Beni's first birthday festivities are already starting, and her birthday isn't for 21 more days. I'm having a hard time dealing with that... I mean... how can she be 1 already??? It's just not right! :)
Today we had a farewell BBQ with about 30 of our friends here in Luanda. Because Beni's birthday is so soon after we leave here, I decided to make a cake for today. I know a few of our friends were sad they wouldn't get to celebrate this milestone- so, we made it a part of today.
Her cake was a hit- she didn't actually have any. :) But it was (as pictured above- although this picture was taken after the cake was transported back upstairs by men, who squished it) two layers of my standard chocolate cake, frosted with buttercream frosting and filled with a layer of whole raspberries (frozen, but still tasty). I got a whole lot of, "Oh, Mara, this cake is SO GOOD!" Just the kind of comment I like to hear. :) Some of the kids in attendance had seconds. I guess that isn't really saying much, because lots of kids would eat seconds of any cake. That said, as a teacher, I have seen more kids than you would believe turn their nose up at a cake that just wasn't nice, so, maybe it means more than I think. :)
Beni is growing. On her 11 month birthday she weighed in at 19lbs and was 28 inches tall. She's grown almost 10 inches in her first year. I don't know if that is normal, or small, but, to me, it seems HUGE. When I rock her in the rocking chair at night when she's woken, but doesn't need to nurse, her head rests on my shoulder, and her KNEES fall below my belly button... they pretty much fit into the angle where my legs meet my body. What happened to the tiny baby whose whole length could fit between my chin and belly button (ok, scrunched up in that newborn way)? I miss her! Or...I want another! ;)
Beni is amazing, and probably deserves the many birthday parties she will have. :) One down here... my brothers and sisters-in-law keep saying we will have to celebrate while we're in Colorado, so that will be a second... and then the last official party will be April 23rd in the States. After that it is likely she will have at least two more occasions when she will be showered with gifts by people who can't make it to the party. Should be fun for her.
I kiss her goodnight and can't help but stare at her face almost every night when I put her to bed. I just can't get over how perfect she is. How awesome she is. How she has already changed the world. Being her mother is such an honor!
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