Asher's FIRST Birthday!!!

A momentous occasion for every first time parent (and I'm pretty sure second, and third, and fourth, and well... you get the picture). Finally, I had the absolute and most anticipated pleasure to experience throwing a birthday party, for my own offspring. I have thought about it for months now. Secretly, when no one was looking I would pour over pages and pages of Mommy blogs and birthday party supply pages searching for what represented Asher the best. Not what represented me, or Rich, but what Asher was drawn to. I watched him as we were in stores and would pass by children's toys. I watched him as we went through gift shops of aquariums, and zoos, and pretty much any entertainment shop. I watched him as he played with his toys at home, or Nana's, or cousins houses. And every time, he is drawn to animals. Especially Jungle and Safari animals. (Secretly, I high five him in my mind every time, because these are my spirit animals too. Good on ya Ash!!!). And even more specifically, giraffes. I wonder if it has anything to do with how many giraffes he has accumulated in this short and extremely fast first year of his life. (Sidetrack: a few months ago, as I started to clean up the kitchen, I realised how many giraffes were in that room alone and put them all together with him. I chuckled. Out loud too. I have a picture of it somewhere... and when I find it, I'll edit this post and insert it. It's funny, at least I think it's funny.)

(pic found!!!)

This game of observation gave me pleasure on so many levels. I love watching him. I love watching him explore anything and everything. A string. A box. A beveled edge of a coffee table. A cover to a DVD (it helps when it is the National Geographic Ocean, heheh). A bird sitting on a fence. A tree blowing in the wind. Sadie. A stuffed toy. A laptop (ok, actually this is hard because usually it is when Rich or I are on it and Ash wants it, BAD). The list can go on and on. Not only was I able to sit back and watch him grow and develop and improve his motor skills, but I was able to watch his little personality really come to life. And in doing this, I am learning who he is, what he likes, what catches his eye, and well, what doesn't.

So, the guests for our first party was decided - and jungle safaris buddies it was. I spent a good solid week trying to see which theme he would love best. I narrowed it down to 5-6 choices and got Rich's take. It was pretty easy actually. Not quite as overwhelming as pouring over a baby name book. Once we selected the perfect friends, the fun really began. There a a gazillion items out there - seriously! Pages and pages of decorations and games and toys and goodie bags to share with guests, to express our gratitude in them taking the time out of their busy lives to help us celebrate one of our most precious little lives. I kept the shopping cart full for a day, and slept on it. Since I resigned from my career, I'm learning how to be more frugal. It's not been easy, but it's totally worth it and a new sort of challenge. And I always like a good challenge. Anyhoo... the next morning, I removed a few of the over exuberant items and clicked the magic button that would make it all come true. Luckily for us, we spent the weekend in the majestic mountains of Mackay, Idaho where we were distracted by fantastic wildlife and the company of really amazing relatives so I wasn't pacing by the front door waiting for the four insane dogs to go ballistic when the poor UPS guy walked up to the door to bring us the box of magic goodies.

It did arrive, and while Ash was taking a nap. I opened the box and was completely delighted with all the funness inside! It was perfect!!! Although this box was for the party to be held this weekend, it arrived in time for his REAL birthday, which made it really nice. And I got to go through the box and see if I had missed anything. I always like to do a dress-rehearsal in my mind to help ensure things go smoothly on the day of. No matter the occasion. :) It also allowed me to free my mind and just soak in Ash, and let my emotions be celebrated too as his birthday approached.

The morning of his birthday, we woke up and did the usual morning routine. Feed, play, and fall back asleep for another half hour. When we came out of the room, we were greeted by his Auntie Nikki with her always smiling eyes and super excited and animated face with lots of birthday wishes and hugs and kisses. As we climbed up the stairs, his Auntie Ty had a fabulous surprise... Yellow streamers were all across the dining and kitchen rooms. Half way up the stairs Ash noticed it (even before me!) and did his famous howl and point of "ooooohhhhh". It was perfect. A perfect start to this day of ridiculous celebrations. :)

Right away, Ty had him open his first gift before she had to run to work - a blue and yellow sippy cup with a straw. Ty, the genius, had found a replacement to his favorite cup that was eaten and destroyed by the evil four leggeds just a few days before. YAY! She encouraged him to stay hydrated so he was in good shape for the festivities that awaited him that night. I loved it.

