Happy Birthday, little b

One year ago today, little b was born, at home on the Solstice in the twinkly glow of the Christmas lights. I give deepest thanks to the universe for bringing his little soul into our family. He is kind, compassionate, sneaky, hysterically funny, brave, soft, crinkly, gentle and wise. His birth was a dance of love that will live with Papa and me and all who were present for the whole of our lives.Little b has recently begun to play with little figures. If I use a high-pitched voice with a lego character, for example, and then hand it to him, he will imitate me, usually with the syllables 'doo-doo-doo-doo.' Big B now affectionately refers to all little people or animals that appeal to little b as 'doo-doo-doo-doo men.' There is no way that I can type words to do justice to the cuteness of this charade. So for little b's birthday, I decided to create a little family of doo-doo-doo-doo men, that poorly but happily replicate our own family. I used round headed clothespins, pre-drilled 'head beads,' doll stands, acrylic paint, and a homemade protective sealant of coconut oil and beeswax, courtesy of The Laughing Monkey. I sewed a simple pouch for safekeeping and tucked them in. For this year's celebration we are just having close family over for dinner and cake (little b's first experience with chocolate) made by big B and mama. As I was dusting the cake with powdered sugar, it occurred to me how much this cake looked like the groaning cake I made exactly one year ago, pictured below.I have been thinking of ways to make little b's birthday special in the years to come, and separate his day from the holiday festivities. Today, Papa, big B and I continued the recycled paper chain theme into birthdayland with this magazine-cut-out birthday garland. Next year, I may try my hand at a Solstice calendar, like this gorgeous one from Green Kitchen, to count the days to his birthday. Or perhaps a birthday crown he can wear each year. Whatever we decide, it will be easy to make our sweet boy feel special, because that's exactly what he is.

My heart is so joyous,
my heart flies in singing.
Under the trees of the forest,
the forest, our home, our mother.
In my net I have caught
a little bird,
a very little bird,
and my heart is caught
in the net with the little bird.
(pregnancy song of the efe peoples)