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.