It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To

I’ll admit it. I went a little overboard hosting The Wee Man’s birthday party this past weekend. I just figured that since it was a milestone, I shouldn’t half-ass it. So I bought the decorations, made the food, and invited his little buddies and their parents. Ahh, such good intentions.

Anyhow, here are some observations from a rookie’s first attempt at hosting a toddler’s birthday party:

1) Time is not on your side. No matter how fast you get the festivities rolling you cannot outrun the impending collective meltdown of toddlers overdue for a nap.

2) Don’t even try to be the hostess with the mostess. Cocktails and canapés are a thing of the past (unless someone comes up with a hors d’oeuvre made from Cheerios or people don’t mind getting their martini served in a sippy cup).

3) You will be eating off Peter Rabbit 1st Birthday paper plates until Christmas because you ordered too many.

4) You will be eating leftovers (on those paper plates) until Christmas because, despite having a toddler of your own, you have suddenly forgotten that parents have to eat in a hurry and are lucky to scarf down half a hamburger, let alone your variety of side dishes.

5) Forget buying a big cake. By the time you get around to singing “Happy Birthday” the only way parents are interested in prolonging their stay to eat cake is if it is laced with tranquilizers.

6) Warn friends who don’t have kids that every hour spent at your child’s birthday party will equal the number of years they will want to continue using birth control.

The Wee Man Turns One!

I wish I could adequately put into words all that I’m feeling today as my baby turns one. I think back to a year ago when he decided to put the scare of our lives into us by having to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a week after he was born.

We wanted to put the celebrations on hold until we knew for sure that he was going to be okay. But by the time we got the all-clear from the doctors, we were so wrung out from the worry and uncertainty we endured watching him struggle to get better that passing out cigars and toasting ourselves with champagne seemed superfluous. At that point, all we wanted to do was to get him home.

Joy, pride and great love are just a few of the things I’m feeling right now. But if I had to pick just one emotion to sum up today it would be gratitude. Gratitude for The Wee Man being happy and healthy, gratitude for learning to cherish each day with my loved ones, and gratitude for being able to have joy, pride and great love in my life.

So after presents are opened, a first bite of cake is tasted, and The Wee Man is put to bed, Hubby the Great and I will finally open that bottle of champagne. Because, after all, we have so much to celebrate.

Are You Quite Serious?

No surprise that the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year. After all, Yuletide products started appearing on store shelves right after Labour Day. But do they need to start playing Christmas carols so damned early?

I entered a store today and was confronted with “Jingle Bells” playing on the sound system. November 1st. November. Bloody. First.

I suppose retailers do it to create an ambience of Christmas to get shoppers in the mood for some holiday spending. Well guess how they can get me in the mood for holiday spending? LOWER THEIR PRICES TO REFLECT THE STRONG CANADIAN DOLLAR! Because if they don’t, I will be dashing through the snow right to the U.S. to buy presents. Ho Ho Ho – Merry Christmas.