The First Birthday of Doom!

Madness turned one today.

The morning was spent preparing the house for our visitors, four children and three extra adults.

Mostly, I sat around in the afternoon opening presents and eating lots of cake.

I am completely and utterly exhausted. It's such a strange feeling. Fun time though. Madness got clobbered by one of the junior guests, so that wasn't particularly adding to the party mood at that stage. Said guest left shortly after, running a fever (I didn't poison him... honest).

I have to go to bed now. No tips for today. Except... First birthday parties are fun. Definitely have one. But nap before hand.

Mmm, naps.

And the Soirée was a success!

Dimples's birthday party was lovely. Exhausting, even for me as a lowly guest, but lovely. Dimples behaved quite well in her role as the Party Girl, not getting grizzly until we were leaving at 6 o'clock, which is right near her bed time.

Madness, however, decided the scream the house down every time I didn't have a bit of cake for him in my hand. It didn't matter if I'd just put cake in his mouth, either, I had to have the next piece prepped and ready to go while also putting cake in his mouth, cringing at the crumbs all over the carpet spread by screaming babies with mouths full of cake, holding the plate and trying to drink my cup of coffee.

Mini-M has always been a Very Good Boy. He slept through the night while we were still in the hospital, and has ever since unless something is wrong. He doesn't cry when he falls over, even if he smacks his head. He didn't even blink when he dropped a model car on his foot last week. And that thing was heavy.

Apparently, all this wonderful, easygoing behaviour disappears out the window when cake enters the equation. So very obviously his mother's child. I am now, officially, both excited about and dreading Madness' own birthday party this coming Friday. Hopefully, everyone will be intact by the time I'm done.

Fun tip: Wear invisible earplugs to your in-laws' house.

Serious tip: No, really, wear invisible earplugs to your in-laws' house.

Nap time is my friend

So, nap time has finally settled on Casa Madness. It is, undoubtedly, one of my favourite times of day. I have a friend who feels a lot of guilt about enjoying her child's nap as much as her child does, but lap it up, I say.

I am now enjoying a cup of coffee that doesn't have to battle off curious, pudgey fingers (other than my own, naturally!) and eating a biscuit without the guilt of Not Sharing. In reality, I should be cleaning, for Hurricane Mini-M has devestated my lounge room, but for now I'm just enjoying my downtime.

Today, we have our first birthday of a child that has known Mini-M since they were born. Oh boy. A first birthday! Madness turns one next Friday, which is crazy as I swear I gave birth to him just last week. Didn't I? We bought Dimples a pair of comfy winter soft boots, which are going to look adorable on her, and I made her a little something for her to keep from us.

My husband, Big M, will pick me up after work, which is nice of him as it's raining. There will be cake. And pizza. And Other Mums. I will be in baby birthday heaven.

Fun tip: If you're in a relationship, and your partner works, nap time is the only time of the day you have entirely to yourself. Go wild! Let your hair down, invite all your friends over for a party, with booze, and tell them they better not break any windows and they better help you clean up before the baby wakes up! Which will happen in 2.5 seconds if they don't turn the music down.

Serious tip: Don't be shy in asking your child's friend (or, you know, their parents) what they'd like for their birthday. They know what would make the perfect present better than you do! And if you don't like the idea, then that's all right. Just ask for another.