3 years ago I joined a special sisterhood, one called motherhood. It has been the most emotionally draining, emotionally fulfilling rollercoaster ride of my life. It has been nothing that I could have ever imagined. Please join me to say Happy birthday dearest daughter to my baby girl who turned 3 years old today! This motherhood journey has made me understand the saying orisa bi iya ko si. This simply means that there is no orisa/deity/god like a mother. A mother truly is number one in her child’s life.
When my daughter celebrated her first birthday, to me I was celebrating myself. I was celebrating everything it meant to me to be a mother. I feel so proud of myself that I have done this job for three years and counting now. From surviving lack of appetite during pregnancy to losing almost half my blood volume during labour to sleep deprivation (isn’t that a form of torture?) in the first two years of life and thriving, especially with the smiles and cuddles and the I lobe you mummy and the dragging your face down for a kiss and the waking up in the morning to find someone has left their bedroom and cuddles up next to you in your bed. Motherhood has definitely been a rollercoaster ride I tell you!
In my children’s book Yetunde: An Ode To My Mother, I gave you one version of the Yoruba praise poetry for a mother (Oriki Iya) that starts off: Iya ni wura, baba ni jigi. Ojo ti iya ku, ni wura baje. This translates to: mother is gold, father is mirror. The day that mother dies is the day that gold goes bad/spoils.
Here’s another version but it’s from a song:
‘Iya ni wura’ lyrics in Yoruba
Iya ni wura iyebiye ti a ko le fowo ra
O loyun mi fosu mesan
O pon mi fodun meta
Iya mo ki o ku ise o
Iya ku itoju mi
‘Iya ni wura’ lyrics in English
Mother you are a precious gem that money cannot buy.
You carried me in your womb for nine months and ‘nursed’ me for three years. Thank you mother.
Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed
And tears of sweet affection shed
My mother
When pain and sickness made me cry
Who gazed upon my heavy eyes
And wept for fear that I should die
My mother
Happy birthday dearest daughter
This year’s birthday is ‘3 parties for a 3-year-old’. One at nursery, one at home and one at football club.
You would think that as I’m the one who’s celebrating 3 years as a mother, I really should be the one to get the presents right?! People should congratulate me for a job well done. It’s not an easy job losing yourself, putting someone else first 99% of the time, never being able to wee alone in peace and quiet (motherhood truly is a thankless job). In fact, my body and that of my daughter is so synchronised that we actually poo and wee at the same time(too much info?). Whenever my daughter sees me going to the toilet, she literally runs after me and goes me first me first. On the plus side, we get to flush the toilet only once!
Oh wait! That’s why there’s mother’s day innit?! Nevermind then
Present One
My daughter was gifted a special little 5″ Birthday Letterbox Cake by BakerDays. BakerDays are a personalised cake, cupcake and balloon company based in Nottinghamshire, UK and specialise in baking, printing and personalising cakes and cupcakes for all occasions.
The cake box truly did fit through our letterbox and we got it two days before my daughter’s birthday. I can imagine myself using this service to surprise my friends as you don’t need anyone to be at home to accept the delivery. The cake was very delicious, not too moist and not too dry. I’m not sure if it’s because it was a 5″ cake but it was a bit on the thin side height wise. Half of it was frosting and the remainder was the cake. I would opt for a slightly thicker cake myself as I don’t usually eat any frosting. The cake came with its own candle, so I didn’t have to faff around looking for one.
Present two
Earlier on in the year, we were meant to attend a screening event for Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience but we weren’t able to make it. So it was a massive surprise to me when I got an email from the media team saying a present was in the post to my daughter.
The package had a Peppa Pig stuffed toy in it and a DVD. The DVD is a whole hour of Peppa-filled fun featuring nine new episodes and interactive content including singalongs, dancing and games.
Remember my post about Peppa Pig being every parent’s ally? Well see my daughter opening her present here:
My daughter especially loved her Peppa Pig stuffed toy that she invited Peppa to tea at her birthday party.
Nursery (and Football) cupcakes
I have to give Heidi from Sugar and Spice custom cakes a massive shoutout for the lovely dragon cupcakes she baked and delivered to my daughter’s nursery. She was able to take a Google stock picture I sent her and make a masterpiece from it. My daughter and her mates at nursery really enjoyed the cupcakes. Heidi individually wrapped each cupcake too, making it easy for those who didn’t eat theirs at the nursery to take home. There was no faffing around cutting up a big cake.
The football club party is in a few days time woot woot! and more dragon cupcakes are pending . . .
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To my darling daughter, Happy birthday dearest daughter! I love you like I have never loved anyone before. I’m looking forward to many many more birthdays with you, and in good health (both physical and mental) and happiness.
That said, how did you celebrate your little one’s last birthday? Do you have any Peppa Pig fans? Please leave a comment below
How cute! Congrats & Happy B-day to your little one
Thanks J.L.
Congratulations mommy and child and best wishes!!! Here’s to many more amazing years of warm mmories for my favorite mom and daughter blog team!
Much love from across the pond
Thanks Tara, we look forward to sharing the years with you too