Her Bad Mother

Sunday, November 19, 2006

OK, so tomorrow I'll shut up about her birthday already...

But, really, how could I NOT post this picture?



Girl meets cake. Girl LIKES cake.

Also, I have this to say on the general subject of birthdays: you never enjoy a birthday quite so much as when it is your child's birthday that you are celebrating. Not only because there is no joy sweeter than seeing your child's face smeared with cake - obviously - but because there is something just inexpressibly heart-swelling about that moment, or that series of moments, somewhere around the anniversary of the day of the birth of your child, when you realize that this is your day, your celebration, the anniversary of the moment that you gave life to her, and she gave new life to you.

Extraordinary.

*********

Also, it has to be said that, as much she likes cake, WonderBaby would have been just as happy with a block of cheese. In fact, when faced with the dual temptations of candlelit birthday cake and hunk of sharp cheddar, she went for the cheddar.

A cake made entirely of a block of sharp cheddar sounds like a good idea, but it doesn't hold up well to candles...

************

Also, about birthdays? They seem a good reason to throw a party. You know what parties require?

1.) Tidy house.

2.) Tidy house.

3.) Tidy house.

4.) Tidy child.

5.) Tidy self.

6.) Drink wine.

Numbers 1 through 5 can be a challenge, I tell you, especially when child learns the unique pleasure of tossing clothing - hers and yours - and hairbrushes - yours - in toilet. Number 6 smooths out the rough edges, if you can remember where you set down your wine glass amid the (admittedly wonderful) fray of a dozen knee-biters jacked-up on cake.

But I don't need to tell you that it was all worth it. More than worth it.

*********

Footnote to last post's discussion of the Canadian Blog Awards: someone snarked at me about writing about not wanting to campaign for votes, claiming that to do so was just a sneakier way of campaigning. To which I can only say - if some petty Canadian blog award (in which anybody can nominate themselves and vote for themselves, every day, for the fooking love of Elbridge Gerry) provokes such Machiavellian suspicions, then there is something seriously wrong with the world. Sure, I'd like votes. But that post was about my sincere discomfort at the prospect of making a pitch for votes against my friends and their excellent blogs. I don't want the votes that badly.

If that rings false to you, well, then, bite me.


Her Bad Mother would never, ever exploit her child for the purposes of punctuating a political point. Nor would she employ sloppy alliteration.

And, just to prove that I am not above a little bit of crass self-promotion: if you really, really like this blog, then do go vote for me. But if you do, do, for the love of all that is orange, also click around and acquaint yourself with some other blogs, and maybe spread the votey love around a bit, too.

Canadian Blog Awards

********

Twp more things... there's someone in the Basement sharing their own story of muscular dystrophy, a variation on the disorder that my nephew has. Please go listen. She's speaking the words that I have trouble speaking.

And Sunshine Scribe is pushing the karma over at MommyBlogsToronto, and you know that you want some of that.



42 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is always one pit in the bowl of cherries. I have been reading your blog long enough to know that you are not a self-promoter. When you block someone from accessing your blog (which you should do with this jerk) it should have a flash animation to make it more enjoyable. I thought of a Monty Python kind of giant shoe squash or an enormous rubber stamp banging down that says 'Get a Life!'.

6:35 PM  
Blogger karengreeners said...

Happy Birthday WB! We built a sandcastle in your honour. (then bee smashed it, but that was not a reflection of her feelings about such an auspicious occasion. smashing a sandcastle is just too tempting to pass up.)

6:56 PM  
Blogger kittenpie said...

I am loving WB more all the time. She just keeps getting more lovely and more adorable and more full of great personality. Must get together some next month with babes.

9:35 PM  
Blogger cinnamon gurl said...

It appears my little Swee'pea has a crush... I just went over to urbanmoms, while holding him, to see if there were any more comments on your post... and he giggled and giggled at your mutha sucka... and again with the first pic on this post... too sweet. He's never done that before.

Happy Bday to you both!

10:07 PM  
Blogger metro mama said...

Wonderful, indeed.

I too, prefer the cheddar to the cake.

And! The snark! Too funny.

10:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That last photo, she's eating a whole orange? Wow. Kaitlyn still hasn't figured out how to take bites, so I have to break everything up into teeny pieces.