Off to work Nikki and Ty went, on came Bob Marley, and the preparations for his birthday breakfast feast began. Scrambled eggs and biscuits! I've held out, much to the advice of our pediatrician and all the books and blogs and websites, to not give a baby eggs until they reach the ripe age of one. Today was the day. Nana has tried, and been kindly rejected, in the attempt to share her eggs. But today, it was legal. Three egg whites and one yolk, oregano, basil, tomatoes, and cheese. And the delicious little Pillsbury country style biscuits were presented. He ate them with gusto! Yay. Because we LOVE this meal. After we ate, we danced and bounced, and twirled all over the kitchen and dining room and living room to the roots, rock, reggae. We love dancing to his tunes!

After a bit of playtime, and watering of the the herbs in the backyard, the guest of honor went down for the first morning nap. While he slept, I finished watering the side and front yard plants and flowers and reflected on what we were doing one year ago. Thinking to myself, "Right about now I was saying to bring on the drugs..." and remembering the shamoo-esque episode of my water breaking as they gave me that WONDERFUL epidural... and I also thought of all the amazing moments we've had over this last year. I also allowed a very brief moment to recall the not fun times at the hospitals. Respect must be paid to those days as well, and pay gratitude to the skills of the doctors and nurses. My love for these teams grows in my heart and mind and entire being every time those scary days reenter my mind. Tears still find their way down my cheeks and I have to force myself to think of other happy thoughts. With Asher, it's easy. Once the yard was hydrated, I got myself showered and ready for the day too. At home in San Diego, this isn't so easy. His room is pretty well, illuminated. But here at Nana and Poppy's house in Idaho, our room in the basement stays dark and cool, and Ash sleeps longer than his usual 20 minutes - he sleeps for 2-3 HOURS! And he falls asleep within 10 minutes, not they typical 1-2 HOURS it takes me to get him to finally shut off at home. I've told Rich a few times now, in our next home, besides the big tub and a pantry and a fireplace, we need to add basement to the list. :) After getting me ready, I started to add on to Tyia's decor. I hadn't planned to do this, as the box of goodies was meant for the official birthday party with family this weekend. But I couldn't resist. So, up went the banner declaring the message of the day: Happy 1st Birthday. Up went the mylar balloons of a giant zebra and giant lion. Up went the other party balloons. Up went the blue beads and lanterns. It was so festive! I couldn't wait to see Ash's face as he discovered all the new additions.

With him still sleeping, I took advantage of the time and got started on the cupcakes. Being a first time Mom, and a little ambitious to have a super cool treat, I tried my skills at baking the cupcakes not in the usual paper cups, but in ice cream cones! The yummy Betty Crocker birthday cake with sprinkles of color in the mix emptied into the bowl. The vegetable oil measured so precisely as to ensure they would be perfect. The fresh eggs cracked into the mound of powder. And a long, and luckily successful, hunt trying to find where Nana keeps her hand mixer, the transformation began.

Excitedly, I poured the mixture into the cones. Half full at first. Then I remembered a cousin saying to fill them to the top. Or was that 2/3 full? Oh crap. I didn't remember. Better safe than sorry and have too short of cupcakes, I added more and filled them to the top. (Lesson one of birthday treat baking, consider yourself learned.)

Into the preheated oven they went. And almost as if on cue, I began to hear the playful sounds of a little birthday boy come across the monitor. Once again, Ash's timing was perfect. According to the box, I had 15-17 minutes of play time before the treats needed my attention. So downstairs I went to get my little buddy.

