The Genesis of Friendship

A few Fridays ago, we went to Cici's Pizza in Aurora for pizza night (which we usually have at home with take & bake or take-out pies). Mara was in a high chair caddy-corner from another baby girl in a high chair. It wasn't long before they were doing the twistinside their highchairs, trying to look at each other instead of eating. Then they began signing to each other using baby signs! I recall that they signed about eating, milk, and baby dolls. Mara looked at me and signed that she was happy. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen! Babies having a conversation! Who knew they could talk before they could really talk? And signing to us is one thing-- to one another, that is simply amazing!

As it turns out, the other baby girl was going to turn one year old the day before Mara. We talked about the party we had planned for Mara's birthday. The other baby's mom hadn't known what to do for her daughter's birthday, as there aren't many places to have a party for a one year old. We invited them to come to Mara's party, since half of our guest list hadn't RSVP'd at that point and we had thirty spots to fill for her Denver Children's Museum party. As the mom and I talked more, we realized we had a great lot in common. First, she was wearing a black baby wrap she had made herself that is similar to the Moby Wrap! She also breastfeeds, homeschools, and had home birthed her daughter. All the babies and kids hit it off instantly in the arcade and it wasn't long before the big kids were out front climbing a tree.

The other baby's mama and I talked again later that week and decided to each bring our own cake to the party-- her daughter likes vanilla and Mara likes chocolate (all she has ever had is chocolate chip cookies but she always tries to pick the chocolate chips out and eat them all first). Then Mike and I had a brilliant idea-- which he special-ordered at the Albertson's bakery-- and it looked like this:


The brown Barbie cake topper was on the chocolate half and the white Barbie was on the vanilla side. And as much as I loathe Barbie, it was pretty cute. And delish. I think we can safely say it was the first cake of its kind but who knows?


Daddy delivers the sweetness!


She was so pleased with the cake she applauded it!


Her first slice of chocolate cake. Messy, but yummy.


Genesis, who was even dressed like a princess!



I had bought a satiny pink and silvery princess dress for Mara to wear to the party (Daddy's idea) but even in a 6/9 month size, it was too long and she tripped on it, so I returned it to the baby superstore which shall remain unnamed and bought her an orange tank top with a tiara embroidered on it (the first item of clothing I purchased for her that was not pink!) and pink leather slippers (that was the only color available!) that had a cupcake with one candle and BIRTHDAY GIRL embroidered on them.


At one point, Mara stole a crispy rice cracker from Genesis. Had I handed it to her, she would have most certainly rejected it. But since it was in the hand of her new friend, it was a must-have.


Aunt Jen helped The Birthday Girl open her presents



And she made a very special card for her-- inspired by Princess Presto from SuperWhy!


After opening presents, Mara ran out of the party room and hit the museum hard. She and I spent the entire afternoon in The Center for the Young Child where Mara played with her friend Scarlett, the daughter of another Mother for Liberty.


Scarlett is wearing the pants Mara had been wearing, and Mara is wearing striped leggings. Because girls.share.everything.


Double bubble, toil and trouble...


Just kidding!


Later on, the big kids climbed a favorite tree...



While rents had a Babywearing Convention...




And I devised a way to make them all sick so they would want to go home.



At day's end, a sweet time was had by all-- and even though we picked up a really nasty virus from the Denver Children's Museum, it was so worth it to give Mara a first birthday party that she may not remember but which we will never forget.

New friends, a new year, and a new color...purple. I'm sooo over pink!