neve is two

rather unbelievably our little baby boy turned two this week and we were blessed with a plethora of opportunities to celebrate. the day began with a mountain of gifts sent from loved ones at home. the general themes were diggers, trains, tractors and the marvellous peppa pig. 

the birthday treat was a trip to wonderland – perhaps the most frightening amusement park you could imagine. the place was spookily deserted, with a few bored families wandering slowly through various 'attractions' that were all littered with broken, rusty and spiky old pieces of metal. half of the rides looked like they had been left to rot after spectacularly crashing to the ground from a great height. there was an old merry-go-round with creaking horses and music that would be the perfect soundtrack to a freddy krueger film. neve flatly refused to go on any of it and opted instead to watch from the safety of mummy or daddy’s arms. however, when the majority of his friends had gone home for tea, we were able to finally tempt him onto a cheery chinese-made train, which he rode again and again with a solemn little face until we had spent all of his tokens.

we had cupcakes at teatime, played endlessly with his peppa pig laptop (which sadly lacks a volume control!) and went to bed with a pile of new books.

the official celebration came at the weekend and we got up early to blow up balloons. friends young and not so young arrived a little later to eat tiny triangular sandwiches and an odd-looking thomas cake while sipping on caprisun and champers. neve sat on an armchair like a maharaja - receiving gifts and having cookies placed into his mouth. we had to work hard to get the sugar-fuelled boy into his bed, eventually giving in to his insistence that the new fisher price camera remain firmly in his grasp.  it was a great – but exhausting time and we are beginning to realise why it only happens once a year!