The Birthday Girl

Most of the time in the house it is just Mummy, Daddy, and me but there was this one day ...

Mummy had been extra busy, doing lots of tidying up in all the rooms - Mummy sure liked to keep the house neat anyway but this was even more tidy!  And Daddy seemed to spend all morning on the phone, speaking to lots of different people and sounding happy with whatever they were saying.

Just about dinner time Daddy put me in some new clothes, they smelt all fresh and were so soft and such lovely colours!

Then all these people started to arrive!

Everyone seemed to be really happy and they all gave me a kiss and said how beautiful I looked.

I like these people!

The man in the funny shorts, I think he's called Liam, put the radio on and started dancing ... sort of, but it sure was funny!

When Daddy picked me up he lifted me high and said "you're getting to be a big girl now, I won't be able to do this for much longer."  I don't know what he meant but I love it when he picks me up and holds me tight - I hope he will always do that.

Then Daddy went to talk with Mr Liam, it was all about plants and experiments and stuff.  It was all kind of complicated and boring but he said Daddy was doing really good which made Daddy smile a lot.  I've decided I like Mr Liam, he dances funny and wears odd colours but he makes my Daddy happy.  He can come visit again!

When Daddy stopped talking to Mr Liam he made his voice all loud and said to everyone "Thank you all for coming today, to celebrate our lovely little girl's birthday ..."

He had said "birthday!"  Oh yes, yes, yes, I like birthdays!  Cake and presents and cake and ... and ... cake!

Daddy turned round and there it was!  Mummy had made a big and beautiful and chocolate cake!  My favourite!

Mummy lit the candles and Daddy helped me blow them out and when I did everyone was clapping and cheering and blowing paper horns.  I like birthdays!

We ate some of the cake but it was so big we had to leave some ... I'm going to have it for breakfast every day now!

After that we opened some presents and one of them was a beautiful blue dress that I think I will wear every time I go out.  Mummy didn't want me too but I begged and begged and begged and she let me put it on.

When everyone had finished eating and all the presents were open Daddy said he would tidy up and I should go outside to play with Mummy.  Mummy wasn't sure I should keep the new dress on but I promised I wouldn't get it dirty and she said "OK" but I don't think she really believed me.

Outside we played tag and rock paper scissors.  Catching Mummy was easy, I don't think she can run very fast!  But she nearly always beat me at RPS ... I think she must be able to cheat somehow! :)

After a while we went back inside and most of the people started to leave.  They all gave me another kiss and told me how much they liked my birthday party and how nice my new dress was.

It was getting a bit dark and Daddy said it was nearly bedtime but I could play for a bit before I had to go to sleep.

I had got some new furniture for my Perky Pat house, I think my little people, Pinky and Perky Pat, liked it though I had to make them take turns in sitting in the fancy new chair!

I had a lot of fun today and I've decided I really really like birthdays ... and I am going to have cake for breakfast in the morning!

Introducing Debra to the World

Debra was born into the cold of a Hidden Springs winter and this year was as cold as anyone could remember but the light and warmth she brought into Carl and Malia's life kept the deep chill at bay in their cosy little home on Cottenwood Crescent.

Not that they would have noticed the freeze outside as they devoted all their available time to Debra, encouraging her to talk, walk, and make sense of the world around her.

It was a particularly long winter this year but eventually temperatures lifted and the snows started to melt away.

Malia loved taking Debra out into the parks and open spaces around their home, particularly as the green shoots of spring began to reappear from under their frosty covering provided an ideal opportunity to introduce Debra to the wonders of nature's life-cycle.

Whether indoors or out, Debra was always inquisitive.  To her parents surprise even meal times were an adventure rather than a challenge.  It seemed that whatever new flavours they put in front of her Debra was ready to give it a go, dipping a finger (or several!) curiously into her bowl and sucking on them expectantly before smiling broadly at having something new to enjoy.

Being so adventurous it was inevitable that Debra would be eager to explore under her own steam and it seemed like only a matter of a few days to get her using the walker to propel herself around the house!

-- * --  

Spring also brought other changes into their lives as Carl received a major promotion, and salary increase, at work.

It was very welcome news as they had been struggling a little to put money aside for Debra's future.  Carl knew from his own father and grand-father that the future was a result of the choices you made in the present - and now that he had a family he intended to do all that he could to secure a good future for them and all that followed.

The extra in his pay packet would also help them afford another child.  Having Debra really brought out the paternal instinct in Carl and he was keen to add to their family.

The downside of his promotion was that his hours and workload increased, meaning that he had less quality time to spend with Debra and Malia.

But whenever he could work from home, he always would so that even he wasn't actively engaged with his daughter, Debra would know he was there for her ...and always  would be.