Another year older...

When you're little you live for two things; your Birthday and Christmas. And you count the amount of sleeps between the two. I always felt very sorry for friends who had birthdays so close to Christmas - you had to wait so loooong until it rolled around again. 

When Kerry and I were younger we'd play this little game the night before our birthdays, it went something along the lines of; "today is the last day you will have breakfast being 8yrs old"..."this is the last night you will be sweet sixteen"...and so on. 

Well yesterday brought back all those memories and so many people mentioned it when wishing me a Happy Birthday. My birthday next year is going to be very different. This will be my last as not a mother. My Dad's comment hit the spot though; "...in future you'll have to eat all the wonderful things that are made, especially for you, on your birthday..." chuckle chuckle chuckle. Thanks Dad. 

So I was no Master Chef in the kitchen at 6yrs old. 

Time really does fly though, I remember my birthday parties at Rita's Place, the nursery school I went to in SA. Having a birthday in August sucked as none of the kids liked hanging around outside to eat cake and sweets and play in the winter sunshine. I also used to live, not only for my birthday party but for my cousin Sean's too; he used to have the most amazing parties growing up; pony rides up and down the street, weird magicians and jumping castles. Granted the jumping castle was at his 18th birthday party but no matter. 

I remember my little brother Steven's first birthday - he'd just learnt how to walk and we'd made the move from Jo'burg to Knysna a few days before. He now stands just over 6ft tall and turns 19 in December! As if I didn't feel old already. 

Ryan has often told me; as one of three growing up, all of whom were popular kids, when it came to going to birthday parties, Desray would pack them off with a card that had a R10.00 note in it and a big slab of chocolate. Now a Smethurst tradition with added inflation. 

But without a birthday, none of us would be here. They are definitely worth celebrating. Even if it means sitting back and taking stock of your life so far and never admitting your actual age. 

I turned 35 yesterday. At 25 I was thinking in another 5yrs and I'd be 30 (!!!). At 15 I met Richard whose remained a close friend. At 5 I had the most amazing Snow White and Seven Dwarf cake that my Mom made from scratch as she did with all our cakes growing up (until it became 'uncool'). A lot can happen in ten years and having lived just three and half decades, so far, I know that there is so much more to come.

Next year both Ryan and I will celebrate our birthdays very differently - we'll be parents. And although the concept of gift giving will be completely lost on Little One, I'm sure he's bound to get us something delightful...and non-edible. 

Me on my third birthday (I think?) with my little owl cake made by Mom 

Me on my first birth-day with my big sister Kerry...I'm the one in the crib!