This is how Carolien celebrated her birthday

The birthday joy I experienced as a child does fade a bit with the years. But since Otis came along, those butterflies are completely back. In the morning, I was already awake for an hour and heard them chatting downstairs. I didn't want to ruin anything, so I stayed quietly lying down until I was called: the whole room was decorated with streamers and balloons. Otis immediately started singing ’Happy Birthday‘ while he and Jon put the finishing touches on a homemade apple pie: I could barely hold back my tears... Then I was surprised with a gigantic gift, but I must honestly say: no material thing can compare to the scene I got to witness that morning.

Since my birthday falls rather unfortunately during all the holidays, I always find it difficult to find a good moment to celebrate it. A while ago, I had a photoshoot in the beautiful Mercier hotel, which is truly a ‘hidden gem’ in the heart of the city: I would love to copy/paste the interior into my house. I immediately decided that this year I would celebrate my birthday with a small group at this lovely location. With a beautiful cake from Sweet Cakes, my dearest friends and family, plus eight running kids and a beautiful table filled with snacks and drinks: this is how it's fun to celebrate your birthday.

Otis can barely contain himself every day from unwrapping the presents under the tree. Now I must say that we don't celebrate Christmas in a huge way with dozens of gifts, and especially now that he is consciously experiencing Sinterklaas, I suddenly see from a distance how much happens for such a little one in the month of December. He could just sing along to a few Sint songs, and then there was another man with a white beard on TV. Fortunately, after today, the calm has returned a bit, although, in a month, there is already a new big event waiting for him, namely becoming a big brother!