I seem to have to constantly remind myself that my youngest, Jo, is not exactly a baby anymore. Sure, she’s MY baby but she really is no longer a baby. I guess that’s really a thing with youngest children. Because there’s nobody after them they get to keep the “status” and the special treatment that goes with it.
Well, Jo turned two exactly a month ago. And I really feel like that was so fast. Yes, I’m definitely ecstatic and thankful that Kayo and I are going this long without getting pregnant again, but at the same time, I’m wondering, where did all that time go? Then I look at Jo, watch her play, listen to her as she converses with her sisters, and realize — she really has grown and is so much more a toddler than she is a little baby. I shed a tear because I do miss having a helpless, huggable little poopy thing in my arms but I also rejoice in the realization that now she has become a little more independent without constantly being attached to me. We now both get our own little freedom.
It’s a bittersweet thing really. But it’s amazing watching my kids grow. While I do get days when I feel like I’ve had enough of motherhood (like yesterday!), I also get countless of moments when I feel like I’m the luckiest Mom alive to have these three as my daughters (like right now!). Oh crazy, beautiful motherhood!
Now, let me share about the simple celebration we had for our little Jo. It was a small one — even smaller than our usual small, homemade parties — where we only really invited family and her godparents. But it turned out to be a really nice and relaxed get together.
This time instead of decorating the entire patio of my in-laws like I usually do, I focused on the food table and put all of the effort in making it look festive. There wasn’t exactly a theme but we went for a classic, dainty and bookish tea party — Think Little Women and Josephine March!
I used flowers, tea cups and books to decorate. Also, instead of putting up a birthday sign, I created a backdrop of our favorite pictures of Jo mixed with quote cards and patterned paper.
Jo’s cake was store bought and we decided not to have it decorated. But I made a paper cut piece of her name and that’s what we used as a cake topper. We served different kinds of pastries alongside the tea, which we arranged on the table nicely and topped with little flags and hearts.
It was all very simple and pleasant, just as we had hoped it would be — a way for us to mark another milestone in her life and in our life as a family. That’s because we know that time will keep moving and these kids will keep on growing but even so, we can always choose to slow down for a few moments and just celebrate who and how they are right here, right now. ❤
Photos by Nica Cosio, Martine De Luna and Peppy Salita
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