Rauf is 2!

After bouncing off ideas on how to have his birthday party this year, we decided to cancel it and have makan makan with our families instead. As much as I was tempted to have a  petting zoo and a pool party and people dressed up as Big Bird and Elmo and a luxurious desert spread for this birthday with a gigantic backdrop that said ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAUF’, I brought myself back down to earth and asked ‘who are you really doing this for’ and the realisation that ‘you can go on a holiday with the amount your planning to spend on the party’.

I was still not convinced that calling off the party was the best idea because what kind of mom would I be for not celebrating my son’s birthday …right? Until my friend/event planner Nash, said to me ‘ Rauf will have a wonderful birthday regardless a huge party or simple cake cutting cos as long as he has his mommy and family, its all the love he needs’.

The moment I read that from someone who curate beautiful celebrations for a living (check out Helium & Konfetti), I knew it was the right thing to do. Rauf only needs to be with those who love him.

I guess it was a blessing in disguise that our family couldn’t be in KL at the same time, so we just celebrated separately. No complaints from Rauf, he had plenty of cake and presents to be happy about.

To my aunt’s (and everyone’s) delight, he loved his new musical instrument. He kept counting ‘1,2,3’ loudly before banging the drums everywhere all at the same time.

He even argued with Joe to have his new drumset in our room. After negotiating with the 2 year old, we lost and our ears never felt number.

Since my uncle and cousin were back from Jakarta, we celebrated with my side of the family at Lisettes, which is a charming little cafe tucked in Bangsar.

It was a beautiful coincidence that my in laws were heading to KL after a wedding in Johor that weekend, so we got to catch up and celebrated his birthday with them too.

But I have to say, the best part about Rauf’s birthday this year was the trip my cousins and I made to Superpark at Avenue K.  It’s a play gym that BOTH children and adult can enjoy. I heard the idea of the park came from a dad who was frustrated that he couldn’t really fit into his daughter’s Jungle Gym, which he felt obliged to go in because his daughter wanted to play with him. All I have to say is this park is amazing and so fun!

I was just so grateful because I don’t think my cousins and I had the opportunity to play with each other growing up because our age gaps. So being at the place where everyone can pretend to be the same age WITH Rauf was absolutely priceless.

After celebrating for his birthday from what I felt like the 50th time, I took Rauf out to the backyard and played bubbles with him. Seeing him so happy and running freely felt rewarding. As a mom you’d want your children to have everything, but when Rauf  hugged me out of the blue and said thank you repetitively,  I realised that we are enough. We’re it. I hope one day he knows that no matter how he chooses to live his life, as long as he is safe and happy, that’s enough for me too.

To the biggest amanah in my life, Happy 2nd birthday sayang, we love you so so much.