Week four: Party Time!!
Well, week four with Hunter has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride! I can hardly believe how much we’ve crammed into these last few days. From birthday parties to playdates, it’s been a week filled with laughter, cuddles, and just a dash of chaos. If this keeps up, I’m going to need a personal assistant just to keep track of all our adventures!
First up, we celebrated the first birthday party of Hunter’s buddy, Hudson, and oh boy, it was a spectacular outdoor event! Picture this: a bouncy castle, an inflatable assault course that looked like something out of an extreme sports show, a trampoline, a slide, a huge jigsaw puzzle, and enough food to feed a small army! Honestly, I half expected a food critic to show up and start reviewing the spread. There were sandwiches, snacks, fruit platters, and a cake that was to die for—so beautifully decorated it looked like it had just jumped out of a Pinterest board! I mean, how does one even start slicing into such a masterpiece? I ended up hiding a slice for myself when no one was looking—mummy needs her cake fix too, right?
Hunter, being the charming little lad he is, was all smiles, soaking up the party atmosphere like a sponge. I can’t say he understood what was happening, but he certainly enjoyed the cake crumbs I snuck him when no one was looking! Note to self: baby’s first sugar rush is an experience to behold. I think I saw him plotting ways to steal more cake from unsuspecting toddlers. Watch out, Hudson!
I want to give a massive shout-out to Becky for all her hard work in making Hudson’s birthday so special. It’s no small feat to organise an event like that, and she pulled it off beautifully! From the decorations to the activities, everything was so thoughtfully planned. I’m convinced she deserves a medal for her party-planning skills—maybe even a gold star for surviving the day without losing her mind! You are incredible, Becky!
Next on the agenda was meeting with the church warden to discuss Hunter’s upcoming christening. The little church we’ve chosen is quaint and lovely, but let’s be honest—it has all the charm of a William Morris wallpaper pattern. I half expected the warden to start singing hymns at any moment! We talked about the details while Hunter happily cooed away, and I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of him being dunked in holy water. Will he cry? Will I cry? Will we both cry? My money's on a full-on waterworks show, complete with dramatic music playing in the background. I’m thinking of hiring a director just in case!
Granny came back up this week to help me with the church warden. She used to be a Sunday school teacher, so her knowledge came in handy—like having a personal consultant for all things holy! She arrived bearing cuddles galore and so much love that I’m pretty sure our house has officially become a hug zone. But let’s be real, we definitely had a glass of wine and chilled out together too. Nothing like a little vino to ease the stress of planning a baptism! I mean, who says you can’t mix a bit of holy with a dash of happy hour? We toasted to Hunter’s future, and I may have mentioned that his first words better not be “Where’s my wine?”
One of the highlights of the week was taking Hunter to the ambulance control room to meet my colleagues. Now, if you think babies are cute, try introducing them to a group of paramedics who’ve just had their hearts melted. There were tons of cuddles and cooing, and I started to wonder if I should just bring Hunter to work every day. He might just be the best morale booster we’ve ever had! I did have to remind everyone that while he’s adorable, he’s not a mascot—there's no need to put him in a little uniform just yet! Though I can’t deny the thought of him cruising around in a tiny paramedic outfit is pretty entertaining.
Then came a playdate with Hunter’s 10-month-old cousin, Jack. These two are already plotting world domination, I swear. Watching them together was like witnessing a baby version of a buddy cop film: plenty of giggles, a few toys thrown in frustration, and lots of attempts to crawl towards each other. I had to keep a close eye on them, or I feared they’d end up launching a toy truck off the coffee table just for kicks. Let’s just say, when they both get the hang of walking, I’ll need to invest in a good set of baby gates! I’ve already started thinking of ways to baby-proof the house like it’s a reality show challenge.
And speaking of walking, I decided it was high time I learned to walk both dogs—Neville and Cooper—while carrying Hunter in the sling. What could go wrong, right? Well, let’s just say that managing a baby, two dogs, and two leads is a bit like herding cats. Cooper, our beagle, was off sniffing out whatever it is that takes his fancy—seriously, if there’s a scent in a 5-mile radius, he’ll find it! Meanwhile, Neville, being a collie, is a non-stop fetch fiend, which is quite the nightmare when you’re wearing a baby. But hey, we made it work!
I ended up in a bit of a tangle, with Neville attempting to chase a squirrel while Cooper decided that sniffing the same spot for the third time was essential. And while all this was happening, Hunter was blissfully sleeping away in the sling, completely unfazed by the chaos around him. I could almost hear him dreaming about being a superhero, saving his mum from the doggy madness while he snoozed peacefully. I might not have mastered the art of multitasking just yet, but at least we all got our exercise!
By the end of the week, I felt like I had run a marathon—who knew parenting could be this much of a workout? I’m convinced I’m going to have the strongest arms in town from carrying Hunter in the sling while managing the dogs. I might even start charging for baby and dog-walking services. “Need a workout? Hire me for a stroll—just don’t blame me if you leave with a few extra dog hairs and a baby who smells like fresh air!”
As we wrap up this week, I’m filled with laughter and gratitude for these moments, both charming and chaotic. Hunter is growing and changing every day, and it’s amazing to see his little personality blooming. These days may be messy, loud, and occasionally covered in cake crumbs, but they’re also the ones I’ll treasure most. As the poet Anita Diamant once wrote, “Days pass and the years vanish, and we walk sightless among miracles.” Well, I’m learning to spot the miracles—one giggle, one cuddle, one squirrel chase at a time. Until next time, stay tuned for more tales from the wild side of motherhood!
