Looking out for Number One

Sebastian turned one this weekend. His birthday was momentous and epic as expected and wondrous and moving in ways unexpected.

We started mentally gearing up for it a month or two in advance. I began experimenting with cupcake recipes so that he would enjoy his birthday cake - I'd heard too many stories of babies having cake for the first time on their first birthdays, and hating it... As a bonus, I was able to feed him the results of my experiments to get him used to the taste (and set the bar appropriately low.)

Next came the decorations. However much we've resisted it, Elmo has become a great favorite with Sebi, so we caved and decided to have an Elmo themed party. We were suddenly introduced to the cut-throat world of children's party planning (if you thought wedding planning was harrowing, it is nothing compared to the bombardment of children's party paraphernalia.) Over the course of the next few weeks, we systematically acquired Elmo plates, Elmo napkins, Elmo balloons, Elmo cupcake papers, Elmo cupcake toppers...you name it.

And then, suddenly, it was upon us!

Even though we knew it was coming, it still snuck up on us (and even now we can't really believe it has been a whole year.) It started a few days before his birthday. On the 22nd evening, Alex and I commented to each other,"Remember last year when we were sitting about on Sept 22nd completely clueless that I was about to go into labor, and without the slightest idea how our lives were about to change?"

On the 23rd, I woke up remembering how I had woken up a year ago thinking my water had broken, not quite believing it. Over the next two days, I found myself thinking back and re-living moment by moment:

"At this time the doctor had confirmed that he was on his way, and we were so excited and nervous."

"At this time we were in the antenatal unit, and I had called everyone to tell them."

"Now my contractions were really starting to get painful."

"This was when I caved and asked for the epidural" (BTW, I was so hooked into the emotions of this "transition" phase, that at the same time this year I started feeling very emotional and overwhelmed - not unlike how it felt last year.)

"Now I was sleeping peacefully having been blessed by the anesthesiologist."

It was so wonderful to think back and remember how we felt those first few days (and weeks.) It was so special to remember the powerful shared experience of Alex and I working together to bring Sebi into the world. Wow.

While all this emotional drama was going on, party planning was in full swing. Grandmamabika and Abuelita Mayra were both in town and everyone was making lists galore and we baked up a storm (of banana cupcakes.) His birthday was on a Friday, and we spent the day playing at home and lunching out with grandparents. That evening, Sebi opened his first present, from me and Papi - turns out he loved tearing the tissue paper!

The next day (Saturday) was party day! The house was buzzing with activity as streamers were put up, balloons inflated, cupcakes iced and towered, clutter hidden and silverware (plasticware) polished. All Sebi's friends from daycare showed up for the baby party in the morning, decked out in their finery and ready to play. He LOVED having all his friends and teachers in his play room, and all the babies seemed to have a great time. After singing Happy Birthday cutting his birthday cupcake, we all moved to the living room where they discovered a whole new level of fun playing with Sebi's wrapped presents - all the colorful paper and ribbon was so irresistible. (And it was all very cute until I realized they had systematically separated presents from cards, so we then had no idea what was from whom!) But we ended up with lots of lovely birthday memories and pictures.

Sebi grabbed his mid-day nap, and moved straight on to the family celebration in the afternoon. He played with his grandparents and uncles and aunts, enjoyed YET more cupcake (there's no such thing as too much.)

After the parties, to help us unwind from all the excitement, Sebi graciously allowed us to help open his presents, while he closely examined the wrapping paper and ribbon again. We rounded out the day with a nice bath after which the birthday boy went to bed.

All in all, a profoundly SATISFYING weekend.