Raf's actual birthday... 7/7/10

We had quite the birthday week last week, and then rolled around his actual birth-day and we were pretty exhausted! Still, we had a super day and the weather was very good to us. We began the day with a quick bike ride for me(!), and the pups went to puppy daycare for the day (which is actually where they were when Raf was born last year). We then headed out into Portland for some breakfast. We visited the place where we opened the envelope to discover if we were having a girl or boy (remember the pic of complete shock and surprise?). We followed this up with a stroll around the Old Port were some kind woman in a very stylish boutique gave Raf a very lovely Birthday King hat! We nipped home and then went to Sebago Lake for the afternoon, which is possibly one of Raf's fav things to do. This kid just adores water... We finished off the day with a birthday tea and presents.

Morning, birthday boy...



here's our gorgeous child sucking on an orange slice...




En route home we drove by Mercy, where Raf was born.


We went to Sebago Lake for a swim in the afternoon.. Raf had a blast. He just loves the water. We spent at least 45 minutes in the water, and, at 4:18pm, whilst swimming around, we sang happy birthday to him. People might have thought we were a little bonkers.




Birthday Tea.

Happy Birthday (banana bread) cake!


Benny the Baby from Aunty M and Uncle S and his cousins Freya and Rors. He doesn't know quite what to make of it!


Birthday tricycle....


Raf loves to play with the magnets on the fridge whilst I'm cooking, so we bought him some magnets which he loves to try and eat.



A tired Raf :)

Birthday Week

It's hard to believe that a year ago today I was in the hospital, withering around in pain (not from labour but from some kidney issues), getting ready to meet our sweet poppet. I remember being given cervidil around this time, and being told that I'd probably have Raf on the Wednesday (the 8th). I remember being so excited, despite not sleeping for a few nights before this night, as though it were Christmas eve... And with all that excitement I could not sleep, and poor Rich, who was trying to fall asleep on the couch in the hospital room, kept being woken up by me who asked him frenetically if he was excited! I remember beeping the nurse, Megan, to come and talk to me because the anticipation was just TOO MUICH! And so she came and sat with me, and rubbed my poor swollen legs, and I drifted in and out of sleep as I sat in the chair, and Rich and Megan chatted, and I asked them to continue because it was so soothing hearing the chit chat...

A whole year ago. I can't quite believe it, and I feel a little melancholy that it's passed so quickly, and of course full of absolute contentment for this has surely been the most wonderful year of all our lives.

Our little boy is turning one.

And we have been having a lovely time this birthday week. Our party on Saturday went really well. I will say that these things make me quite anxious. I wonder if people will turn up, whether the food will be edible, and, indeed, if it will be eaten. I worry about whether people will have fun, whether the children will be bored, and on, and on. I needn't have worried for some of our favourite people came and celebrated with us, showering Raf with love and gifts! And what a lovely time he had, too.

Since then we've been in the clutches of a heat wave, so, in an effort to keep Raf cool, we've been to the lake and Otter Pond q few times. On Sunday we took a family bike ride to the lake and we all swam. Raf seems to love the lake, and he giggles and smiles when we float him around. Yesterday, another steamer of a day, saw us at Sebago Lake... once again he was loving the water. This evening, with temps at around 100, we walked down to Otter Pond and put a very naked Raf into the Pond for another swim... What a perfect way to spend these birthday days.

And tomorrow is Rafi's birthday..,,

Happy Birthday Song

First Birthday Party!

Raf enjoyed his first birthday party (though we've celebrated quite a few mid=year birthdays, such as half a year, 2/3rds of a year, and so forth). But today we had a tea party and invited many of our friends to help celebrate. We had such a lovely time, though we're exhausted now and so I'll just post some pics of the day...

So here are a few pics of Raf, me, Rich, Jen, Sage, (another) Jen, Sierra, Kate, Dave, Eileen, Taylor, Thomas, Maggie, Greg, Beth, Scott, another couple also named Beth and Scott(!), Brian, Chris, Charlene, Bistra... did I miss anyone?!

Getting Ready!






Raf's friend, Sierra!


Everyone helped Raf open his presents. My favourite part was 5 year old Taylor telling his 3 year old brother, Thomas, 'No, Thomas, let the baby open them!".




Raf was quite shy for most of the party but when it came to singing Happy Birthday he just beamed and beamed the entire time! We even sang it twice :) I'll post a clip in a moment.

Tea Party

This weekend is Rafi's first birthday party... it's come around much too soon. We have so much to do to get ready and I am a little bit nervous about getting things done. We're having an English tea party :)

On Sleep

Raf is in bed asleep... which is nice, except Rich is up there lying with him, waiting for me to relieve him of his duties. We co-sleep, which we all love, but we had the goal of having Raf be in his cot for a couple of hours per night so that RIch and I could just have a bit of time in the evenings. This was going quite well - though it didn't happen consistently -but for a couple of weeks we've had quite a bit of regression.

I helped get Raf to sleep tonight, and as I fed him and stroked his hair I remembered how important this is, how his little body collects bodily memories which will remain deeply with him for the rest of his life, and while it can be frustrating at times, and the frequent wake-ups can be difficult, too, it seems much more important to have tenderness and trust incorporated into his corporeal memory, and for his limbs and tissues and hormones - and all the stress that courses through him when he's struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep - to be treated kindly and with patience.

And, as if by magic, Rich is downstairs and Raf is in his cot :)

Look at me GO GO GO!