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My Birthday: Blessed with the Best

I can’t quite believe I’ve turned 35. Thirty Five. As in MID-thirties. Half way to 40. 

I feel like I really have to be an adult now.

Sometimes I even feel like I’m 6 years old playing “Adult, adult.”

Honestly, I feel like I’m 26.

However, while I do gulp at getting older wiser I do see it as a privilege. How lucky to be alive for another year when some people don’t make it to this age at all. Lately I’ve been hearing too many tragic stories of young people losing their lives, so I want to always celebrate my birthday and celebrate the privilege of life.

I must admit my birthday snuck up on me this year. I feel like I just took the Christmas tree down and feel like it should only be January now and not February already.

It was awesome having my birthday on a weekend so that I could spend the full day with my family and friends.

On the 3rd of February, I decided to send out a broadcast Whatsapp message to some friends to see who could make a last minute birthday breakfast on my actual birthday, Sunday the 4th February.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people were able to make it. It made me feel very special and loved. *Blush*

Before we get into my party, out of all the birthday gifts I was spoiled with, this was by far my best gift… Georgie falling asleep for his morning nap on my chest. He doesn’t do that anymore because he just tries to do “tummy time” on me and his strong little neck does not nuzzle into me anymore.  If I had known how short-lived the newborn phase was I would have treasured it more. Now I understand why people say: Enjoy the newborn phase because it is actually one of the easiest and it really does pass by. However, as a first time Mom, it doesn’t feel easy at all… it’s only as they grow, do you realise it was true.

His nap gave me an opportunity to get out of my PJs and get ready for the party…

Oh and for pure transparency… I totally forgot to wipe my eye make up off the night before – #momlife, but what a happy accident, because when Sox took these pics in my PJs, I didn’t feel so morning-monster-like.

Sox was the sweetest in arranging the breakfast at Cafe Caprice – he organised something for everyone… platters of cinnamon French toast and bacon, little pots of fruit, yoghurt and muesli, scrambled egg and Eggs Benedict on smoked salmon and fresh crumpets (which you could remove if doing no carbs.) Funny enough I didn’t take pics of my food options – the eggs/eggs Benedict.

It also turned out to be the most perfect day of weather too – blue sky, sunny and not a breath of wind, which makes the choice of Cafe Caprice, right on Camps Bay Beach the best spot.

Amanda and Chelsea have become 2 of my very close friends – we met at Antenatal class and have become so close ever since our babies were born, with 4 days (Amanda’s Demi) and 2 weeks (Chelsea’s Max) apart from Georgie. These girls have been unbelievable support as we navigate motherhood and I don’t know what I would do without them. They have wicked sense of humours and the biggest hearts too.

Angel is a wonderful friend I met at 2Oceansvibe radio. She is witty, hilarious (and not just because she is a comedian) and has the prettiest dresses 😉 I always comment on her dresses (and have even online shopped to get the same one. See? She’s so cool she doesn’t even mind my copying her.

Georgina (in the yellow) is a friend who oozes beautiful confidence and it’s one of her most incredible traits that I admire so much – she reminds me to own my space and be comfortable in my own skin. Martine has a heart of gold and is always there for her all her friends. 

Sally is the sweetest and whenever she invites you to dinner, she puts on a spread that could rival any Michelin Starred restaurant. 

Here is Concetta, who goes out of her way to make everyone feel special. Concetta’s hubby, Paul has motivated me from the minute I moved to Cape Town with Sweat 1000 and I couldn’t be more grateful to him and his brother, Andrew. They continue to support me and motivate me. Their boys Zach and Sam love to tease Sox about soccer and their differences in teams, and they love little Georgie. My heart melts when I see the boys fuss over him. 

Yaron is someone you’d call a Mensch! I have the biggest soft spot for this guy. I met him at the same time I met Sox, and he has made me laugh so much and also think a lot about the things that he writes about on Facebook, with his incredible posts. This man has a talent for writing and he makes a good coffee – thank you for the Hard Pressed days and I’m so excited to see you excel at your new venture.

I call Sox’s Goddaughter, Sloane, “Pure Sunshine.” She has a smile that can light up a city and a personality to boot. I love her as if she were my own! 

