SHE TURNED 13 TODAY..how time flies by!!
“When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.”
James M. Barrie
Sorry I’ve been MIA for a short while. New year begins in a tizzy every year since she was born. The daughter arrived on the 2nd of January, 13 years ago, in freezing cold weather. Ever since, she has ensured we spend the beginning of the year, every single year, on our toes, racing around to celebrate her birthday. 
Her list of friends grows & grows, & then we have friends who just drop by too. Till she was 3 years old, a little poppet, sweet as sugar, life was a breeze. After that in the DH’s words, the golden child changed. There’s been no looking back. 
These words fit her perfectly – “When she’s good, she’s very very good, but when she’s bad she’s ……!”She turns 13 today...& I can’t figure out who is more excited…she or her little brother!! She has been announcing her last day of being a pre-teen to all & sundry, & he has been bouncing off walls in general excitement. Time really flew by … & how!
She’s had a WONDERFUL day today, with all her friends over. They’ve been here all day, over 18 of them, eating, watching movies & making merry!! She’s been hyper-excited all day, & so has her brother!! It’s been a wonderful birthday for her & we are glad…also glad the day has finally wound up!! 18 kids in the house can rake up some noise!! Phew!! Welcome to the teens!!
There’s been some eating done in-house today too. They were all over for lunch, where they had chicken burgers, with the patties made from scratch here, a light pasta, a corn salad & garlic bread. 
For tea, there was cake (obviously), that ran into major frosting disaster (story another day), cheese cookies, iced sugar cookies, blondies & chips ‘n’ dip. Catch you later & thanks for stopping by! 
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
31 Comments
Navita
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ur little darling!
She has ur smile Deeba.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
hugs
Anonymous
Many Many Happy Returns to your DD May she be blessed always! That’s one beautiful collage you’ve done. And wishing you a very happy and peaceful 2009. Good Luck! Angela
Latha
Happy birthday dear gorgeous:) Deeba that picture of yours holding your baby girl wells up tears in my eyes. i have a 3.5 yr old boy and a 6 month girl. I already miss my boy’s ‘baby days’; when i look at my little one’s tiny feet, those chubby arms i impulsively grab them tight realising she too will grow up fast! i remember when my son came to the hospital after i delivered the girl, he looked suddenly all grown up and bit strange too!
a beautiful collage.. may God bless your family with all things wonderful:)
Elra
Happy birthday to your wonderful daughter, Deeba.
May she has many many more years to come.
Yes time do flies quicker then ever, I know exactly what you mean. I have only one, he grow faster then I want him to. We just celebrated his 19th birthday end of this year.
Cheers,
Elra
♥Reeni
Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! Good eats and sweet treats!
Divya Kudua
Happy birthday to the teen-Meher..;-).I love the pic where you are holding baby Meher..best of the lot!!and yeah..Happy new year too..;-)
Sara
Happy birthday to your daughter, she’s beautiful!
noble pig
Beautiful memories, beautiful girl. Happy Birthday to you both…a teenager…lookout Mommy…the fun is only beginning!
Bharti
Happy Birthday to your sweet fairy!
The pictures are so cute and I’m getting all sentimental with you! Happy new year to you and yours, dear Deeba.
Snooky doodle
Happy birthday to your little daughter! Have a good day with all those kids and good cleaning up 🙂
Curry Leaf
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE NEW TEEN.Nice to know she had a wonderful time .Thanks for sharing this day with us as well.
Aparna
A very Happy Birthday on officially becoming a teenager to Meher.
If I didn’t know you were talking about your daughter, I’d have thought you were talking about mine.;D
But she still has another 6 months to make it to 13! And she has mighty plans for the celebration!!
Amu...
A Very Happy Birthday to your lil Angel Deeba…
God Bless….
sunita
Belated wishes for Meher on turning thirteen 🙂
And yes, time does fly by 🙂
Bellini Valli
Happy birthday sweetheart!!!They grow so quickly don’t they. My little angel is now 21…and I am still standing:D
Ivy
Happy belated birthday wishes for your sweet daughter. Time does fly and mine is now nearly 17.
muralimanohar
Wow…she really reminds me of my own 14yo dd…
Happy birthday, Miss 13!
Manggy
Happy birthday Meher! I suppose we should be thankful for small favors… At 13 most teens will start being mean and ignore their little sibs! Hee hee. But of course, we can be thankful that she’s growing to be quite a bright and beautiful young lady!
Gloria Chadwick
Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! Where does the time go? One minute, they’re precious little babies and the next, they’re a teenager, driving you crazy. My youngest will be 30 tomorrow. Big hugs and much love to you and your daughter. 🙂
Sunshinemom
Happy Birthday to the new teen on the block:), and a very Happy New Year to all of you:)
Pearlsofeast
Ur daughter is so lovely and beautiful. Nice to see her pictures. Many many happy returns to her.
Srivalli
Many happy returns of the day! Deeba your kids are very cute…loved their pictures…Do wish her for me!
Purnima
MEHER! HAPPY BDAY! (Belated though!) Deeba, how beautiful …the collage, frm their toddler stage till date, she looks more reserved now..u r a super MOM any kid wd love to have! All the yummies … ooh..u must hv overdone exhaustion too! 😀
PG
A belated Happy Birthday and blessings to your daughter! And a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Have come here after a long gap. The new design of your blog looks good.
Bunny
Deeba she’s beautiful,daddy will have his hands full when she gets older keeping the boys at bay!! 18 kids in the house!!! I need a drink just thinking about it!! LOL!!
Happy cook
Happy birthday to your wonderful and beautiful daughter Meher.
Now officially you have a teenager at home.
I loved looking through all the pictures you have posted.
Will catch up with all your posts i missed. Am on a break.
I am hopping to restart the blogging from next week.
Lore
Sounds like everyone had a wonderful time, love the guitar on the cake :). Happy b-day to your daughter and happy New Year to you and your family !!!
Purnima
And yes, again! I admired the collage a lot was thinking these looked like my thoughts for future..kids r growing! 🙂 JUST ADORABLE!!
nicisme
Sorry I’m late to the party, but many happy returns to your beautiful daughter!
That cake is awesome!
Núria
Your daughter and son are so lovely Deeba! You must be so proud!!!
Your daughter is turning into a beautiful woman with such lovely face 😀
My daughter will become 13 this summer I wish one day they could meet. And, of course, I wish we could meet too! Happy birthday and happy new Year!
Jeanne
Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter – clearly she takes after her mother 🙂