Birthday Wishes

 

Dexter was two on Wednesday. He celebrated by not being woken up at six o'clock in the morning as my mum is here for the week, doing her 'keeping Team Wayne afloat' bit in the run-up to half term. In fact, I didn't see the birthday boy until early evening, and we waited for Daddy to get home from work (even later), before the present-opening began.

As was the case for Dexter's first birthday, family and friends had been extraordinarily generous, and the boy received a veritable bounty of perfect toddler cards and gifts.

I was asked numerous times on the day, and in the days since, how we were planning on 'celebrating' the little man's anniversary of his time on earth. My responses have generally been of the flippant, 'hilarious', throw-away nature alluding to the fact that I intend to wait until Dexter actually cares - that is, when he's, erm, about twelve... Okay, perhaps not quite twelve, but as a busy working mummy, I have neither the time nor inclination to throw a massive party. Despite a lack of inclination, I do feel woefully inadequate when I read the blogs of women like Kate. This blog is my current favourite thing ever, but I cannot ever dream of having the talent, skill and general parenting prowess to create such loveliness and special memories for my own child.

I am slightly in awe of the parent blogging community; it scares me slightly too. Whilst I desperately want to create a life that people like me sniff at enviously through cyber space, I just don't think I have it in me. A 'Blue Peter' girl through and through (my mum threw away everything I made), a B grade student in GCSE Art, and owner of an enviable collection of back copies of 'Living etc', I just don't cut it in the world of Kirstie Allsopp crafting heaven. As my lovely (and very creative) friend Hannah knows, the very use of the word 'crafting' as a verb makes me want to throw up onto a pile of washi tape.

I have however, signed up to Emily's 'Photography for Bloggers' September workshop. I've genuinely fallen in love with the concept of blogging as a virtual diary and creative outlet. I've always loved to write, so I figured I'd try to improve the quality of the images I use for 'Five on the Door', particularly to capture special moments for Dexter. I've also got Emily's blog to thank for the children's book ideas which I put on Dexter's birthday wish-list.

For now, the above snaps of the boy opening his gifts in our living room will have to do. Who knows, maybe the blog post for his third birthday will feature a home-made galleon ship, complete with rainbow sponge parrots and a to-scale faux desert island. Maybe.

Friends

Parties used to mean something very different to me. As a child, they signalled friends, novelty cakes and party games. As a teenager, they were all about friends, experimental make-up and desperately trying to get a snog. As a student, they featured friends, cheap white wine and grotty houses. In my twenties, parties equalled friends, an attempt at cooking a half-edible meal and some 'hilarious' board games. And now, as a parent, parties are full of friends, teeny-tiny sandwiches and renditions of 'The wheels on the bus'.

Dexter turns two next month: cue party season. The husband and I chose to attend NCT classes while I was heavily pregnant. Yes, we wanted to hear about natural birth. And yes, we did at some point have contact with a knitted boob. But mainly, we wanted to meet other soon-to-be parents and develop a social network of families with children of a similar age.

We were so lucky. Our NCT teacher was fab; the lengthy classes brightened up dull, wintry Sunday evenings; but best of all, we met really, really lovely people. Two years on, as our bumps have turned into rambunctious toddlers, reunions like today, make me feel like a very lucky lady.

This morning's fantastically organised party contained crafting, singing, disco dancing, play-dough and sandwiches in the shape of ducks, and of course, friends. We went from the morning's party to a lunch date at another friend's house. No cooking for me today!

In many ways, I am quite a rubbish friend. I hide behind the excuses of working full-time, of being busy and simply there just not being enough hours in the day. I like to think I am loyal, supportive and considerate, but I could definitely make more of an effort to make the first move and instigate more regular contact with those I love dearly. Perhaps it's time for a (belated) new year's resolution to simply be a better friend. For as days like today prove, the rewards of friendship are certainly worth it.