thirty…ish.

I had my thirty-ish birthday over Family Day weekend.

a woo… hoo.

Age aside, it was still a good day.

First thing's first - doughnut break.

"……"

"All of them."

Second stop - AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario).
Where we spent most of our time playing tag… it was still a good time.

More interested in creating her own art than looking at someone else's…

Actually, most interested in throwing pencil crayons.

Oh our mischievous monkey.

"who me?"
(The get-away-with-anything smile)

Thanks for the birthday calls, emails and messages!

the first party.

Ok, I'm seriously backtracking here, but here's some pictures from the birthday party.

I know she won't remember it, but obviously we had to make a big deal.

I think it's more of a "hallelujah we survived the first year!" party.

Anyway, as fun as it was, thank goodness they only come once a year. 

Because it. was. exhausting.

Pre-party presents time!

O.M.G. Papa are you seeing this present?!

Yup, she liked it.

Our well loved girl.

Pat-a-cake...

I tried hard not to hyperventilate while she "smashed" the cake.

SPOILED.

Yup.  Tissue paper decorations were a great idea.

Thank you to everyone who came, and couldn't make it, for the well wishes and the gifts!
And thank you to my peeps who helped set up, and clean up... cause if you there, you know just how relaxed and on top of everything I was.

on your birthday.

The morning of your birthday, we played in bed like any other morning.

(The photos didn't do your fabulous bedhead justice.)

It's getting harder and harder to take pictures nowadays because you're very quick/squirmy/mischievous.

(The I'm-getting-upset-because-you-won't-let-me-touch-the-camera face.)

Papa came home early and we went out to get cupcakes and presents.

 (Gimme that.)

 (Thinking about it...)

(Savouring it.  Really savouring it.)

All you had to do was point and smile at the cat and papa was sold. 

Here we are, laughing at how easily papa can be manipulated convinced.

But really. Thank you papa.

Pretty sure that face will let you get away with most things, but let try not to use it for evil.

M'kay?

(Monkey in the concrete jungle.)

When we got home, there was a package waiting for you from a special friend.

(Thank you Nina!)

So that was your very first birthday. 

Hope it was a good one.

o.n.e.

Yesterday she turned one.

Holy ****

To all of the new mums and mums-to-be, 

when people tell you "try to enjoy it because it all goes by so fast"

(cause they do - so many times)

and you're thinking "ya, ok. I'll try to enjoy being up to my armpits in laundry and dirty diapers,

with the endless feedings, all while having little to no sleep and raging hormones"

I really hope that you still try, and you do (enjoy it)

because it really truly was the fastest 365 days I have ever experienced.

For about a week leading up to her birthday, I felt panicky.

"did I play with her enough?"

"did we read enough books?"

"did I do too much of ____"

"did I not do enough of ____"

"should I have done more ____"

and on

and on

.

.

.

But then I came back from crazy town,

because I can honestly say, with confidence,

that I have never worked so hard at anything ever in my life,

and I did everything to the best of my current capabilities and could not have done any more.

I think I can be pretty proud of that.

So happy birthday sweet girl.

Thank you for being such a happy, healthy, funny, amazing baby.

I don't know what I could have done in my life to deserve such a gift.

Thank you for making me smile and laugh more than ever before, 

and teaching me to be a better person and mama every day.

Mama and papa love you more than anything, and we'll try our best to keep up with you,

so please try not to grow up too fast.

Man, she was so small... and if you know her now... well, you know.

(obviously we thought she was the cutest thing ever in life, 

but in retrospect she looked like a wrinkly old man/alien - a cute one though)

birthday weekend.

A happy birthday weekend for papa.

Chocolate is the way to his heart.

On your birthday, you get to eat cupcakes for breakfast.

Bean celebrated too, by showing off her new straw-drinking skills.

(Oh thank goodness he stopped after 3... although he snuck in 2 the night before... 

and then ate another one later this evening)

...and then we went to the zoo.

Someone was very excited about it.

(actually she was more excited about holding the map)

Perfect spring weather.

"Hello camels."

And Sunday brunch with friends.

Someone was way too interested in the band to eat.

That girl loves music.

Hope you had a good weekend too.

It's only Monday, but at least the weather's amazing.