Maya’s First Birthday

In all the confusion of moving and such, Maya turned one. She is now a one year old, and although she is not yet walking (or talking, thank God), speed crawling is definitely one of her finer skills. I was inundated with memories of Ben’s first birthday — what a big deal we made, the party we had, the many, many pictures we took. We had two cakes, people. Two cakes.

Maya’s birthday passed with hardly a glance. Marti made a chocolate cake and we sang Happy Birthday. I worked until 8 p.m.

So, a few days later I went to Mrs. Tiggywinkles Toy Store, a fabulous specialty toy store here, with Maya and credit card at the ready. Why, you may ask? Why, guilt, of course! When you practically ignore your second child’s birthday, a fun way to appease guilt is to spend money. This is what drives the U.S. economy, I tell you — guilt.

Anyway, I got the manager all excited as I asked the prices for the imported children’s rugs from Germany ($280) or the European tricycles ($195 and up). I tried to get Maya to walk with one of those little wooden push toys ($149) but she brought out what Marti likes to call “the bitchy voice” and proceeded to speed crawl to the wooden stairs of the children’s jungle gym equipment. I was not paying $7500 for stairs, so I tried some other things…wooden stove with vegetables and fruit ($115). Or a rocking horse! A real, old-fashioned rocking horse, with leather saddle and reins ($250). Finally, a store employee handed Maya and little wand filled with water and sparklies ($3.50) and she waved it in glee.

I had found my gift.

I couldn’t only spend $3.50 for Maya’s birthday, because that would be far too practical, so I also bought her a little rubber bouncy horse and a rubber ball, and some fabulous new soft leather baby shoes. (Maya is displaying them below)

I got a wand for Ben, too, and even though I tried hard to spend money and be stupid about it, I spent less than $100. The manager waved me sadly away as I stepped over the $200 tricycle on my way out.

So, Maya got a bouncy horse that was immediately commandeered by Benjamin, and a ball and a sparkly wand. Our friends came over with another cake, which we ate but Maya pretty much ignored, and we actually had a candle to light. Luckily she got some practical gifts from them (clothing). And, because our camera is packed somewhere, we only have the pictures our friends took — not the dozens of pictures we had for Ben’s birthday.

Ah well. Sorry, Maya, for when you read this at 35. Maybe next year…