We played and talked and sang Happy Birthday and clapped our hands for about 10 minutes. I knew I had to get him into his chair and his favorite star puffs sprinkled out in front of him so I could finish with the hot oven. Excited to show him all the fun new things to look at, up the stairs we went... But, halfway up the stairs my nose twitched. Something was not right. I could smell the sweet batter, but something dark and grey and not welcomed in a kitchen, especially when the house would be full of celebrations that evening. Oh no, they are burning. I am burning CUPCAKES! The easiest treat to make, and even worse, MY SON'S BIRTHDAY CUPCAKES!

They had overflowed and were bubbling on the bottom of the oven, and in the little holes in the bottoms of the oven. ALL of them. Even the little side cake in the mini bread pan. Smoke was coming up and out of the stove burners. The room was hazy, and stinky.

After the situation was under control, I made a quick call to the local Albertson's and was delighted to learn they had undecorated cupcakes so I could still kinda make the little yummies.

While I opened all the windows on this very hot and windy day, he quickly ate his favorite lunch -  swirly pastas with chunks of cheese and turkey. Although the house was airing out (luckily), it was also heating up fast. We had a few errands to run before Nana and Poppy came down from Girls Camp, so we loaded up and escaped the scene.

At the local dollar store, Honks, (which becomes the $.88 store on Tuesdays, so once again, nice timing Ash - High Five!) we picked out some festive Fourth of July items for the weekend, got bubbles for the party, some tub toys and cars to take off-roading in the garden dirt, and balloons... Helium Balloons. Ash LOVES balloons. We got nine. Three blue, three yellow, and three orange. The man who filled the balloons handed Ash the bouquet and he giddily yanked them up and down and up and down and "ooooohhhhhh'd" so excitedly. I though my heart was going to burst with warm gooeyness! There is no feeling like that of seeing your child entirely happy. Feeling pretty excited myself about how fun Ash's first birthday was going and how fun the evening gathering was going to be, we headed for the car.

We took the first step outside the door and WHAM, we were quickly reminded that we're in Idaho. Where the wind is CRAZY. Always. I was parked only a few spots away, but between us and the car was a vicious challenge of wind dodging. Let's just cut to the chase - despite my silent pleas to successfully get the balloons and Ash and our bags of goodies into the car, calmly, and with dignity, the wind won. As we left the shelter of building and were in the fully exposed path of that violent wind, Ash's fascination of the balloons was quickly turning into mortification. His face quickly turned into a concerned and nervous expression as the balloons whipped all around us. Fearing he was going to get caught up in all the strings I tried to wrestle them out of his hands. But by this time, panic had set in and his grip was solid. Thinking the other side of the truck might give us protection I whirled the cart around. No luck. I don't know who the kind old lady was that came to our rescue, but I will forever be grateful for her fast offering to help us. We must have looked like a spectacle. For sure. As she held Ash, I batted and poked and pushed and punched the balloons to get them to fit into the car. Surprisingly, we only had one casualty. A dark blue balloon found itself on my ring and, well... at least it was a quick and painless death. I think.

Once we were all loaded up, and driving down the road, poor Ash was a trooper to share his airspace with his both beloved, and feared balloon friends. A quick run into the grocery store, passing the floral department which of course had more balloons and resulted in more pointing and ooohhhhing, we made a hard line for the bakery.  With the plain cupcakes in one hand, and an almost toddler in the other hand munching away on his first very crumbly chocolate chip cookie, we braved the Idaho wind again.

Once home, Nana and Poppy where there to great us and give the little man his birthday cheers. I love his smiles and laughter. And I love how much he loves his grandparents, and how much they love him. Sometimes I just fade back into the walls so I can observe and take it all in. Moments like these, are what we call "life's precious moments".

Back to the cupcake disaster. I had to keep the evidence. No one would believe how distorted the little suckers were! Then I realized, if we had done the Dr. Seuss theme, they would have been PERFECT!

While Nana sang and played with Ash, I whipped out the decorating station and went to work.

I gotta admit, I was pretty happy with how they turned out. Pretty dang happy indeed!