And yes, a birthday is also time to celebrate being a Mom, having given birth and created this amazing life. Yesterday morning, before he said Happy Birthday to Kaitlyn, my husband said Happy Day-you-gave-birth to me. That was pretty awesome.

10:31 PM  
Blogger Girlplustwo said...

bad, you crack me up.

she looks like an angel. truly.

10:49 PM  
Blogger Run ANC said...

My mom made the Boy a "cake" out of a bun slathered with cream cheese and decorated with Cheerios for his 1st birthday. I looked askance at first, but guess which he preferred? Babies are funny!

Glad you had a great party. And what a beauty she is!

11:12 PM  
Blogger ms blue said...

Cheese! Why that is why there is Cheesecake! I think that's a request for #2!

I have executed a master plan to get my friend's excellent blogs to be the final nominees. Although what to do from there, I have NO idea!

WonderBaby is purely the only remaining real wonder of the world! She is a delight to behold.

11:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All I can say is this:

WB is adorable, and a baby's first birthday is something so special (ugh, that word does not properly describe it) so Congratulations and Happy Birthday and all that.

I'm glad your house was tidy and that you had wine. Two lovely things to happen on a birthday.

A cake made out of cheddar? Oy! Think of the constipation and the nightmares! Or is that an old wives tale?

I would still choose cake over anything.

12:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel bad that we weren't able to make such a big deal of P's first birthday as we did with my daughter. My inlaws INSIST on scheduling beach week during his birthday and if my FIL were not gravely ill, I might seriously consider ripping them all a new one for somewhat spoiling the big day for us.

But enough about me...let's talk about you and WB! Gorgy pix, of course, and yes, it's your day, too! Happy birthday and happy momday to both of you!

As for trollish comments, ignore, ignore, ignore. Someone who posts something like that clearly doesn't know you. Fuck 'em.

12:29 AM  
Blogger Lady M said...

There is almost nothing more delightful than that first birthday-cake smeared picture. Congratulations! And on that pretty blond hair too!

1:14 AM  
Blogger Domestic Slackstress said...

The cheese loving French-Canadian in me (I'm first generation American from two Quebec-er parents) would gleefully opt for the sharp cheddar cake. Can you please make and send me a sharp cheddar cake with triple cream Brie frosting? Hmmm? I went to overpriced but lovely Whole Foods tonight with my three-year-old son and splurged on a $9 triangle of Camembert (spelling). I stress ate half on the ride home through L.A. freeway traffic. I can't imagine how stinky/sticky my husband's steering wheel will be when he has the misfortune of being at its helm tomorrow morning. Lovely animal print outfit on your kiddo, BTW.

2:12 AM  
Blogger mo-wo said...

Sorry I thought I told you -- secret 1st birthday cake. pancakes + cheesecake.

2:17 AM  
Blogger GIRL'S GONE CHILD said...

Ah! Love baby-cake photos especially of wonderbaby and that dress? WHAT A DRESS!

3:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

She only turns one once. Post away on those pics. :)

7:55 AM  
Blogger Damselfly said...

How cute is that?! Love the outfit. Tidy house thing, hard to do, but if there's wine at the end of it....

9:08 AM  
Blogger Chicky Chicky Baby said...

You know, there are days when I have a difficult time deciding between cake and cheese.

9:42 AM  
Blogger Julie Pippert said...

May daughter had cheesecake for her 2nd. Smashing success.

Pun intended.

Happy Birthday to WonderBaby! Welcome to a new year, new development!

As for Mommyblogs of Toronto? I already want to move, my friend. Already. I'm tired of Summerland. Already. I used to commute to our office in Toronto (flew...it was quicker than driving, especially across the border). I love it there. I love the multiculture, the restaurants, the festivals on the water. The ART! I'm so sad my sister moved away from Toronto. Now I have no more excuses to go...

GL with the blog awards and by golly PROMOTE!

I know it might sound very American of me LOL to say but nothing wrong with wishing yourself well now and again...the good wishes don't always have to be for someone else. :)

I still haven't been able to vote. How to choose.

11:07 AM  
Blogger owlhaven said...

your baby and mine are a year apart. The parties are delightful and sad and joyous all mixed up, aren't they?

