HI everyone,
We had the privilege of getting to attend a very special birthday party for the little girl who was born to Sandra and Richie last year. I showed pictures of Sandra’s baby shower in April of 2024.
Well, Ruah (Roo-ah) was born a year ago and it was time for her first birthday party. In India, the first birthday is very special and there are all kinds of ways they celebrate it… Her party was over the top and I just wanted to share a little bit of it with you. My life has been so busy lately, it’s a good thing I’ve had something to take pictures of, or else we’d be doing questions from me.
I think there must have been 60 or 70 people packed into the church basement because we didn’t have much room to move once we found a seat. It was wonderfully decorated in PINK, PINK and MORE PINK! Ruah was the star and did she ever shine! She is quite the miracle baby as Sandra and Richie tried for 10 years to get pregnant. There were so many ups and downs, but, in the end, a wonderful little girl was born. She is an absolute, and I mean an ABSOLUTE doll! You’ll see.
Here they are telling the story about how Ruah finally arrived!
Everyone was crowded around the couch where Ruah was sitting when we first arrived. It was like a super model photo shoot, as pictures were being snapped left and right.
She has SO many cute expressions she makes with her face… here are a few…
When Sandra was carrying her around, I snapped this picture of Ruah trying to get this balloon.
Her first bite of cake icing… one from mom and then one from dad.
There was lots of Indian food that Sandra had prepared herself. I was on the other side of the room so I didn’t get pictures of the food spread. It was laid out on 2 or 3 eight foot tables.
We were there for 2 1/2 hours helping Ruah celebrate her special day…
Okay, so I told there’d be some sewing in today’s post… I bet you’re wondering where it is…
Well, as we were coming home from church Sunday afternoon, (the party was at 6:00 Sunday evening) I felt I wanted to make Ruah a new dress as my gift to her. I hadn’t sewn anything for a baby/toddler in a very long time. I can’t even remember what was the last thing I made in a size 24 months. That was the size I decided on. She’s just wearing 12 months now, but I decided to make something that will fit her maybe next Spring or even into the Fall, with a blouse or turtleneck underneath. She has such pretty skin and that coal black hair would look good with something in the bright jewel tone colors. Even in the car, I was thinking of this one certain fabric I’ve had for years and didn’t know what to make from it. Well, I decided Ruah would get a dress using it.
I used just a simple jumper pattern that had a 3 button front closure with a placket just below the opening to make it a little easier to get on. I lined the bodice with a pink and white check and put one of my old labels in it. Then I double topstitched the armholes and neckline areas. It made up really nicely and I was really liking how it turned out.
It was 25 till 6:00 and I was still working on it, when my hubby stepped into my sewing room and said, “Are you going to be able get it finished in time?” I said, “the party starts at 6:30, right?” He said, “No, it starts at 6:00!”EEK! So I hurried up with what I was doing, cut out a hair bow, stitched it in a 5” or so rectangle, pressed it flat, folded that in half, threaded a needle and ran a gathering stitch up the fold of the bow, left the needle dangling on the bow, grabbed a pair of small scissors, a ribbon, a hair snap clip, a business card with a hole punched in the corner, a stack of tissue paper, a pink and white flowered gift bag from upstairs, changed my clothes, ran a brush through my hair and met my hubby in the car, which he had backed out of the garage.
Whew… I somehow made it and it was 5 till 6:00. We might be 5 minutes late, but not too bad.
On the way to the church, I finished gathering up the hairbow, sewed the snap clip to the back and made it as neat as I could. Then I took the pink ribbon I had brought along, threaded it through the hole of my business card, and clipped the hairbow to it. Then I stitched the ribbon to the inside of the armhole, so it sort of dangled outside the dress. I wrapped it up in some tissue paper and stuffed it into the gift bag.
As we got to the parking lot of the church, I said, “Oh no… I forgot to take any pictures of the dress to show my blog ladies!” So my hubby said, take it out of the bag and take a picture of it. I said, “no, it’s okay, I’ve already got it in the tissue paper.” He insisted I take it out to take a picture, so here it is, him holding it up against the dashboard, while I snapped a few pictures.
Isn’t this just the most fabulous hot pink fabric ever. There is no name on the selvage so I have no idea who it’s from. I know it came from Hobby Lobby years ago. I also have it in blue, but Ruah needed the pink.
…and one more just because…
Whew… my caper was almost as good as some of Joy’s! Well… maybe… :o)
So that’s my first experience with a little Indian girl’s first birthday party!
I will see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
OH, my, what a beautiful little girl Ruah is! And, as you said, a real miracle baby. The party looked really festive, with all the lovely decorations and all.
And that little dress is just adorable, Jeanne! That was really cutting it close to the wire, though, when it came to finishing. I have been known to sew buttons on in the car on the way to the airport, on a jacket I was planning to wear on the plane! I do think we are cut from the same cloth, so to speak!
