Ariyah-mai is 1

 Happy 1st birthday 

Our rainbow is 1, this happened in a blink of an eye. I can't believe we noww have a one year old. Thhe time really does fly by and glad we  herished ever moment and I hhavee been able to document her jounery in this blog. Especial her milestones, funny little things and all her adventures. So as she grows up she can read through these post and know how she was as a baby. It's very special to have these memories.

We wanted to makee her birthday special and planned a hug party at our house, we Brough so many decorations handed out invites and had many plans for games cake smash ect.. 

But... Due to covid and this current virtual pamedic spreading the glode. Moore restrictions meant we could only have up to six people in our home at ones. This meant completly no party! We were devistated at first as we planned it and wanted her to celebrate being one. But also being our miracle rainbow who we didn't think wee ever get to this milestone as a family, so Wass even more to treasure and celebrate. All taken from us people people could not be sensible and stop thhe spread.

However nothing we could do so plan 2 it was. So we had to stragger people coming round to see her. We had Ben's 25th birthday the weekend before and his cousins 6th. So ariyah ended up with a month of birthday celebrations.

First of the celebrations began the first weekend of October. My mum and step dad ariyah gran a and grandad come over, we had some takeaway ariyah got first taste of KFC. Then they gave ariyah her presents. She loved the tea pot that sung. It come with little cups and cakes to role play with. This is technically older toy but straight away shee surprised us poring thee tea pot pretending to drink for the cups and giving them to us too. This kind of role play is very advanced ad wee aall could tt believe it. She amazes us everyday. She Wass also feeding her baaby the cakes. This is has started doing with her snacks, feeding her toys teddies aand baby. 

Next day we went to margate to have a joint birthday tea party for her and her big cousin. We had balloons party food, with some other cousins joining in, they played and danced. It was lovely as ariyah Hadd just started walking too so she was up running and  dancing with her older cousins. We estranged presents and had cake. Singing happy birthday to them both. It was ariyah first experience of blowing out a candle bless her. And opening presents because she Wass to young to understand at Christmas.

Next celebration was Ben's birthday weekend, we had our friends round Ron and scott with gi. Where they gave Ben aand ariyah there presents, the kids played sand we had cake. Again singing to the both. Ron had made a dairy free cake.

On Sunday was bbens birthday, we actually spend day with close friends at soft play, our friend then had ariyah for a while whilst I took Ben out for nandos. It was nice to have some just us time. 

After that we had the lead up to her birthday where presents were sent from family we couldn't see, we had zoom chats to other family and friends. On Thursday ariyah other cousin on my side who are 2 1/2 twins, and 14 month old. There is like 8 weeks between thee girls which is lovely for them to grow up together. So I was at work but managed to. See them abit before the left. But they had aa good day with mc Donald's and playing. More cKe aand presents too. My cousin made dairy free chocolate brownies and cupcakes which was sweet of her.

Actual birthday day

On Friday ariyaah actual birthday. Me and Ben stayed up all night decorating the living room ready for her in the morning. We placed all her presents out and made cake. Could wait to see her face in thee morning.

So Friday came we both got her put her in her birthday outfit and took her down stairs. Ben carried her as I filmed her reaction. She was mesmerised, standing there saying woow. It was the most presious thing. As she run jumping on the balloons. That morning wee spent playing, opening presents doing little photoshoot. And had pancakes andd chocolate brownies for breakfast.

Sadly I had to go to work, but Ben sent me pictures. She took her out in her new trike. 

When I got home, we had ariyahs little baby group friends over. Keeping to rule of 6ish (babies not included) it was lovely seeing the playing, opening presents together. We then did a cake smash where we first sung happy birthday then just just put the cake in front of ariyah and llet her grab it and eaat it, smashing it up. Her friends then joined in and they all got every messy, but had three happy babies eating cake. It was so messy but so much fun.

She had a lovely birthday but was very tired and did get overwhelmed with the llresents and that was just in a small group. We actually realised it was a good thing we had to slit it up because she would have gotten so overwhelmed and stress. 

Next day came, I took her to ballet while daddies Ben had well deserved rest time to himself. We got to see our ballet friends, danced and played. After ballet we stayed talking to onee of the family from ballet who we formed a bubble with. (this is term for the small groups in which people can interact with due to covid restrictions). They are a lgbt family which is great for ariyah. So her friend brought hher a present and we gave him some of her birthday cake.

After we numbed into Ron and gi as she goes ballet at the same place afterwards. So we hung around and got some lunch with them after. It was nice to spend more time with them as unfortunately girl don't get to see to much of each other because of the virus, making traveling and stuff without cars too risky for them. 

When we got back that afternoon Ben's olld youth worker friend, ariyahs auntie came to see her. She took us out for dinner which was lovely. She was so surprised how grown up ariyah had got since she last saw her. As it had been a few months. We were meant to have more friends came with her however they were in London which unfortunately as of Friday night went into tougher lockdown restriction where they could not mix with other households. This was sad as ariyah would have met her tiny baby cousin. But we make sure we catch up with them. 

On Sunday mum dad and step mum came over, my brother and his girlfriend were meant to also but again him being in thee navy and covid he got called back to base early because number as rising again. We arranged to facetime them and see them hopefully before Christmas. 

But yes we had a lovely Sunday with her grandparents. More cake, presents and food, what more could she need. 

Over all see had a great birthday month. Now leading to her first proper Christmas as shee. Was too young last year. Oh andd Halloween next too. We have lots planned and will keep you all updated. 

I will still continue to blog where I can however many be less updates and more events and bigger milestones now. Bfurthermore I want to thank everyone who wished hher happy birthday, who has followed our story from the beginning and just supported us. 

She is getting so clever and grown up, to much for her own good I think sometime. Our  little saying 'let your boy catch up with your brain' still very much is her moto. She so advance and wants to do everything but sometimes forgets she is still little. She funny and sassy getting a really little attitude and humer now to. She always laughing and smiling and generally is such a happy bubble baby. She has crazy weird little quirks which we love.

including, putting musy over her head and running around. We could not be prouder of her and just over joyed to have shared her precious first year. To be here after thee loss of Nico and just she herr grow everyday is aa treasure. We know he Wass celebrating with us this weekend, he is always watching and guiding us. With this little spirt living through his sister. 

Onwards to our next jouneries.