The combined COVID birthday party

Being that my girls’ birthdays are six weeks apart, I figured eventually we’d combine them at some point, especially if we were going to do something bigger or have it outside. I sure wasn’t planning on combining them for Emelia’s first birthday. I wrestled with this a lot over the last few months, actually wondering if there was going to be a party at all. Coming from infertility, or rather my psychotic neurotic infertility trauma/bullshit/insanity history, and that this would be my last miracle baby, I wanted her to have the day to herself. Obvi she will have no recollection of it. It’s all for us. Or me, rather. It’s all about me. And I know that despite the craziness of the day, Olivia’s first birthday will be something I always cherish.

This will definitely be a birthday I will never forget. But Olivia, God love her, kept me so good and distracted, that I feel like I didn’t get to fully embrace the oneness of my littlest girl. Still. It was a great day. It was about 50 degrees out, which is why we moved the party from the backyard to the garage, but there was no rain, a little bit of sun, and lots of hot cider and coffee. Truly, it was a great birthday, even if I didn’t get to invite all the people I wanted.

We kept things simple and as contactless as possible with a Costco cake and Costco pizzas. Unfortunately, we were missing a few people, including my parents, who had to miss it due to pending COVID results. That was hard, not having them there for the party. Especially since it was Emelia’s First Birthday. I know I’m weird about the first birthday thing, but man. That was hard.

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One of the things I did that I swore I would never do was get a bounce house. Initially, we were going to have seven little cousins, but three were out due to what else? COVID stuff, but I wanted something to occupy them since we’d normally be in the house playing with toys.

But the bounce house didn’t disappoint. The company, who was phenomenal, came out Friday for some complimentary extra time, and Olivia and Emelia were fascinated with the setup process. We got out, the three of us, that day for some bounce time.

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Chris and I decorated the garage that night, with Olivia following around with the tape for me. I think we transformed it into a pretty good party room.

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Saturday morning, I let them each open two presents from us. Olivia got Moana and Elena of Avalor dress-up clothes, and a vanity, something she had been wanting for a long time. Emelia got a little car with people and her own ride on train car thing. She looooooved riding on it while we pushed her around.

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We had 20 people at the party that afternoon, including us, and Olivia had her three little girl cousins all in the bounce house the whole time. Emelia thought eating pizza was the greatest thing ever until she had cake and that was then the new greatest thing ever. I found the decorations from Olivia’s first birthday to go around her high chair.

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We sang Happy Birthday to both of them, and I tried to get photos of them both. We didn’t blow out candles because my brain was mush and it didn’t even occur to me.

My sister helped me take photos, which was mass chaos, trying to focus on two kids. Emelia got a bunch of books, some Duplos, toys, and baby doll stuff. Olivia got some art and dress up things, books, puzzle, a game, and dolls, including Jasmine and Jafar. She got a Squishmallow and now they each have one since Emelia got one from a friend of mine when she was born.

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I had so much anxiety over this party, from the fear people wouldn’t be able to come, to rain, to the cold, to one of us getting sick. I feel like once the party started, I was finally able to relax and really enjoy it. People wore masks, Olivia ran around with hand sanitizer, and the bounce house got its full use. It was a great party, even if it wasn’t the way I thought it would be.

Afterward, we Skyped with my parents so they could watch the kids open the presents from them. Olivia got a bunch of craft kits from them, and Emelia got a couch just like her big sister, and her own Stella doll.

Later, Chris and I high-fived and ate another piece of cake for pulling off a combined COVID birthday party. The bounce house was taken down the next afternoon, after Olivia spent more time bouncing in it, only this time with snow pants since it was 35 degrees in the morning.

I have an (almost) one-year-old and an (almost) five-year-old. I know Emelia won’t have any memories of this day, but it was definitely something we’ll never forget.