Our 11.11 baby turns 1!

Celebrated Emma's birthday away from home, but brought "home" to Germany :") Was never really a birthday person but after giving birth to Emma, I felt the strong urge to at least do something for this little girl! We did away with the first-month celebration, or the 100th-day celebration and we felt that we needed to at least let her have a first cake cutting and candle-blowing experience on her big one!

We decided to celebrate early as my in-laws were here in Germany with us and it would mean so so so much to have them celebrate with her physically. Although we were away from home, the wives and families here made it feel so much like home when they attended her small little party!

Also, family and friends from Singapore made time to attend her "live zoom celebration" as well and I am so thankful that they got to witness this girl's cute milestone.

I wanted Emma to have a cake but unfortunately, I was not familiar with how germans do their celebrations, and where they would get baby-friendly cakes so I decided to try a hand at baking my own cake. I would not say it was the best (I wouldn't eat it though haha, but my mother-in-law ate it and showed support!!!), but this girl enjoyed it so... that's all that matters!!

As this girl's favourite fruit was berries, any kind of berries actually, I baked a cake with blueberry frosting, surrounded the edges with blueberries and wrote the letter 'E' with raspberries. Not only did she NOT smash her cake, she gently picked up each and every blueberry and slowly ate them. Everyone was just watching her pick the blueberry gingerly to the extent we decided to remove ALL the berries so she would notice the cake HAHA

We may not look the best in all the pictures, but as long as she looks happy, and funny (sometimes I can't take her seriously hahahahaha), we cherish the pictures and we hope you enjoyed them as well :")

She was particularly cheery and excited that day, as though she knew it was a big day for her!

Evidently, her pictures showed her numerous expressions and they were truly the best :")

Typing this and recounting this heartwarmingly amazing birthday celebration makes me teary as I can't believe this little girl, whom I feel like JUST popped out of me, is already 1!??!!! Where did all the time go?! Watching her grow is perhaps the most satisfying, and nerve-racking (yes, let's face it, it's not always rainbows and unicorns) experience ever. I have never given any human this much love and protection ever and she truly brings out the mother in me (also because I have no choice right? hahahhaa) in the best ways ever. She brings out the kind of resilience I never knew I had (especially for breastfeeding, and that story is for another day), the discipline I wished I had, the amount (or lack there of) of sleep I thought I needed, the selflessness I wanted everyone to have, and lastly, the energy I had when I was 18 haha!

This, my friends, is the best thing that has ever happened to me (second to my wedding day of course!) and I'm grateful for the days I have with her moving forward before I return to work!