Happy birthday

Mary, mom to many

11:22 AM  
Blogger Redneck Mommy said...

I'd go with the cheese too.

But then, we all know my predilection for a good piece of cheese.

You go Wonderbaby. But be nice to mommy's hairbrush. One day, she will use it on your golden locks.

Won't be so funny then, eh?

11:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

funny...that's how i look after i eat cake too.

12:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So. Unbearably. Cute.

That first birthday is undeniably special too. Tacy's was fabulous - I have memories much like yours. CJ was sick for hers, but we plan to more than make up for it this year.

And I really had to giggle about the cheese because CJ will diss other, more appetizing items on her tray in favor of BROCCOLI. Seriously.

1:03 PM  
Blogger PunditMom said...

Happy B-day to her! R. will turn 7 next month and I can't believe the time has gone so quickly (or, I guess as they say, the days are long, but the years go fast!)

1:30 PM  
Blogger Kate said...

I dunno, if you've really got the energy for that level of self-promotion and gerrymandering (hi, Elbridge!), then all by itself that deserves an award.

I just wonder how exhausting it must be to live in a world where that's a likelihood.

Happy birthday one last time, at least until more cute pictures are unleashed upon the world!

And thanks again for the Basement link/post. I appreciate having a place to vent. Deep sigh.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

Girl, you rock. You just do. And I did vote for you, but I also understand you feeling a bit uncomfortable about it.

You know that WB will never go for cheese before cake, now that she has tasted the wonderfulness that is cake.

My oldest is about to be five years old...and I am as excited for her as I was on her first birthday. It reminds me of how far she has come and how far I have come as her mother and the most prescious thing of all, her. Simple as that, it's a day to celebrate her and I will adore the day as long as I live.

3:17 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Love the pics - you can never celebrate a child's birthday too long!

3:23 PM  
Blogger Sandra said...

Oh I am still acheing for missing the party. That is the cutest picture EVER! Really.

Her much older boyfriend was at home sick to his stomache saying he could still go to the party and just throw up in between playing. That's some dedication - fortunately mommy is not so dedicated.

4:27 PM  
Blogger ewe are here said...

Love the cake face! Sign of a good party.

As for the cake vs cheese dilemma, I'm fairly certain mine would have bypassed both and gone for the knife. Just to freak out mommy.

Sigh.

5:16 PM  
Blogger Ruth Dynamite said...

She is scrumptious. Truly scrumptious - moreso than the cake!

8:35 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

A child's first birthday is such a HUGE deal--it is something that stays with you for a long time to come, so enjoy the feelings and share, share, share some more :)
Love the cake photos :)

9:14 PM  
Blogger Stacy said...

Sweet cake-face! I love it.

9:29 PM  
Blogger Andie D. said...

My gosh is she CUTE! Post as many pictures of that baby as you can!

The 1st year flies. And as much as they change that 1st year,they'll change even more in the coming year. You're right to treasure each milestone.

9:34 PM  
Blogger Iris said...

so gorgeous!! Happy Birthday, little one!

10:04 PM  
Blogger Major Bedhead said...

So freakin' cute! Good woman, choosing cheese over cake. I heartily concur.

11:32 PM  
Blogger Felicia said...

Went over and voted for you for family blog (had to vote for my buddy's at The Emery Restoration for Personal blog...sorry!)
Good luck!

11:39 PM  
Blogger Beck said...

I'll take her share of the cake - that first birthday is just so breathtaking isn't it? They start off barely able to nurse, little sleeping things, and then at the end of the first year THEY CAN EAT CAKE. Or cheese, their choice.

6:50 AM  
Blogger Cool Mommy said...

So cute, and Happy Bday Wonder Baby!

9:07 AM  
Blogger ninepounddictator said...

Happy Birthday Wonder Baby!
Save some cake for me!

11:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok, did she do that to herself, or was it assault with a deadly cupcake?

I'm a big fan of first birthdays. Which are totally for the parents. First birthdays come with that intense feeling of relief. That "Ah. We didn't kill the baby." feeling.

7:37 PM  
Blogger Cristina said...

Oy! The cuteness! I love cake pictures. WB is adorable! Happy birthday to her. :)

2:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!

And that Cheetah outfit? Priceless!!

10:10 AM  

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