Let Them Eat Cake!

Emma turned the big oh-one today. She was a little depressed about getting older, so we tried to be sensitive and keep the celebration modest and low-key. I thought I heard her mumbling something about her best year being behind her, but then again, it could have just been pre-verbal babbling. You just never know with these things.

So what do you get the person who has nothing? With an October birthday, she hasn't really gotten to experience a gift-giving holiday before this. Not that she wasn't around last Christmas, but at one month and ten days, she couldn't fully appreciate the pacifier tether and Desitin that she got in her stocking.

For her first birthday, though, we got the chance to dig deep and think hard about something we noticed her enjoying ... even if it happened such a long time ago that it's a distant, fading memory. So, of course, we got her a swing and mounted it to the back deck.

Alexandra also assembled a little box of things she made Emma out of felt. There was a stuffed dog and a sign with her name and some butterflies. Emma had been eyeing the box for more than a week as though she knew it was for her. When the moment came to open presents, she didn't mess around and made a bee-line for the box that wasn't going to be taken away from her for a change.

The bigger kids also helped to pick out a musical baby table that they enjoyed together at the doctor's office waiting room. It has some jazzy little riffs that they all enjoy, especially Emma and Michael, as you can see for yourself: