I love first birthdays

This is not news - I love first birthdays! However, this was the first birthday I went to with a child of my own - whole new experience - and I loved it! First birthdays are serious business. In all honesty, I've already started planning wee-ones first birthday.  No, I won't tell you what it is, but it will be "fabulous, darling" (there's your hint).

This was for my friend's daughter, Elizabeth, at Gymboree Play and Music.  As far as I'm concerned this was a brilliant place for a first birthday - lots of activities and they can customize it to your age group and needs.  There was no clean up, no set up, just pay and you're done - definitely one to file away for the future. But enough about that and on to the sweets.

For the birthday girl, I made a vanilla cake with a vanilla frosting. The vanilla frosting was courtesy of a website that I stalk frequent Sweetapolita that seriously tastes like vanilla ice cream.  It was AH-MAZING! It was a 6 inch round with sprinkles.  I had high hopes for Elizabeth digging into the cake and food flying, and while that didn't happen she did get some good handfuls and throw them on the ground (always good entertainment).

The cake before

Elizabeth and her sweet parents

Love the fistful of cake

Throwing the cake on the floor

For the guests I did 3 different kinds of cupcakes: vanilla with vanilla frosting (same recipe as above), strawberry with vanilla/creme bouquet buttercream and chocolate with chocolate frosting.  I must say, all three were delicious and we were grateful for leftovers.  There was no "theme" for the party, but the decor was polka dots, so I adorned the cupcakes with large sprinkles.  And who doesn't love sprinkles?!

Chocolate with chocolate

Strawberry and vanilla 

All in all it was a wonderful success! And my accomplishment was that I managed to do this with Lucy not napping.  She did grace me with an almost 2 hour nap on Saturday (in her carseat, but that's another issue entirely).

I leave you with a picture of the birthday girl and her friends - have you ever seen anything more adorable?!

Learning to let go

Warning: this post has nothing to do with baking other than to explain why I haven't been doing so.  As you may know, I had a baby in December. She is truly the greatest thing I have ever done and brings joy to our life everyday.

Before she was born, I had grand ideas of cooking and baking while she napped peacefully. My husband would come home to a hot meal and desserts would be plentiful. (Ok mom, you can stop laughing now.) Enter reality - she doesn't nap...seriously! Did you know not all babies are programmed to sleep 2 hours at a time during the day. Who knew?! Some days she'll nap for an hour - hour plus, but most days I get 3-25 minute naps. 25 minutes! There's little you can actually get done in 25 minutes. Her room is like a spa- blanket over the window, soft music, fan, cool but not cold - I want to lie down every time I go in there! I've tried nap training, have put lots of miles on my car and held her for hours on end. Not to mention the hours of stressing, crying and worrying. I've read books, blogs, talked to doctors - all of it regarding her napping. After 8 months I've decided to try a new approach - letting go. So my baby doesn't nap, I can't be the only one and I'm sure those moms haven't put their life and hobbies on hold. 

We recently bought a Johnny Jump Up with the hopes (at least my hopes) of wearing her out so she'll sleep. However, it really just allows my husband and I the opportunity to contain her and get breakfast or lunch made and actually eat it. There's no reason I can't put her in the jump up and whip up a cake or cookies. As she gets older I hope to share my love of baking with her, but there's no reason I can't start now! 

I'm excited about my new outlook on our days and am looking forward to getting back to the world of baking. I even have a couple of "jobs" coming up so stay tuned for more about those. 

I hope you have sweet dreams - day or night!
Sara