It was the day we had been eagerly looking forward to, waiting for. And it always seems to happen the same way. My mind was sharp as I cut out a few more pieces, dashed around asking where the tape had gone, and shouted out instructions for folding and placing towels here and toothpicks there. As the final moments before the party approached, I couldn't help but laugh, "I feel like we're in some kind of episode on HGTV, where the judges are about to walk in and we're rushing around, leaving the edges rough and the final product imperfect. But, it's always good, we always manage to pull through. Somehow."
And pull through we did. Not just for us, but for him too. It was a win because my little one was overjoyed. He knew the day was all about him, that we were celebrating him and his very existence in our lives. It was a celebration of his life.
Just a few weeks earlier, I wasn't even sure we'd have the party, or at least, I wasn't sure what it would look like. The idea for this party came to me right after his first birthday party. After moving to a new state midway through the year, and having only a handful of friends around us, I wasn't sure if we'd just do something as a family. But after sulking a bit about not being home for the exact moment two years had passed since he was first placed in my arms, I decided it didn't matter. None of it did... not the size, not the date. What mattered was that we celebrated him fully and deliberately, that he knew the moment of his birth was one of the greatest moments in our lives. And so, a party was planned... in just TWO weeks.
We feted our little monkey with a soiree of sock monkeys and little red chimps falling out of red barrels. As the kids danced to the sounds of "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed," we munched on red "monkey" vines and banana chips, Nilla wafers, tootsie rolls, and barrel rolls. Of course, the extra sweet factor wasn't forgotten with a DIY cupcake bar featuring banana creme Nutella cupcakes in a jar and a variety of toppings like homemade frosting, mini chocolate chips, caramel and chocolate sauces, and sprinkles.
But we didn't want the sweetness to end at the party, so we sent our guests home with the ingredients for Monkey Munch cookies, a recipe adapted from Bakerella... and I have to say, they were delicious! Each little one also took home their own barrel of monkeys, personalized with a "Thank-you" from Brayden, of course.
I can see the tug-of-war happening between his growing independence and the lingering bits of babyhood still clinging to him. The moments when he makes his own decisions and comes up with entirely new ideas are balanced by the times when he just wants to be in this mama's arms... and at those moments, mama's arms are the only thing that bring him happiness.
Seeing both sides of this, the growth and change, the sweet baby face and his need for our boundless love, evokes such a storm of emotions that words fail to do them justice.
For now, I'll let Plumb's words speak for me, which were playing in my head as I reached out and pulled him close... the moment his skin touched mine, the moment my heart became his.
Your baby blues, so full of wonder.
Your curls, your contagious smile.
And as I watch, you start to grow up.
All I can do is hold you tight.
I'll hold him tight while also letting him grow, explore, and learn.
Thank you, friends new and old, for being a part of our special day. Of his special day.
Vendor Credits:
Photography: Relish Studios
Paper printables: Luvalexa
Cake: Sweet Caroline’s Bakery
Wooden sporks: Island Bamboo
Red wagon and other vintage decor: Borrowed from Little Rusty Wagon Photography
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