A Very Merry UnBirthday to You.

My son turned 18 months old last week and I asked myself, "Where in the world did the time go?" and "How did he grow up so fast?"

No longer the peaceful infant I once brought home, he's now walking... nay, RUNNING everywhere. He can point to his chin, ears, and abs upon request. He's developed a wily sense of humor and an apt for trickery, while looking both cute and grown-up at the same time...

...and guess who keeps him feed, diapered, and entertained?

18 months is as much a milestone for me as it is for him, so I decided to throw us... er, him a "1/2 birthday party" (as seen in Parents magazine this month) complete with cake and presents!

No big blow-out à la the first birthday party. I planned to bake a cake (just like the photo in the magazine), but it was going to be simple, simple, simple.

Well, it so happens that my son's BFF is only a week younger than him, so I approached his mom with the idea of having party for the two of them and JUST the two of them. When I first mentioned it to her, she kind of snorted and told me that it was a silly idea. A week later, she was totally on board and we found ourselves at the store purchasing ingredients, because I'm convincing like that...

Likewise, my friend convinced me to do cupcakes instead of a cake, so the kids could have their own little cakes to mash and we'd could have some "pretty ones" for photos. Perfect idea!

So, I bought the cake mix. She picked out the decorations, and we agreed to meet at my house the next morning for a baking-playdate-extravaganza.

In my mind, I envisioned the kids happily entertaining one another, while my friend and I chit-chatted over rows upon rows of perfectly decorated cupcakes...

Yeah, I really should have known better by now.

Not missing a move, the kids positively insisted on "helping" us spoon the batter into the muffin trays. They loved stirring the batter with wooden spoons and watched in awe when I whipped out the hand mixer.

Of course, once that rich cupcakes smell wafted into the living room there was no keeping the babies (or the mommies) out of the kitchen.

In a frivolous moment, we thought how FUN it would be to let the boys decorate their own cupcakes with sprinkles...

Do I even have to tell you that those colorful little bits ended up every which way BUT on the cupcakes?

Both boys looked at me in utter shock and disbelief when I handed each of them their very OWN bowl of sprinkles, because who really wants to share on their birthday... even if it's only a "1/2 birthday"...

"Mommy, are you really going to let this happen? ...in the house? ...right in front of you? "

"Yes, son and son's BFF, I am. Happy 1/2 birthday! Live it up!"

Given certain obvious precautions regarding the oven and hot metal trays, baking turned out to be a PERFECT activity to do with two toddlers. Neither one of us would have considered it on my own being that we're so used to shooing our sons out of the kitchen.

What can I say? A little peer pressure goes a long way.

Besides, the sugar-crazed joy and admiration in their messy little faces made it well-worth the clean-up... even if it took all afternoon.

I'm still finding those little buggers on the kitchen floor.... FOUR DAYS LATER. (The sprinkles, not the kids...)

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