They say that time goes by faster as you get older, but I am only 31!  If it gets any faster, I am in some serious trouble!!  I think my problem is not just age related...it is kid related.  Being a mom of young children warps time in a whole new way, especially the more you have!

It was after we had number four that I realized time was moving at an extraordinary rate.  I thought about it and Melina is now 16 months old and I never wrote about her first birthday!!  (A first or second time mom would NEVER have done that!)  :)  Here she is on her birthday last September.  Wow, she has already changed since then!  (That is a NUBY BPA FREE No Spill Sippy Cup !)

The typical first birthday tradition (as I have always known it) is a big family party with chocolate cake and chocolate icing.  Then the baby gets one all to himself, just for the pictures and fun memories!  This summer during our trip to Texas, we got to spend lots of time with my family.  My sister, Michelle, has a baby just one month older than Melina.  We had a big party on Avery's birthday in celebration for both girls.  Avery (in this picture) got her own chocolate cupcake. 

No, I am not writing this to say how bad my sister is!!  :)  She even said I could use Avery's picture...she's a great big Sis!  I do have a point to make, though!  We had a great time together as a family with no one getting upset. (That is, I didn't get upset about the pressure to give Melina some some cake, and my family didn't get upset about me not letting Melina have it.  At least not seriously, they did pout a little - but all in fun).  The choice to eat a raw food diet does not have to be a struggle around others who don't.  I admit that I did have a small internal struggle about doubting myself and my choices...but very small. 

When we were back at home in Austria and celebrated Melina's birthday, I made a raw blueberry "cheesecake".  It was based on the recipe from Alissa Cohen's book, "Living on Live Food."  I blended the blueberries into the cheesecake mixture instead of leaving them whole.  At one year, Melina did not like mixed textures (smooth and chunky together).  It had an almond date crumb crust.

Since Melina had not yet eaten such a heavy food, I left out the crust for her and gave her a bowl of the filling to dig in to.  And did she ever!  She got as much on her as in her, but that is what we were hoping for, wasn't it?  We got to enjoy the first birthday messy cake just like everyone else, but we just missed the big family gathering over here.  If only I had this idea back then!

So, a little belated, but cute as ever!