Things I have done to prepare for the First Birthday Party

• Purchased an ungodly amount of plastic Elmo-ware sure to hasten the demise of the planet and choke the Pacific Gyre beginning July 27 th.
• Made a donation to offset Liberal Guilt associated with Elmo-ware death to sea creatures.
• Actively pursued the explosion of ToysRUs and Fisher Price in our home.
• Dyed my Nightmare on Elm Street-esque grey streak that has developed this year as I feel it is inappropriate to celebrate the culmination of Max's first year looking as though Freddy Kruger has scared the bejeezuz outta me. (even if he did.)
• Had half the skin on my face 'dermabraded' read: used a sander on my face in a vain (both meanings of the word, utter vanity and totally for naught) attempt to appear as if I have slept 1 of the 365 days since Baby Max arrived.
• Baked Elmo's head in the form of a cake.
• Begged, pleaded and prayed for Elmo's head to come out of the pan in one Elmo shaped piece.
• Actually danced around the kitchen when Elmo's head was successfully released from the pan.
• Laughed at how honest to God pleased and proud of myself I was from this achievement.
• Used all those fantastic make up skills learned from all my years of theatre to painstakingly turn Elmo from blank cake to frosty monster!
• Thanked God that frosting, like make up, is forgiving.
• Purchased a new outfit for me to wear to the party....yeah I know. Max doesn't care.
• New lip gloss may have snuck in there too.
• I did resist the shoes....
• Giggled as my husband put together the new play set for Max, and so it begins...
• Wondered what on earth we will get him for Christmas! Surely we've purchased everything there is to get...
• Oh! Looked at Fisher Price catalog and PBK, now have a new list for Christmas!
• Realized happily how my priorities have changed since Baby Max has been born.
• Decorated the house
• Wished I could do more...
• Wished for another year as happy and healthy as this one.
• Held him close, and let him go as he takes his first wobbly steps towards two.
• Love him. Love him. Love him.