The Baby's birthday party cake was very nearly a total failure. We used two boxes of gluten-free cake mix in a bundt cake pan and the cake ended up having very little height - Barbie looked like she was standing in a knee-high inner tube when we experimentally stood her in the center. The kids went rummaging through the giant bin of Barbies for another victim, rejecting the idea of using Barbie's baby "sister" - yeah, RIGHT, Barbie - and finally settling on a forgotten doll from the Madeline series, bought several years ago when I was idealistic about keeping Barbie out of my house and almost immediately discarded by The Girl.
But look! Now she's having her moment of antebellum cake glory, the star - for one day - of the show:
My husband assembled and decorated the cake, carefully icing on little shoulder straps because, as he said, strapless dresses are just inappropriate on dolls that young. He's a good sport. He also put all of those little doohickies on the cake with TWEEZERS.
I think someone trimmed that doll's bangs at some point.
The Baby had one guest although we'd invited two others but one was out of town and one woke up sick on the day of the party, which is the peril of being a very young kid - you're at the whim of parents' travel schedules and/or the very young's propensity for catching every thing that comes along.
My husband spent the whole party hanging out in the kitchen with this gorgeous thing:
I'd have bugged him about it but a) he HAD spent all morning making that beautiful cake and b) he was making mochachinos for me and my friend, who brought her princess-dress-clad daughter to the party while wearing a lavender bridesmaid's dress and big fuchsia Scarlet O'Hara hat herself, awesomely enough. That kind of sartorial bravery demands a special coffee, I think.
When I told him that Cuisinart was sending me an expresso maker, he just about cried. I think he's generally pretty happy that he married me - or at least he's resigned to it - but in that moment, you could tell that he felt like our marriage was a VERY good idea. And now he spends his weekends making us high octane coffee drinks, which is a pretty excellent thing to do on a sleepy Sunday.
And then The Baby blew out her birthday candles before we finished singing Happy Birthday, before I had a chance to get the cake over to her side of the table, looking suddenly so much older in her party dress and fancy ponytail, this suddenly big girl eager for cake and wishes and fun with friends.
Now I have exactly one week to catch my breath before starting all of this over again with The Girl, this ridiculous sugary extravagance that says the same simple thing every year - oh, we are so very, very happy to have you, our blessings, our children.
i think your friend is awesome for dressing up like that!!
and one time i made a barbie bride cake for an informal wedding a friend had.
and, dude, i SO want one of those coffee gadgets!!!
Well, I'm not sure who had the better birthday, the Baby, with that very adorable cake made be her loving daddy, or YOU with your new gift from Cuisinart and coffee drinks made by your loving husband!
That cake is so pretty!
Is Cuisinart going to give you a new kitchen to hold all your wonderful toys? Although, this one does not make me as jealous as some of the others since I don't drink coffee. But I have several friends and siblings who are drooling.
Looks like a great party. I am impressed with the pattern on the dress/cake. And congrats to your husband on the expresso maker.
Oh my goodness that cake is so cute. Your hubby is a great Butler if you know what I mean. Well done to the Baby's daddy.
And your new toy is lovely. And oh so practical for those sleepy weekends. If you ever get a chance to have one ... a sleepy weekend that is.
Another great post, Beck!!
Oh, my God. An espresso maker. I am truly jealous now. The mixer was one thing, but this, this... (lays head on table and weeps)
That cake is splendid. What a gem of a husband you have.
i love that doll! seems so serendipitous--the barbie cake would surely have been fab, but that friendly little doll seems so chummy and real. nice work, casa beck!
love the cake!
and the espresso maker! gah! amazing!
Sounds like she had a great time. I love the cake.
Wow, I wish i could get them to send me an espresso maker!
Well, I know who I posted today's post for over at my site!
The birthday cake is lovely right down to her precious modesty straps. I love that!
As a kid, I thought birthdays were all about me.
As a parent, I think my kids birthdays are all about how much I love them.
(Hmmm. I see a theme there.)
Beautiful cake. But your children are even more breath-taking.
You and your husband are unbelieveable creatures! That cake could win you an award!!!
Brilliant!
Wow to all of it! Your hus is a KEEPER! Your big girl is a beauty, and your friend totally rocks!
Amazing! Absolutely amazing!
The cake is beatiful! I'm very impressed that the husband used tweezers! What a very masculine-ly strong man he is.
The Baby is gorgeous.
The new gadget is fantastic!
Your friend rocks. I'd like to see a picture of them myself. :)
What a wonderful intimate birthday party for the Baby. Can't wait to see what's in store for the Girl.
Thanks for sharing!
I love your version of the doll cake! So much more age-appropriate than a top-heavy lady in her mid-twenties!