Today I “dug” a little more. Culled a few of my sewing books this time. I also got one of the small quilts layered and pinned together.
I was going to wait a bit to write, but after seeing this, I just HAD to jump in! Oh my, what a beautiful little girl Ruah is! Those darling black curls, her beautiful dark eyes and those cute little teeth in the last picture of her smiling! She certainly does show off PINK well, and that jumper you made for her really fits the bill!
Your story about last minute sewing reminds me of the days when I had my last minute sewing too! Always for the holidays, it seems! Nothing like having a family get together at your house, and still sewing clothes for it the day before! I’ve been there!
Ruah’s parents are so lucky to get a beautiful baby like that, after waiting for 10 whole years! What a lucky little girl and lucky parents too!
Working backwards from today to yesterday, Ruah does, indeed, look like a real doll in a toy catalog! She’s perfect and so beautiful! First birthdays are such a cause for celebration because in the now distant past, the first year of life was so difficult to survive. Your colorful choice of fabric for her dress and the size are perfect. What a lovely gift from the heart and the hands.
That was an amazing bridal shower. The cake caper is a scream! You and George are certainly the living examples of a wonderful marriage. You are so inventive when presented with challenges that I think you could easily write a book. Let’s think of titles for Jeanne’s How-To book. It would cover everything from mending inflatable pools to next to impossible alterations.
What a fun birthday for Ruah. She looks a little overwhelmed, but I’m sure she had a delightful time. The outfit that Jeanne made for her is perfect. Love the colors and the last minute wrapping and unwrapping just for us was so kind of Jeanne and George. I’m so glad that we were able to see it.
Finally, I was able to get back to doing some more yard work late yesterday. Didn’t see any yellow jackets, but we know there is another nest as they appear on the deck when I give Callie Cat her food. I understand that they nest close to a food source. So, I’ll be on the lookout. Other person managed to nab a couple with his trusty fly swatter. He’s brave. He makes a concoction of cat food and water and waits until one lands, then whack. 🙂 One unfortunate yellow jacket managed to land in the water and was swimming around for awhile. In years past, other person has been able to whack up to 30, I think is the record. So much for the latest pest report.
Heavy fog this morning. Deck is even wet. I thought it had rained, but it was just fog. We’ll see if we can get some more cutting done while it is cool today.
Take care everyone.
I had an appointment with my pain doc yesterday in Savannah and we got home so late I just flopped in my recliner chair and took a nap. The doc says
It is a pinched nerve that had become worse that is causing the pain. I get a shot on Friday, 2 days after my birthday! What a nice gift, LOL. I hope it works.
Jeanne I did check out the wedding shower, what I lovely party! The towel “cake” was amazing! I would have thought it was edible if you haven’t told us.
Such a lovely bride! The cake story is a real “Jeanne and George” job, and as always came out perfectly. You two are a fabulous pair.
Oh, I would love to hold that sweet Ruha! What a special child! Thank you so much for the photos! I hope her mom will send a photo of her when she can wear your gorgeous dress!
Well, at least the pain meds aren’t going to be on your birthday! Glad they figured it out and hope the shot works quickly when you get it.
Ruah is indeed a sweetheart and I’m sure her parents are overjoyed after waiting ten long years for her. It looks like a delightful and special party.
A lovely jumper you made for her and I hope we see a photo of her wearing it.
That dress BEEyoutiful! Jeanne you’ve outdone yourself! I will be so happy to see her wear it and know the back story!!!🥰
I’m not sure I would have tried to make the dress in such a short time but kudos to you for being brave enough to do that. I love the fabric. I like simple pattens when the fabric is like this one. I would love to see it in the blue too.
What a fun birthday party. And what a beautiful child. I know Sandra and Richie feel truly blessed after such a long wait. My daughter and son-in-law were married twelve years when our grandson Anderson was born. We never asked why. Any questions around that were not welcome so we just left it alone. But we were glad when Anderson was born and so were they, so we think maybe it wasn’t a choice to wait that long.
Ooops, I am late on arrival. I opened your blog and saved the page, then ran out of the house to go to the old house to get stuff, and fold up the draperies etc I had removed the day before. I am gonna give them to the Blue Ridge Hospice charity in a few weeks.
So, all of that scuttling around and then home again to get more stuff into the house and and and just doing stuff, wow it is hot and humid here in Northern Virginia 25 miles west of the swamp.
Jeanne, I love this dress. It is a treasure.
What a fun party. I have a few friends from India. Their food is interesting. 🤔😊
I hope all of you are having a spiff day!
OH! and Ruah and her family are just the sweetest. Thank you for sharing these precious photos, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, first thanks to George for holding the dress so we could see it. It is lovely.
Ruah is adorable. She looked very happy to be sharing her birthday with so many people.
Ruah is a doll, ans so are you for all the work you do to make other lives more special.