Eva's 1st Birthday party xxxxx

The invites had been made and gone out, the cake and balloons had been delivered, the party food and party dress bought, and although her birthday isn't actually until Tuesday, today was the day of our darling baby girl's 1st Birthday party.

I set my alarm early, as I had so much to do, and was up and showered before Eva was awake. Mike got her washed and dressed while I blow dried and straightened my hair, as I knew I wouldn't get chance later.

Mike and I then completely blitz cleaned the whole house from top to bottom, I'd actually done some of it yesterday while Mike was at hockey, but we got it all sparkling, great team work, and Eva was good as gold watching us (and trying to 'help'), playing with her toys, watching C Beebies and generally just being as good natured as ever while we got it done. She went down for her sleep at 12, when I then started getting the party food ready. One end of the table was the grown ups food, and the other end consisted, amongst other things, of jam sandwiches, breadsticks, raisins, halved grapes, mini Swiss rolls and pom bear crisps. Eva's In the Night Garden cake took pride of place in the centre of the table, and a 1st Birthday decorated table cloth covered the table. I have to admit it looked fab, if I do say so myself.

Eva woke up earlier than usual, at around 1.30pm. It turned out her nappy needed changing, so Mike went and changed it and then changed her out of the babygrow she'd been in, into her new pretty party dress and bunny tights. He then brought her downstairs and she absolutely loved being sat on the carpet literally surrounded by helium filled balloons, while Mike tied the weights to each one.

Leah, Oli and little Noah were the first to arrive. Leah very kindly offered to take some family shots of me, Mike, Jake and Eva, and we hoped to get them taken before everyone else started to arrive, but unfortunately, I still wasn't ready when they got here. They ended up being taken during the party, up in our bedroom. It will be lovely to see some group family photos.

Everyone started to arrive around 3pm, and it quickly became clear that maybe I shouldn't have cancelled the hall I'd originally hired, as I couldn't see how everyone was going to fit in the house. However, looking back, now that the party has happened, and as I type this, I am so glad it was at home, we had a perfect afternoon. Yes it was very crowded, but we were surrounded by most of our close family and friends and all of Eva's little friends, and it was lovely, comfortable and cosy being at home, where Eva was surrounded by what she knew. I think she would have been a lot more overwhelmed had it been in a hall rather than in her home with her toys.

As everyone arrived, Eva and the children played with Eva's toys, then once we were all settled, we lay a big cream blanket on the lounge floor to use as a picnic blanket (to save the carpet), and first the kiddies went and got their party food to bring back to eat sat on the blanket, leaving the adults to dig in and get their food which they ate in the back room. I'd made a lime jelly for each child, and topped each one with some squirty cream and chocolate sprinkles, which went down well. Eva had never had jelly before, and as I spoon fed her hers (she also spooned some herself into her own mouth) she seemed to like the initial taste, but didn't get on very well with the texture, and let each spoonful just fall back out of her mouth, so I don't think she actually ate any jelly, but she seemed to enjoy what she was doing.

After the food and blanket were all cleared up, we sat round on the lounge carpet, each child had one of Eva's musical instruments, and we sang some songs. We sang, to name but a few, Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle, Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and If You're Happy and You Know It. Eva was in her absolute element. She started off sitting on the carpet, but by the end, she was sat cuddled on my lap as we all sang our hearts out and Eva just took it all in.

It was then time to do the cake. I called everyone through to the back room and turned out the lights. Mike got ready to record, Leah took some photos, Emily lit the candle and I held Eva in my arms in front of her cake, as we all sang "Happy Birthday to You". I was getting so choked as we all sang, I don't think anyone could tell. Just thinking back to the long journey we'd been on, to being here on this day, surrounded by loved ones, singing Happy Birthday to our beautiful little girl. We are so utterly grateful for our baby daughter. Oh she had such a wonderful time.

Each child left with a piece of cake and a balloon. Everyone said they'd had a great time, which was a relief for me, as I so wanted everyone to have a good time. Eva barely stopped smiling from the moment she woke up this morning until bedtime. Not that she went to sleep at bedtime... Ohhhhh no... Eva took until gone 11 o' clock tonight to finally go to sleep. She had had such an exciting day, she obviously wasn't tired. (In truth she was absolutely shattered, but I think she'd gone overtired).

What a truly wonderful day that we will treasure forever.....
Eva's 1st Birthday party guests were.... Mommy, Daddy, Jake, the cats Harvey, Sophie, Daisy, Etta and Thor, Grandad Hopkins, Nanny Jane and Grandad Peter, Great Grandad John Birch, Uncle John and Aunty Laura, Aunty Liza and Lorna, Uncle David, Uncle Christopher, Anna, Eleanor and Leyla, Emily, Ella and Grace, Suzanna and Bebe, Leah, Oli and Noah, Louise and baby Rhys, Lisa, Harry and James, Jenny, Gavin, Emma and Eva, Vicky, Stuart and Evan, Tracy, Aunty Vikki and Ellie.

We love you so much, Eva Jane Nash xxxxxxxxxx