Daisy Suzanne Allen
Born Sunday 6th March 2011
1st birthday party
Her life: Birth ♥ Week 1 ♥ Weeks 2-3 ♥ Weeks 4-7 ♥ Weeks 8-13 ♥ Weeks 14-22 ♥ 5-7 months ♥ 7-8 months ♥ 8-10 months ♥ 1st Christmas ♥ 10-12 months ♥ 1st birthday party ♥ 12-15 months ♥ 15-18 months ♥ 18-21 months ♥ 21-24 months ♥ 2nd birthday ♥ 2-2½ years ♥ 2½-3 years ♥ 3rd birthday ♥ 3-3¼ years ♥ 3¼-3½ years ♥ 3½-3¾ years ♥ 3¾-4 years ♥ 4th birthday
In summary: Index ♥ From birth to four years old ♥ Four years old onwards
Special features: Daisy translator ♥ Daisy cookery ♥ Daisy phrases ♥ Golden Bear
Lynne had big plans for Daisy's 1st birthday party, citing a lack of both a christening (Daisy) and a wedding (us) as reasons for spending a bit of money and inviting lots of people. She did not disappoint, quickly whipping up an invite spreadsheet and obtaining details of a local caterer. In the end, 61 (!) people joined the three of us in celebrating Daisy's 1st birthday, with our reasonably spacious downstairs being swamped by people, exacerbated by the kitchen being under the control of the caterers and outside being generally out of bounds due to dampness. The crowdedness just made it more fun, though.
Three weeks after the big event and I have now collated photos from three sources - me (when I remembered I had the camera - I was easily distracted), Paul R (or Louise, who must have taken at least some since Paul is on them) and Jonny A. I have referenced them appropriately so that I don't steal their, um, work.
A busy morning meant tidying up and cleaning the house, then preparing the seemingly minimalist decorations, and switching the lounge into "party mode", maximising both seatage and standing room. [PA]
Paul R snapped us pondering our plans, with Lynne amusingly switching positions like some teleporting queen. Louise, fresh from doing her hair, comes to comfort Grandma Avis, who is threatening to get blubberingly emotional. [PR]
The caterers were, by this time (about noon), busy at work, having transported in industrial-sized crates of sandwiches, quiche and the like. [PR]
This adorned the front door, just in case anyone had forgotten why there were here. [PR]
As we patiently wait for the guests to arrive, we amuse ourselves (well, I do) with stupid poses. [PR]
Nana Sue was the first to get here, as we gave her an exclusive backstage pass, which enabled early entrance for prime seating. She struggled to keep her eyes open long enough for this shot, though, which would otherwise have been a cracking shot of the proud grandparents. [PA]
Aunty Katie made sure that she arrived before the madding crowds, if only so she could assume Daisy holding duties as early as possible. It's probably about the right time to feature the birthday girl - in what was some startlingly efficient logistical organisation, Grandad Graham had taken Daisy for a long walk (in the rain) whilst we cleared the house up. Anyway, Daisy had gone for the three classics - well-brushed hair, flowery dress and dribbly chin. [PA]
Daisy was, inevitably, passed around, and it was perhaps all too much, even in the presence of a familiar face (Grandad Graham), not to mention Great Nana Betty. Daisy simply sought the comfort of her right thumb, as she is wont to do. I didn't have the time or patience to wait around for a better shot, but we'll see if someone else did... [PA]
Mummy does get a go with her own daughter. Where does she get her hair from, I wonder... [PA]
And then the food hall was opened and the stampede began. [PA]
Graham and Betty pose for the camera. [PR]
Ah, there we go - Daisy has been handed back to them and a better photo has resulted than before, as Daisy, a little more confident now, enjoyed Great Nana Betty's clapping. (It may be that this was the same session and the cameras are set to different time, but everything here is otherwise chronological.) [PR]
Nana Sue was not missing out either, using jewellery as a distraction. [JA]
She tries to conceal her annoyance, though, as Grandma Avis nudges her way in with some textbook clapping. [JA]
Time for a family pose - Graham, Betty, Louise, Lynne and Daisy. Let's play the Generation Game. [PR]
It's funny to run through the chronological photos as they leap around locations due to different cameras. Here in the main lounge, Daisy is an absolute sucker for a good book (key ingredients: bright colours, animals, interactive sections, music-playing buttons), as Nana Sue well knows, whilst Aunty Katie looks on. In the background, one-of-the-twins Ellie grips the stair banister. [JA]
Another family shot, this time in the hallway, and featuring Laura, (Aunty) Louise, Sarah, Louise, Bella, Henry and Gareth. Gareth in particular is ecstatic at the whole thing. [PR]
I don't know what joke Nana Sue has told her sister (Aunty Janet), but it's a cracker. [JA]
"Look, I've got one too!" - Louise half-inches Bella for a double baby snap. Louise and Daisy have a competition for the reddest cheeks. Louise wins. [PR]
