A Non-Problem Problem

This is so not a real problem.  It's not really a problem at all.  It's really just me being indecisive.  Which is something I'm bad at.  I'm trying to be better. Thanks for asking.  So today's indecisive/non-problem problem is what to do for the little man's first birthday.  Lukas turns ONE in exactly 34 days. (scream, yikes, whoa, how did this happen?)

It's a pretty big event/milestone in his life.  It's a big milestone in my life.  It means I made it through of one year of parenting with my marriage in tact, my job kicking on, my waist whittling down, a happy kid and my sanity still on the "more sane" side of the sane spectrum.  (What? You didn't know there is a sane spectrum?  There is.  Believe me. I've traveled along all sides of it - just ask Mr. Cob.  Or better yet, my mother.)  Where was I?  Oh yes.  One year birthday. 

It's a big deal in these parts.  In the past year alone I've been to two one-year-olds' birthday parties.  The moms order invitations, bake cake-pops, decorate the house, clean the house, invite family and friends, plan activities, open presents, etc. etc.  It's a big to-do.  And it's one that I'm just not sure I'm up for.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good party.  I love throwing a good party.  My parties involve lots of wine and beer and I even whip out the fine china every once in a while.  But I just don't know if the big One Year Old Birthday Party is something I should do.  For one thing, I don't know that Lukas would really want a ton of people staring at him while he's expected to smash the cake in his face.  (Although, the kid does tend to put on a show for an audience, and considering his hearty appetite and love for sweets, he'd probably dive into the cake.)  And then there's the question of who to invite?  Family, of course.  Friends with kiddos around his age, sure - they have to watch their little ones anyway, so why not come to my house and watch your kids with a glass of wine in hand.  But what about friends without kids?  Do they really want to come to my kids first birthday party?  Would they feel obligated to come and bring a gift?  Or would their feelings be hurt if I didn't invite them?  And then what about all of Lukas' school friends.  If we have a party, I think I'd want them to come.  They're his buds.  And then there's his teachers.  They spend 5 days a week with him, so would they really want to spend one afternoon of their weekend with him?  And now we're talking about a whole heck of a lot of people in my house.  And I'd need food.  What do you cook for a group of adults and one year olds?  And the cake?  And back to the whole house cleaning thing.  And what do you do at a one year old's birthday party.  In November?  It just sounds like a lot.  Especially when there's this little 12 month old dude who doesn't always nap when he "should" and could be having an "off" day and probably couldn't care either way.

Sigh.  This is so not a problem but I need to make a decision one way or the other soon.  I'm leaning towards just doing a family shin-dig.  Or maybe the party...there are some cute invitations out there and I just love an invitation poem:

A BIRTHDAY POEM FOR LUKAS

The animals have all gathered ‘round to say,
November the 8 is a very fine day.

For one year ago, with the sun shining bright,

Baby Lukas arrived, to his momma's delight.

His daddy smiled bigger than ever before,

Their lives suddenly changed with this baby to adore.

365 days have now gone by,

Some come celebrate with Lukas, our silly little guy.

We’ll dance and we’ll sing songs, as only babies do,

And we’ll wish Lukas a happy birthday as he turns one, not two!