Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday - 27.  I was 25 when Tabitha was born, but only just! Two days later I turned 26.  The Daddy bought me these beautiful roses.  They are Metalina, my favourite.  They smell incredible. 

Tabitha helped make me a card.  She calls me 'mum-mum'.  "Dear Mum Mum, Happy birthday to the greatest Mum Mum in the world.  You're the best.  Love Tabitha".  That is, apparently, what she said to write.  She did the drawing:

No flashy gifts, by request - after he bought me my beautiful Schlumberger ring at Tiffany's on our holiday, I said he was well and truly off the hook!  We will go out to dinner to celebrate in a week or so, since I am too busy with preparations for Tabby's party today.  Tonight, though, we ordered a wonderful spread of takeaway from Choi's, a brilliant Chinese restaurant near us, and I got to pick the DVD.  After a day flat-out cooking for Tabitha's party tomorrow, that was exactly what I felt like!

My parents also brought over some flowers - would you believe, the same sort of roses?!  These are from one of my favourite florists, in Maling Road Canterbury.  They always present their bouquets so beautifully - several layers of paper and cute details such as a wooden pegged name tag:

Mum also brought over some breakfast cupcakes:

Thursday was Tabitha's actual first birthday, of course.   The Daddy took the morning off work, and we had French toast and then went for a nice long walk.  For lunch, my mother and cousin and I took Tabitha to the Collingwood Children's Farm.  She had a great time!  While we were eating our lunch, a very large hen pecked around at our feet, eating the scraps we fed it.  After lunch, we walked around the farm, feeding the goats, sheep, horses, donkey and pigs.  There is also a brilliant 'guinea pig room' with lots of guinea pigs, all different ones, for you to cuddle.  I love guinea pigs - so does Tabby!  Unfortunately, I forgot to take the camera, so no good photos - just a couple of snaps from the iPhone:

Eating her lunch - a chunky beef sausage roll:

Patting a beautiful ginger guinea pig called Marmalade:

Watching mumma feed the goats:

The Daddy and I gave Tabitha a beautiful hard-cover, colour illustrated book of Charlotte's Web.  It is a real favourite of both of us.  I can't wait to read it to her one day!

A package arrived for Tabitha from my aunt - her great aunt - in Tasmania.  My aunt owns a lovely little Steiner and educational toy store in Hobart, called Lyrebird (they post nationally, and their prices are better than the same products at stores in Melbourne, by the way).  It is a fabulous store, a tiny treasure box overflowing with beautiful wooden and colourful toys, books and craft supplies.  She sent two little hand-made felt sheep (sheep and a lamb), a book about farm animals, and a gorgeous lamb painted card.

Tabitha's great grandmother - my mother's mother - sent a very enormous porcelain doll, and a card which, when opened, features the sound of kitties meowing to the tune of 'happy birthday'.  She adores it - her whole face erupts into a grin as soon as the singing starts!

Preparations for the party are in full swing.  Lots of cooking and errands.  It's extra fun with a cheeky toddler underfoot - thankfully, Tabitha is mostly content to empty the tupperware drawer and kitchen cupboards while I cook.  It does get a little squishy in my tiny kitchen, though!

It seems that watching me cook so much has started to rub off on Tabitha - on her own accord, she went to the corner cupboard, got out a Pyrex bowl, filled it with 'ingredients' she found on the floor: a jar of pink sparkly dragees, a small purple plastic toy and a measuring cup.  The then found a spatula, and sat on the floor stirring her bowl!  I was completely astounded!  I may be biased, but it seems to be very close to 'cooking' for a one year old...