I'm VERY impressed that your husband used tweezers! What dedication!
I like that doll sooo much better than Barbie. How cute!
What a great cake. That doll looks so much better than Barbie!
What an adorable cake! I like it even better without Barbie's boobs hanging out over the top, y/k? And, that coffee machine? There must be a way to just lie underneath it and let the coffee drip directly into your mouth. Mmmmmmmmmm. . .
That is one excellent cake. And that espresso maker, well, beyond words! My husband would spend all his time with it too!
That is an AMAZING cake! And I could use a high-octane drink right this second as I got up at 5:30 am to exercise!
What a fun birthday and kudos to Hubby for an awesome cake. The Baby is getting so big and in these pictures she looks way too mature!
seriously brought a tear to my eye.
tweezers? husband of the year!
My husband and I begin every day with three shots of espresso. We vibrate til 11 then crash and burn and must get our next fix. We know nothing of moderation.
Lovely cake. Cute kids. AWESOME friend! She dressed up? Good for her!
Oh I am so jealous of that espresso machine! What a beautiful one. We love espresso round here.
The cake is pretty great too ;) I totally agree with your husband about the necessity of straps, too.
I don't know if it was the gluten free thing or not. I had the same problem with my daughter's Barbie cake years ago. I think that I broke off her legs. I like Madeline waaay better.
The cake is so cute! I do agree that strapless would be déclassé for such a young doll.
And how lovely is your (no longer a) Baby??
Sister walked through here while I was reading your post and now MUST HAVE that cake for her birthday party... in several months. I don't blame her. It's adorable!!!
Wow - your husband is your very own baker and barista! It doesn't get much better than that! ; )
Ooo the cake was perfect!!! Look at your baby! Precious! Totally.
oh that cake! that cutie! Somtimes I do very badly want a girl.
Perfect. Just perfect. Our girlies should have partied together this weekend! Espresso - yummy!!!!!
Thanks for sharing. Have a great week.
Perfect. Just perfect. Our girlies should have partied together this weekend! Espresso - yummy!!!!!
Thanks for sharing. Have a great week.
What a darling cake! Happy birthday, Baby!
I have to say, that doll is much cuter than a Barbie cake:) And what a hubby to decorate like that:)
Oh and if I'm ever up in Canada, can I stop by for a mochachinos? Sounds yummy:)
Whoa! That cake is fabulous! Not quite as fabulous as the espresso machine mind you, but really, that is one talented husband you found yourself!
I love the bangs on that baby.
Lovely cake for a lovely girl. Kudos to the family.
Oh! What a sweet cake. I'm sure it tasted delish, too. Happy Birthday, Baby! Your mama sure does love you...
(And, um, I'D marry you for that espresso maker, hon.)
Beautiful cake, baby and machine. I love how poised and graceful the Baby looks in her dress and ponytail. And I love that everything's pink. Pink is perfect for her.
M
Well I think your friend sounds just delightful! Purple bridesmaid dress-turned princess gown. That's fantastic!
Your baby has morphed. Funny how it happens. The term 'overnight' comes to mind, no matter how cliche.
Congrats to you. Birthdays are really something to celebrate. Really.
That cake is amazing--really and truly!!!
And I wish I'D married you--that coffee maker is making me drool.
i love the cake! so sweet, and the trimmed bangs on the doll makes it all the more endearing. Kudos to your husband!
Your husband makes the best cakes. You could have him do that for a side income...
You are so lucky about this Cuisinart stuff. Do you have the Cuisinart mixer commercials in Canada? They are SO cheesey!!!
That cake made me smile.
I made a Barbie cake for The Girl on year when she was 4 yo. She still remembers it. Oh man. It was totally worth the effort.
Dude, you've got to tell me how to get on the Cuisinart deal. We have their coffee maker and it's the best think I've ever had in my kitchen. (That's including when Mr. Right is in there too.)
Birthday blessings to the The Baby who's not a baby anymore.
Love the cake! Happy, happy birthday, Baby.
I remember having bangs exactly like that doll's!!! The cake is beautiful!! I admire your hubby's talent!! And what a cool friend you have to come dressed so appropriately for a princess's party!! It's great the way you make every occasion so special for your family.
I love the cake and am sooo impressed that your husband is so savvy about strapless dresses and sprinkle placement.
And how awesome to get a swanky new coffee maker!!
That cake is amazing and WAY better than one with a Barbie in it. Barbie is so old school.
Your hubbie and the espresso machine are amazing too.
Love the cake! I have been doing test runs of a beach/under the sea cake for an upcoming bday party and it's soooo much fun!
That cake is fabulous!!!! Wow!
the cake is great! what a neat idea.