The First Birthday Bash

The day before, Joyce was down with diarrhea which continued the next day too. We had booked a small hall in a decent hotel near-by. We had already invited the guests.And we were wondering if we need to cancel it all. Around late afternoon she seemed better & was responding fairly well. Being a working day we weren't expecting the party to begin any early. More than the cake cutting or the birthday it was fun getting togather. I and P both being residents of Pune with our families and first cousins also based in Pune, we ourselves are a good crowd, and the kids have enough company. Here are the pics. There were boys too but would simply not oblige the photographer :(







Now the whys & hows about celebrating the first birthday. Personally, spending money lavishly is not me. I started thinking about the birthday and what would I like to do just a month before. I had attended my niece's first birthday, which was just family for lunch and a little fun with the kids at a near-by orphanage. It was neat and ideal to say the least. Thatz how I thought I would like it too.

When figures started falling in for just close family & friends, we were having difficulty managing all at home and the food and decoration. So we decided to have it out. Once we reached at that decision, I was almost chalked out of P's plans. As I said earlier, the hall was booked, the menu was decided, the dress came in, the shoes came too, an extra cake, candles, birthday caps and so on. I did try to argue it out but he wasn't budging or listening, I went on to remind him this wasn't her wedding but her first birthday. At the end of the day, we were approx 25-30. We chit-chatted as usual, the kids had fun. We had fun watching the kids have fun. Though we did shell out a little more than usual, we were happy about the party. We sure do not feel guilty about hosting the party. Joyce enjoyed the moment.

From my own experience, I have the exact opposite views now on the subject from the time I started thinking about it. The First birthday bash was not for Joyce (she has the remaining years to celebrate), the first birthday we wanted to celebrate for our own self. We celebrated a year of parenthood. We basically celebrate this whole new responsibility, new emotions and togetherness with our child and the bond we share as a family. That is what I was celebrating. I don't regret the fact that she will not remember it. I am happy we celebrated the moment and WE WILL REMEMBER it for the rest of our life. So I am completely for celebration rather than let it pass. Pick any kind of celebration, and you do not need to feel guilty about it, big or small, it is a TREAT to self for getting through nurturing the first year of your little one's life. Its a huge milestone.