Marc is one of Sox’s best friends and has become one of my best guy friends too. He is the man that we can always count on. He’s the person I would call if Sox were out of town and I needed help with something. I really value his opinion, his friendship and his “our home is always open” policy.   Their youngest daughter Charlie has the most incredible blue eyes I have ever seen. You know that saying “you could get lost in her eyes” … I think it was created about her! She has such fire in her personality – in the best possible way and when she takes my hand in hers and wants me to go wherever she goes, I melt! I love her so much! 

Here is Kim… Marc’s wife and Mom to Sloane and Charlie. She wasn’t able to be at my party because I arranged it so late and she couldn’t get off work. BUT, I wanted to mention her because she has become such a good friend of mine. She is one of those girls who doesn’t realise how beautiful she truly is and inspires a lot of us in the way she handles being a Mom to two and having a career. We share a big love for beauty products and I think she is the queen of face masks. I’ll also never forget how she calmed me (and George) down when he was 2 months old and screaming blue murder. I didn’t know what was wrong, Sox was at work and she answered my phone call and talked me through how to get him to stop crying (and got me to stop crying too.)

 

Kate is a new friend (someone I met through Laura), and I’m so glad I did. She is thoughtful and kind and wonderfully talented. She owns the clothing label Kate Jordan and made the dress that I’m wearing at my party (my birthday gift.) Every piece she makes I have to have!  Her little boys Cole and Cayden are just the sweetest too.

None of the photos of Julie, Hunter and I came out nicely (all blurred)… so I stole one off her Facebook page. Julie, is full of life and happiness! She’s such a delight to have around!

Here is my family… my first birthday as a Mother and I could cry I’m so happy.

This husband of mine… Gosh I hit the jackpot. He loves me unconditionally, is my biggest cheerleader, calls me out on things – which I hate, but love and continues to support and push me to be the best version of myself. I fall in love with him daily. Gah… it’s so hard not to be soppy about him.

Dani is superwoman. I don’t know how she does it, but she is incredible. She now has 3 boys (her newest one, Zac is 7 weeks older than George) and while we don’t always get to see them as often, when we do, we always have a great time together!  I love that we get to raise our babies together… she’s even joined me in the “Mommy and Me” class we do on a Wednesday, which I really appreciate.

Dave is another one of Sox’s best friends. He makes us laugh so much and is always so accommodating. He owns Cafe Caprice and put together a whole section for me, for the last minute breakfast party. He’s known for loving his food (chicken and lamb especially.) He often remind me of how I stormed off the “court” at the Caprice Volleyball Beach day about 6 years ago. He was mocking me and I wasn’t in the mood for it. It seems so silly now and we laugh about it all the time – especially because I’m not the “storming off” kind of person. 

Natalie is my larger than life friend who’s attention to detail is awe inspiring. She should have been an events planner because the parties and dinners she throws make Pinterest inspiration boards look like childs play. She is always thoughtful and has a unique way to make you feel very special.

Here is her little boy Pano, giving me a handpicked flower. I mean!!

Shannon, is Marc’s sister and she popped into wish me, which was so sweet! She always smiles – what a great trait to have!

Jarrad and Sarah are very special to me. Jarrad and I lived together for my first year in Cape Town… we were house mates and shared a big apartment (yet I had the teeny tiniest bedroom ever) with a killer view in Sea Point. Sox eventually asked me to move in with him and I did the following year. It was such fun (except for the kitchen war zone) and I’m so glad I experienced that! Sarah is Jarrad’s better half! Haha! Sarah, I know you’ll love that. Jarrad, you know it’s true! 😉 Sarah has the sweetest soul and just adores Georgie so much, which makes me smile.

Marco is another Mensch… We definitely don’t see him or Aimee enough, but when we do, it’s always a good time! 

Here is another best friend of Sox… Alexi (in the middle) has also become one of my best guy friends. We both share a love for board games and if we are paired together, we make a mean 30 seconds team (depending on how much wine has flowed – haha!) He is all about logic and reminds me to not sweat the small stuff. I appreciate that!

Henry and Sox share a birthday – automatically making him a good guy -haha! Henry is Kate’s husband and I’m really enjoying getting to know him more.

This is Laura… see the love I have for her?