Ash received another gift from Nana. A big boy pair of the softest flannel pajamas. (As I touched the fabric, I have to admit, I imagined him being in them and how soft and cuddly it will be to hold him on my lap, and secretly wish I had a pair too). She also gave him an interactive clock that waves his arms and his nose lights up and plays music at each hour and says "bye bye" once the session is over. If it moves, if it lights up, and if it talks, Ash is all over it... when he's not sleepy. Down for his afternoon nap he went. Which was cool, it gave me some downtime to relax and chat with Mom and take more walks with her down memory lane. I love those walks with her.

When Ash awoke, he was in awe of how the upstairs had magically transitioned - but went straitaway to his beloved balloons. He quickly picked out two orange ones. With a string in each fist, he crawled all over, expecting his playground.

Our little impromptu "practice" party began just as Poppy showed up with the Five Guys burgers (All black = Drool. Theses burgers are what In-And-Out used to be 20 years ago) and Idaho potato fries with that salmon colored delicious fry dipping sauce. Grams and Papa arrived with their little puppy which of course made all our dogs go bazerk. Yep, the party was getting started. :) A very drowsy and still not quite with it Ash participated like a champ with a bubble blowing festival. Everyone had wands and blowing guns in their hands and the backyard turned into something that reminded me of the scene in original Willy Wonka, when they were in the bubble room. He was amazed. So were the dogs. And so were we. I think the adults had just as much fun playing with the bubbles as any 4 year old. heehee.

Then, the moment arrived. Time for his first candle to be blown out, and taste of pure sugar. We got Rich on skype (he's on a business trip in Virginia, but we weren't letting that get in the way of him being at Ash's first birthday bash) and lit the candle.

True to his pyro nature, Ash just wanted to touch the flame and watch it dance.

We sang the traditional birthday song and made multiple attempts for him to blow it out. But, it just wasn't going to happen, so I gave a little help.

With a poof, it was out and left only a line of smoke floating up in the air, Ash wasn't quite sure what had happened and seemed a little overwhelmed at all this strangeness.

We quickly got him in his chair so he could explore his little cake topped with animals and icing. And explore he did...

And did...

And did...

Until he finally figured out that it was to eat. :)

I think it was perfect. I couldn't have been happier, or prouder, or more excited for how his little adventure of the first taste of cake went. Still covered in green icing and crumbs, we were racing the clock of bedtime and opened a few more gifts. Brilliant Auntie Nikki gave him the cutest little Cars. They drove them all over the now green highchair, and up his arms, and over his belly, and over his head,  and he laughed and laughed!

He opened another package from Auntie Tyia and gained two very stylish red Whale shirts - one being his first tank. We laughed as we imagined how big they will be on his skinny little arms and how his little nipples will poke out of the arm holes.

We called Uncle Oliver and Camila and got them on skype too while we opened their gift. A Go Diego Go trike! With a secret compartment under the seat to stash all his toys, and a key, and real pedals! For an instant, it hit me, that he was getting bigger. There was a spark of "Oh no!" but was quickly replaced with "Oh man, this is just getting funner and funner!!!"

With frosting drying all over him, and his clothes, just doing a simple wash with a cloth was never going to get him clean, so his aunties stripped him right there in the high chair and in the tub he went...

Covered in green frosting and with his new cars in hand, it was the perfect ending: Splish Splash we had a rocking Birthday Bash. In the water, he drove his little cars all over the tub. Under the water, over the bubbles, up the walls, over bellies and arms and drains. And the whole time he made little humming sounds of cars driving. It was awesome!
Out of the tub, and in his warm jammies, was the final event of the night - an impression of his now One year old hand and foot. Nikki, being experienced with this skill was a total helper. We successfully captured his hand, and grip, as well as his foot, and grip of his toes.

A reading of "Goodnight moon" and song of Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars, and he was out cold. I just stood over him as he drifted into sleep. He would smile and make a laugh gasp, eyes closed. I couldn't help but think he was dreaming and replaying all the fun he had on this day, his first birthday.

Asher, I love you more than I ever thought possible. You bring me more joy than I could have ever imagined. You compliment each of us in ways that we may never fully understand. And you teach me more than all the masters combined. Thank you for being so wonderful. I love you with everything I have, little man. Happy First Birthday!!!