feel should not slip by unnoticed. The first being one of them (five is also a very important year). We had planned an excellent, relaxed at home garden party. Food, music, toys, sunshine. Alas with our bathroom flooding and the weather changing, it was not meant to be. So I hired a local small hall and filled it with bits and bobs from home. I'm really pleased we made the effort to do something, Margaux had a great time stealing her things from other babies and I think the other babies had a great time too despite Margaux's thug attitude. Next year though, that garden party is happening!! Thank you SO MUCH friends and family for coming.

My sister is a cake Wizard!

1 3 / 0 8 / 2 0 1 6

After gift opening we took the girls for a birthday breakfast. Margaux had a little go on her blueberry pancakes, but mostly ate my beans/beef/tomato concoction. We really love Meatcure, and I like to think we know our burger joints. Molly's first birthday here.

Then we went home and made the little fish a Cake! We took loads of videos on Instagram.
The cake was terrible so Molly tried to improve it with Sprinkles..

Neither of the girls ate much of the hideous cake.. that probably says something about how it tasted. Though Molly didn't eat the very lovely slice of red velvet we bought the day before so I'm not going to take it as personally as I usually might ;)

And then she was one.

Happiest Birthday Margaux. I wanted to take a few portrait pictures of her since I did the same with Molly on her first birthday. I cant believe I've been a mummy of two for a year! Margaux's taught me a lot about patience and the art of just being. I know I wrote about the frustrations of a clingy baby here, but the joys are just as tremendous. I have adored sending hours sniffing her folds, and kissing her forehead gently. Because I've surrendered to it I've been able to just relax into her and embrace the afternoons spent stoking her hands, and toes and tiny perfect nose. I know that when she's ready she'll give me my space back. But for now I'm learning more and more to enjoy every moment of being the mummy of a baby. Soon enough she'll be a little girl. Right now she's our ferocious, grouchy little ball of noise. Look at those curls.. they're the curls of a naughty little ducking.

The Party!

A little late, I have been very ill over the last week and previous to that my Macbook broke!!

It is however now fixed, so I can get on with taking account our life and times a little better :)

Molly's Birthday Party was wonderful.

I didn't get many snaps as I was so busy! And worst of all I didn't get a picture of Molly and her daddy!! OOPS.

My excuse is that he spent most of it in the kitchen hiding.

In fact I didn't get many family photo's at all so please forgive the collection. 

I've thrown in a couple from the decorating process and the invitations 

(most of which didn't get sent out!)

On another note my rainbow cake and Red Velvet cupcakes went down a treat- 

I can bake! Who knew!?

Molly coped so well, turns out she's quite the little party baby at one.

If the first party sets precedent for the rest, then we're in for a busy few years, next time I'm downsizing the guest list, or buying a bigger house!!

These last ones of my Nain are my favourite. I spied them in the background. Stupidly I didn't get a picture of her and Molly (She's Molly's Great Grandmother or Hén Nain) but I love how natural she is in these which is better than any posed picture. She tends not to smile in photographs, I don't know why because she is so beautiful. I don't know anyone who knows more about Literature and life than she. Molly, Jamie and I are lucky to have the family we do :)

A big thankyou to everyone who came and spoiled Molly, she had a great time.

Cheers to the next year!

Tomorrow You Are One.

Molly,

Tomorrow you are one. ONE!

I cannot believe how quickly this year has past.

Yesterday I cried for it, I longed to go back to the first moment I met you.

To relive every cuddle, every feed, every nap together.

Today I know I should look forward to our next year.

You have so much to come. You are inches away from walking;

The concentration on your face each day as you try is incredible to see!

You are so clever.

There is so much I look forward to sharing with you in our next twelve months,

Chatting, strolling, talking, walking, playing in the garden.

Summer swims and playpark swings.

Tomorrow you are ONE!

And we are going to have a celebration.

I hope we are doing you proud,

Because of you I am the proudest.

Tomorrow you are One.

And tomorrow I won't long for the past,

Or dream of our future.

I will enjoy my little girl, and the wonderful, sweet little person you have become.

Tomorrow you are One.

X