She was one of the first girls I instantly clicked with when I moved down to Cape Town. She is as beautiful inside as she is outside and one of the strongest people I know. She is kind, thoughtful and so accommodating and I really treasure our friendship. She opened her home to me to have my baby shower there and now, she is opening her home again for us to have George’s Christening there. Laura and Alexi have the most magnificent twins – George and Daniela and I met them when they were a few days (weeks?) old… They have a massive place in my heart and I’m known to them as “Uncle Bailey” – haha!

George C, married to Sally, is another great guy who loves good company, good food and good wine. He always makes you feel welcome and doesn’t have a bad bone in his body!

Oh Carmelita, my what-you-see-is-what-you-get darling of a friend. I love that there is no BS with her and she really is like one of the guys. Sox and Carms tease each other relentlessly and she is just one of the cool ones. 

Little Jaxon (Mom is Aimee and Dad is Marco) is always smiling (ironically except in this photo.) We affectionately called him little Buddha for a while and he is the CUTEST!

Let me start with L-R: Maria is the friend I can call up and have such a good time with no matter what we do – dinner, prom walks or a sneaky G&T. We can chat for hours and it always feels too short. Michaela is a sweetheart. She is always so much fun and I really enjoy spending time with her. She always hosts our annual Christmas Party, which is very special.  I funnily enough, tend to leave something at her house no matter what. Kirsty is Niko’s better half – hehe! She really is super kind and I’m enjoying getting to know her better. Aimee is a rockstar. She is so much fun to be around, she has such great no-nonsense advice which I love and appreciate and she is really thoughtful.  Life gets so busy, but it’s a poor excuse and I really want to see these girls more often. 

Niko has a big heart and always willing to help out with anything. He has the biggest love for sneakers (and an impressive sneaker collection.) 

Since I am following the Ketogenic/ Banting Lifestyle, I didn’t arrange a cake. It was a wonderful surprise to see 2 homemade Banting Cheesecakes decorated in candles come out, complete with everyone singing “Happy Birthday!” Jarrad and Sarah had made them and I was beyond impressed.

It’s honestly weird for me to see “35” on the cake… I don’t know why and I’m not ashamed of my age… I’m just a bit shocked, because I feel a lot younger.

Here is my Mother in Law, Dimitra with Yaron. I don’t mean to brag, but I have the best Mother in Law. I love that she has completely accepted me (as a non-Greek) and loves me as if I were her own daughter. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for us and whenever we need her to help us with George (as in pop in quickly to look after him for an hour or 3 as we have meetings/work) it is never a problem. She’s never too busy for us and I appreciate it more than I know how to express.

Oh and I totally get jealous because she seems to be the only person that Georgie will fall asleep on, and nuzzle into her. 

Until he becomes too heavy and then we place him down into his pram, as if we’re dismantling a bomb. Haha. Have you seen that meme?

I truly have been blessed with the best and I am so grateful to each and every one of my friends who makes my life such a happy journey.

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6 Comments

  • Reply Megan Hartwig

    Lovely to read about your birthday. I can see that each and every person mentioned above has a special place in your heart…which is so wonderful 🙂 xx

    February 21, 2018 at 8:49 am
  • Reply Louise Hughes

    Wow what a lovely birthday and you certainly LOOK younger than 35, so no wonder you are shocked to see those numbers on the cake. You are richly blessed in love and friendship, I can see that! How wonderful! Xxxx

    February 21, 2018 at 10:57 am
  • Reply Caley

    What a special post Bails – I love the endless gratitude you have for all your special family and friends. They are truly blessed to be a part of your life too x

    February 21, 2018 at 12:13 pm
  • Reply Tanya

    Great post and it looks like you had a wonderful birthday. You are very blessed to have so many people in your life who love you. Keep the posts coming especially your life lately and mini letters posts. I always love reading them Xxx

    February 22, 2018 at 9:26 am
  • Reply unarca

    Thanks, Mr. Imran, for reading this blog post!

    February 25, 2018 at 8:05 pm
  • Reply Susan K

    Ah what a lovely bunch of people you have in your life ❤️ So nice to see how well you’ve settled into CT and all the support you have. You look genuinely happy!
    And not 35 at all …coming from a FORTY year old, bloody madness
    Enjoy your run up to the 40’s xxxx Happy Bday again x

    February 26, 2018 at 7:58 pm
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