Elle Marie's first year birthday party!!!!

Who said I cannot have Elle Marie's first year birthday party on September 30, 2007?

My boss used to tease me that at such an early age, I am already creating confusion in Elle Marie’s mind by celebrating her first year birthday a day before her actual birthday October 1, 2007… of course, he was just joking but the “gullible-Ella” in me would always try to justify why I am putting my dear daughter in such condition.

I would always say that “who would attend a children’s birthday party on a “Monday”? at 3:00p.m. parents would still be in the office while children would be in school. If I make it 6:00p.m., same venue, who would take the challenge of going through the traffic in EDSA? No parent would allow his or her child to go through the stress and hassle of Monday traffic in EDSA. And definitely nobody would make it on time! If I make it later than 6p.m., it would already be past the bedtime for Elle Marie’s friends, much as well for Elle… Hence, no celebrant equals no party.

If I make it a week after her actual birthday, I don’t think I would still have the excitement and energy. We are planning to have an intimate celebration on October 1 together with family members only. Knowing how I prepare for events, I know that after October 1, I would have used up all my energy and excitement that nothing would be left for the “too late” party a week after. Therefore, no Elle Marie’s Mama equals no party.

But, who said I cannot have Elle Marie’s first year birthday on September 30? In fact, last year, same day (September 30), only it was Saturday, Elle showed signs that she wanted to go out and see the world but decided not to. I spent the whole day inside the delivery room waiting for Elle to come out. Dra. Gigi Rivera had to cancel all her appointments that day in anticipation for the grand “welcome” for Elle. I was induced a couple of times, was given epidural around 8:00p.m. but, no Elle Marie came out. I dilated up to 4cm only.

They say that Elle Marie heard me joke about the giveaways I prepared for her baptismal, that I cross-stitched October 2006 but left the date free in anticipation to giving birth on the third week of October as projected by Dra Rivera. Should Elle come out September 30, I would have to sew it again and it would not be that nice to look at. Obedient baby huh...

Noy joked that Elle Marie knew that if she came out September 30, I would have not received any benefits from SSS. It is the policy for SSS members to have at least two consecutive quarter contributions to qualify for benefit. I would fall short to this qualification since I started my contributing only April 2006.

As I would always say, since Elle is too young to decide I would decide for her. I have made up my mind and I say “I want to celebrate Elle Marie’s first year birthday party on September 30, 2007. I hope Elle Marie come to understand in time the gruesome energy I put on analyzing and justifying why I am celebrating her first year birthday party on September 30 instead of October 1.

In the end, the important thing is that I poured in my time and energy for her party because I love her. I want everybody to remember how loved Elle Marie is by her parents, family and friends.

FINAL countdown... and it is driving me crazy

Barely a week to go and my dear Elle Marie will be turning 1 year old... How fast time can fly. It was just like yesterday when I visit Dra. Rivera almost every other weekends in preparation for the D day!!! I would carefully read every chapter of "What to expect when you are expecting" and wish I could turn to the next chapter as fast as I read it. I just could not wait to hold and kiss my little angel...

I've never been as excited in my whole life as I was in anticipation for Elle Marie. Noy would always tease me that all the pain i endured just to deliver Elle normally were in vain considering that our hospital expenses were the same as ceasarian delivery. I was rushed a couple of times in the hospital due to false alarm... I was too excited to see Elle that I would interpret her little kicks as contractions and sign that she wants to get out of my tummy...

All of my friend would attest that I am sometimes "over-acting" in every way. I can prepare way way ahead and I tend to be too detailed... But, not all of my friends know that I have a "Hurry" syndrome. I fear being late... that is why I always prepare ahead of schedule that I either end up OVER prepared or frustrated if things don't go as I thought or planned to be.

A lot of people find me OA when I prepare every month for Elle's monthly birthday celebration. Most were surprised when they learned that Elle's grand birthday party in Iloilo last April was actually just her 6th month birthday party! (most thought it was her first year bday party already that is why we received a couple of gifts for one-year old) BUT most of friends laughed when they heard me prepare for Elle's birthday party as early as January when Elle was just three months old... hehehe

I really don't care what people say. I love Elle so much that I as much as possible I want to give her the best birthday ever (in my definition-for now)! I want it to be well-planned, party worth remembering... Of course, I will make sure that it is well documented for Elle to appreciate my love when she is old enough to comprehend everything that I've done for her...

I will never regret preparing for Elle's birthday party as early as January because if I didn't, I would end up in mental institution considering the workload that was given to me starting August... All the reports, the travels and challenges! I thank God for my innate hunger not to be late! It saved my sanity! It saved Elle Marie's first year birthday party...