Transl. “The story of the second birthday of my first”

“If it rains again next year, I’ll surrender to the traditional weather of Xavier’s birthday and stop planning parties in the backyard”, I reflected as I pulled wet paper streamers from the tree branches on Sunday morning. The previous afternoon’s showers had forced twelve adults, six kids and two babies to press under our ten by twelve feet gazebo, until we decided the rain would not let up and moved the party inside.

Serendipitously enough, we had shuffled the living room furniture just the week before. The new layout had opened that much more floor space, which was quickly turned into a dance floor by Xavier and his friends Félix and Romane. The popularity of Baby Lilly, the little European singer, would not decrease with the toddlers. The dance session – which lack of coordination was overlooked in favour of overall cuteness – had followed a bewildering race by the toddlers around the kitchen island, led by Xavier sporting his newly acquired bubble lawn-mower. (The bubbles, at that time, were merely a promise for future outside playtime, of course – there were enough people and pregnant woman and babies in the house, it was judged, to save the floor from soapy water.)

The parents actually welcomed all this exciting action, as it would help the little people burn off all the sugar from the home-made (thanks to Betty Crocker) chocolate birthday cake. Xavier’s first birthday cake had featured “Cars” protagonist Lightning McQueen, the plastic toy car version. Since his real fanatic passion for the movie had only just started, though, we had decided McQueen’s buddy Tow Mater would make a nice follow-up for his second birthday; thus the corresponding toy was parked next to a two-shaped candle on a road made of candy and icing. Mmm, mmm, good. I had found out the joys of preparing and decorating my son’s cake myself: pride, yes, but also an afternoon of cake smell in the house, much licking of the icing knife, and an advance cupcake tasting with the birthday boy the previous afternoon.

I added this new feature to my rookie’s kid birthday planner arsenal, along with a memo-to-self that “no need to bring a gift” mentions in the invitations were useless and I should give them up. The little prince was spoiled rotten despite them anyway. Amusingly enough, and not counting a Play-Doh clown and a box full of Crayola fun, he had received all wheeled things (or “Cars” movie merchandise), which betrayed his passion for everything that rolled. The bubble lawn-mower, a shiny retro tricycle, a remote-controlled car, as well as “Cars” dishes, sand toys and activity tray. He would be kept amused well past Christmas.

I dropped the streamers and deflated balloons in the trash and finished tidying up the backyard. Those two years had passed so quickly. How cliché. How true. I did not regret any of it, though. Xavier was a great kid, and he was growing up into a wonderful boy.

Xavier – 2008-2009 – 2 ans

Transl. “Almost in the tropics”

A week short of his second birthday, the toddler spent twenty-four hours at his grandparents’ house over the weekend. Our parenting charge therefore diminished by half, the three rolls of faux-rock wallpaper that have been laying on the kitchen table for three weeks have finally married a wall.

A before pic (for future contrast):

Ready to start working (Frank, nuts about home decor, was overjoyed):

Magie!

Now, what’s missing?… Oh, yeah:

Of course, this will look even more classy once all the toys are back…

PS. We feel compelled to note the couch will probably return to the other side of the living room in the following months. I still want to get an electric fireplace for that wall, chocolate coloured.

Other plans include:
- Framing that charming painting by Frank’s mom to make it pop out even more.
- White wood blinds, most likely.
- O’gee moulding for the top of the wall.
- A (fake) tropical plant for the top of the bookcase while it’s there – because if every other corner of the room has its own plant, this one might feel left out.
- Painting the other living room walls, as well as the foyer, the adjacent dining room and kitchen, the hallway… in shades of coffee beige, blue-gray and (maybe) some brick red. Will post about it in due time.

Transl. “Stuffing our faces”

Two posts in one evening, woah! Here are two food videos – Xavier the monkey eating a banana, and Orly eating so fast, you’ll think this is on fast forward. Enjoy! (Oh, and some splash pad pics added here.)