A Home-Style 2nd Birthday

My daughter celebrated her 2nd birthday 12 days ago. It was a simple dinner party here at our house. I bought fresh seafood and had them cooked at Seaside Market, 1 grandmother gave misua, the other gave sotanghon, so we had 2 noodle dishes! I borrowed a picnic table from my mother, had someone buy half a dozen balloons from the church, and with the birthday cake my dad gave us, we were all set!

birthday cake from grandpa

This cake gave us a laugh. My dad had the shop put in only his name, no thought for the rest of us.

birthday girl with grandma, with a mouthful of icing

with uncle Oliver, and cousin Nico in the background

with cousin Alex in the ball pit

We had a big bash for Belle's 1st birthday last year, in thanksgiving for the gift of our daughter, and for her health. You see, we have infertility problems, and we went to so many doctors in the past 6 years before she was conceived. We had many treatments, both western and traditional, but nothing worked. But at last here she was, our precious baby, Belle Lorraine.
After the party last year, Willy and I decided to keep birthday celebrations to a minimum. We don't want Belle to get used to having a big party every year. We want to mark birthday milestones with family gatherings, not necessarily big parties. That way, Belle will grow up knowing the importance of family and with an appreciation of all her blessings, big and small.