Bean's Big Day

Shew, I can't believe that an entire year has gone by already...

Tomorrow is Bean's first birthday: a major landmark in his brief existence.

This time last year, I was rotund and exhausted. My days were spent on bed rest, desperately attempting to find a comfortable position while lying on my left side and endeavouring to keep my blood pressure down... an act which does not combine so well with feeling stressed about one's blood pressure.

Evenings were spent with Mr Stubbles (a.k.a. Daddy), propped up on the couch, watching Netflix series back-to-back because I really couldn't do much more than that.

I had just brought my remedial practise to a close, thinking that I would have a week or two to relax before Bean arrived but was sorely disabused of that notion when my water broke in the early hours of the morning at 35 weeks.

It's quite amazing to think that Bean has now been smiling into our lives for an entire year.

 For Bean, it really has been a year of firsts.

Our little Bean has almost tripled in weight, while learning to roll, sit, crawl, cruise the furniture, stand up for himself, and dance when the mood takes him.

He also sings, chatters away, shouts, says a few words and lets us all know what he wants in no uncertain terms.

In the last few weeks, Bean has started to give High Fives, clap his hands and today he waved goodbye to me as I was leaving.

Of late, he has also started to demonstrate a firm attachment us and gets mightily upset if either Daddy or I leave to room, head to the bathroom... or even worse, leave for work.

In the last year, Mr Stubbles has gone from being uncertain of himself to being an expert Daddy: masterful nappy changer, bottle maker, soother and baby catcher. He has coped admirably with situations that have arisen... leaking nappies, a sick baby, attempting to wrangle a wriggling octopus into tiny sleeves, and the pants of doom.

I love seeing how excited Bean gets when he realises that Daddy is home, and how he loses interest in anyone or anything else to dive into Daddy's arms.

Numbers 1 and 2 play an integral part in watching out for the littlest Bean, and are worth their weight in gold for entertainment value. Even the errant teenage Number 1 will seek out Bean for some rough and tumble on the living room floor, or a quick game of peek-a-boo, while Number 2 shows him how to play with his toys, builds endeless towers of nesting cups, and hunts down wayward plastic rings which escape into the nether regions of the couches.


Presently, I'm attempting to plan a little frivolity to mark the occasion, just a small celebration for Bean's momentous day. It's more of a party for the adults at this stage... a celebration that we managed to keep Bean alive and grow him for an entire year.

To be honest, with the pace of our life at the moment, I have done little except invite a few people and organise with a friend to bake a cake, but I'm sure we can pull something together in the next few days, and a good time will be had by all.