a bitty cake | my birthday

It's my birthday week!! 

When you become a mother and the military takes you away from all your family, you realize that the likelihood of anyone baking you a cake is small. And I love cake. L.O.V.E. (although I did have two sweet military friend make me surprise cakes this week... so sweet!!)

Plus, I've been wanting to get the bitty in the kitchen and let him stir and things, since his large motor skills are improving and he spends hours stirring in his own little kitchen and then play eating his food. All I hear are little "smack, smack, smacks."

So we baked a birthday cake. Yes, from a box. Really, what do you expect from a one-year-old?? He made a cake, so what if it's not from scratch!!! Haha...

Bitty stood on a chair to help out. (And before you freak out, do you see my hand there?? I never let go of him, he was completely safe. However, I do want to buy one of these now. So handy, but so bulky...)

We made a mess. And mama continued to breathe and let him stir... and if you know me, you know that's B.I.G. One of the things I am always working to improve as a mother is to let go of the little stuff. Messes are good, as long as they are learning.

Adding the water in. He looks so big in this one. Makes me happy and a little sad too. 

He also kept signing "W" for water after this, he wanted to pour more in. 

I think mixing flour and water may be a weekly activity, he LOVES it.

After mama added the eggs...

"Beat for 2 minutes" He took that to heart!

The cake baked during nap time and then we helped mama ice it (sorta). And then when Dada got home, we sprayed it with a little bit of water and let the bitty sprinkle it.

Next time, we will tape over the big holes and poke a few small holes so he can shake it longer and not use so many sprinkles, haha.

Haha, LOVE Dada's face in these... lots of sprinkles!

My boys  (can you figure out what's off in this picture??)

(yes, the cap is on the sprinkles, he had already covered the cake, but wanted to keep on shaking, haha)

The finished product!! We tried to give the bitty some after his dinner, but he took one bite and spit it out. He's not a big sweets fan (YIPEE), but you can't say I never tried!!

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!! Birthdays have so much more meaning once you become a mother. I now understand the love that my parents must have felt the first time they held me. The exhaustion, joy, pain, and love that they went through over the 18 years I lived with them. So thank you mom and dad, for loving me no matter what, and for bringing me into the world. I love you!




‎"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71:5-6


Hugs,


Chelsea