It was pointed out to me that Mickey Mouse had fallen into disrepute, turning to alcoholism. This is mild compared to Donald Duck's former crack habit and Minnie Mouse's succession of low-rent acting roles in the seamier side of the movie-making business. They don't tell you this stuff on Disney Junior. [PA]
Paul relinquishes the camera, presumably to Louise, to enjoy some clapping games with young Daisy amongst the sea of shoes in the hallway. (Two things we hadn't quite planned for - 61 pairs of shoes and 61 coats. Where the hell do they all go?) [PR]
Cousin Debbie with Nana Sue, and Jordan (junior) in the background taking the prime spot by the buffet table (smart thinking). [JA]
Pulled in a number of directions, I left Daisy under the supervision of Liam (no problem, he has two of his own) and I came back to discover them playing nicely as Chris (aka Doylie) looks on, happy not to have to do anything. [PA]
Matt is shocked (but glad) he wasn't asked to take any photos. Nic is amused by Matt's shock. [PA]
Ok, it's getting closer and closer to cake time, so it's time to scoop up (and pose with) Daisy. [JA]
Speaking of which, here is the cake, expertly crafted by Rosie from work (aka Jewel Bakery). This was the only shot that also featured, to the edge of the photo, the other cake (we commissioned an additional, plain, cake to fulfil the requirement to feed the masses). [PR]
There followed a "non-speech" speech (I kept it brief and to the point, not being in the market for unscripted dramatic monologues), some posing for photos and finally, nervously, the cutting of the cake. Luckily I didn't have to cut each cake into 32 pieces. Anyway, posing. [JA]
Daisy, please get your hand away from your mouth... thank you. [PA, although clearly not my handiwork]
Matt was adamant in insisting on cheese and biscuits, which I duly brought out, despite there being reams of food besides. Luckily, we still had a gigantic box of crackers left over from Christmas (and still in fine condition). I also brought out some Branston pickle, 'cos I'm like that. There followed an amusing situation whereby one-of-the-twins Ellie repeatedly approached Nana Sue for some cheese on cracker (amusingly then coming back with cracker still in place for, effectively, just another portion of cheese). [JA]
Daisy and her favourite stacking blocks. They won't last long. [JA]
Lynne and a tiring Daisy. [JA]
The-other-one-of-the-twins Evie has a go at the stacking tower, but doesn't quite have it in the right order (the bright green number 7 should go in between the olive green number 8 and the light blue number 6). [PA]
It's not often you get two ex-RBS/Natwest Grahams in the same room, in this case sharing war stories (and golden handshake details), so it was well worth taking a shot. They share a lot of traits (not just names). Now is it the way The Bank trains (indoctrinates) you, or do you have to be a certain type of person to work for The Bank? [PA]
Matt and I worship the god of beer. [PA, but not taken by me, obviously]
Mark and Jordan seem a little bored watching the Man Utd vs Spurs game; so much so that Mark reads one of Daisy's books. [PA]
And Katie is bored watching them. [PA]
The day took a sinister turn (what did I say about Minnie Mouse before?) as Uncle Graham demonstrated that he had not yet thought through his ventriloquist act. [PA]
And finally, time for some pre-bedtime stories - here, the Gruffalo. [PA, but not...]
And that was that. The partying continued into the late afternoon as we tried (in vain) to eat all the food that was left over.
Thanks to all who came for a memorable day. The full list:
Paul, Lynne, Daisy, Avis, Graham, Louise, Paul, Betty, John, Fiona, Jack, Louise, Peter, Sarah, Gareth, Henry, Bella, Laura, Sue, Jonathan, Matt, Nic, Katie, Jordan, Graham, Janet, Mark, Judy, Jim, Debbie, Simon, Imogen, Abigail, Anthony, Jordan, Lily, Suze, Rick, Evie, Ellie, Nic, Claire, Rachel, Dave, Dan, Fran, Caroline, Michelle, Ben, Paul, Vicky, James, Katie, Jessica, Rob, Dave, Edyta, Liam, Kath, Rachel, Adam, Doylie, Eddie, Sinead
Back to the Portal (or see her second year).
Actually, that's not the end. There was also the small matter of her actual birthday, two days later on the Tuesday. The generosity of people was immense. This is the stack of presents that we had to open.
Daisy was dressed up nicely for her birthday...
...and she tucked into the unwrapping, albeit with a bit of uncertainty (we're not normally in favour of her ripping paper).
Uncle Matt and Auntie Nic had got her a number of presents including this fetching rabbit hat...
...and this! An Oldham strip - her first and, more importantly, before Grandad Graham has had chance to buy one (not that he wasn't impressed - he was). There were matching shorts too.
More present action..
...and more. Come on, that hen is nearly in!
Someone had bought her a big dog, which she duly petted.
And finally, to give an idea of just how generous people were, whilst Lynne was out and Daisy was asleep (I had taken her birthday off work - and the preceding day to recover from the party in fact), I arranged the presents for one big shot.
That is now the end. You may now move on to the second year.