Never fear, I’m doing much better now. Thanks to everyone who read and responded to my overly emotional post on Monday. Your words were little rays of light, as always.
We’ve been busy around the homestead, prepping for Lucy’s first BIG trip. We’re flying to Houston on Saturday so we can introduce baby Lucy to the original Lucy, my sweet maternal grandmother. I’m partially excited, partially terrified. Right now, traveling with a newborn seems about as easy as giving birth.
So in light of our impending travels, I’m sharing this bright and fun birthday cake (in hopes that it will bolster my courage!). This was the first cake I’ve decorated since last fall, when I was in the middle of my first trimester. Decorating cakes while in the thick of morning sickness isn’t fun, but decorating cakes with a newborn is an entirely different type of challenge! This Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake was delivered to a birthday party on Sunday for two very lovely little girls. I hope they enjoyed it…and you know I’m already plotting and planning for Lucy’s first birthday fete!
In the past, I’ve used rather expensive food dyes to color my cakes, but with a tight budget and timeline this year, I was thrilled to find that McCormick food colors worked wonderfully! Not only was I able to find them easily at the grocery store, but I loved how I was able to emulate Eric Carle’s overlapping layers of color in the caterpillar’s body. I used this standard pack of colors, which allows for an impressive variety of shades if you’re willing to mix and experiment (and isn’t that the best part?).
I wish I could tell you an exact formulation for this colorful fondant caterpillar, but I had too much fun experimenting to keep track of how many drops of food color I used. What I can tell you is this: a little goes a long way and these colors work great for fondant and frosting.
How adorably sweet! One of my favorite stories, it brings back so many memories (including the fun involved when traveling with in infant!). Safe travels, I can just imagine how special this visit will be for both Lucy’s 🙂
This is just too cute Monet! I am glad you are feeling better now!
That cake– adorable!!! We traveled some with Lila when she was about Lucy’s age, and I promise– the anxiety I felt leading up to the flights was always WAY worse than the flights themselves. I bet she’ll do great!!
I am sitting at the Kansas City airport with a connection as slow as a turtle on Prozac. I was hoping you did not make this cake, because I already think you are a Super Woman, and now will hve to upgrade you to some other type of classification, a lot more powerful… (sigh)
You ARE amazing… flying with a young baby will be no problem whatsoever…. I guarantee it!
Cutest cake ever! I was going to say it couldn’t possibly be Lucy’s birthday yet–and it isn’t, of course. 🙂 Glad you’re feeling better, and have an amazing trip!
Wow that looks amazing! I wish I had the talent to decorate like that 🙂
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better now 🙂 This cake looks super cute and I’m so excited to see the cake you’ll make for Lucy’s birthday… I know it’s going to be awesome! x
Safe travels! Traveling with a newborn is not too bad, honestly. You can put them in a carrier and go on your way. It’s once they get bigger and can crawl or walk that flights get frustrating!
Lucy is growing so fast! And so adorable! Food dyes are tricky so it’s good to find ones that work. How emotional to go see your grandmother with your baby. Good luck on your trip Monet, you’ll be fine!
Lovely looking cake! And Lucy’s first big trip will be so exciting. Have a great time!
What an adorable cake!!! My kids loved Eric Carle. Hope your trip is wildly successful …Lucy will charm all who see her, so no worries if she gets fussy. xo
That cake is adorable. I’m sure they loved it!
Glad you’re feeling better. 🙂 Love the cake!
Just catching up on both your posts now and I’m glad I got to read that you’re feeling better first before I read the previous post, which was heartbreaking. All your feelings sound completely normal given what you’ve gone through though and it’s nice that you let them out and that you’re comforting yourself with such amazing baking projects!
I’m loving that cake, it’s so much fun! 🙂
Hi Monet, with our cross country move I haven’t visited my blogging friends for a few months. Look, you already have a baby! Congratulations! This bundle of joy will bring you many happy moments, and over time it would help to heal your wounds. It takes time. You are strong, and you have to be strong for your baby.
This cake is so cute! I love marbling on the caterpillar.
Traveling with babies is much easier than traveling with kids that already can walk, trust me! Many times on a plane, chasing one of my kids and asking them to sit a bit in the chair, I was thinking how much easier it was when they were two months old. 🙂 Don’t worry, enjoy time with your little one. They grow so fast! Have a safe trip!
What an exciting trip ahead! I hope you’ll have a lovely trip!
I’m sure Lucy is going to be a champion traveller. Wishing you all a fun and safe trip! This cake is absolutely adorable, Monet. I’m sure the lucky recipients loved it. And I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. We all have days like that (I feel like I have more than my fair share).
What a beautiful cake!! I love the caterpillar. I hope you have a safe journey and enjoy time with family!!
What a cute cake! Any 1 year old would love it!
Beautiful cake! Love it!
Look at Lucy, how wonderful it is to be a baby! 🙂
Enjoy your trip to your grandmother’s, I’m sure that she is as excited as your are!
can i share with you.. what a lovely cake.
Wow, what a gorgeous cake Monet! My 2 year old loves Eric Carle’s books and you did an amazing job bringing out the colors! It can seem a little bit overwhelming travelling with a newborn but hopefully everything will run smoothly and wishing you all a lovely and safe trip 🙂
This is such a darling cake, Monet. I’m especially impressed by the way you achieved the variegated coloring so similar to Eric Carle’s illustrations (I loved so many of his books as a child!). wishing you safe and easy travels with Lucy!
Also, I wanted to leave a brief note of encouragement after reading your last post. I can only imagine how very heartbreaking it must have been to experience so many tragic losses, and all within such a compressed time frame. Sending you lots of warm thoughts, hugs, and well-wishes, my friend.
OMG SO CUTE!
….the cake is pretty adorable too 😛 You are so talented Monet!
Monet…this cake is so beautiful and cheery. The Very Hungry Catepillar is one of my favorite books and I would LOVE to have this as my birthday cake. I read your previous post and I just want to wrap my arms around you! Life is fragile and we are always vulnerable, even if we don’t realize it. Just make the best of every day with Ryan and Lucy. And keep putting your whole heart into everything you do! xoxo
There’s so much cuteness in this one post! I don’t know how you do it, Monet 🙂 Your cake is absolutely stunning and I’ll bet the little girls were over the moon when they saw it. You are a master at cakes! If you ever make it to Amherst, MA (where I went to school), there’s an amazing Eric Carle museum that celebrates picture book art and (of course) the work of Eric Carle. I think you’d like it 🙂
Have a great trip this weekend!
This is my first time stumbling by and I must say this is one gorgeous cake! AND gorgeos baby 🙂
So glad you’re feeling better! It’s amazing how nice it is to read supportive comments from blog friends whom you’ve never met 🙂 They feel as close as friends you see all the time.
Good luck travelling with Lucy! I’m sure it won’t be nearly as bad as giving birth 😉 Recently Nate and I traveled to Idaho and I have to say that seeing a couple mothers traveling alone with two children made me feel for them…and really nervous for what’s to come. Although luckily you’ll have your husband with you which will definitely make it easier. Have so much fun!!!
So cute! You’re going to do fine traveling with Lucy. I bet she sleeps the whole time!
what a beautiful cake. have a great time in Houston.
This cake is adorable!
Sirry you don’t feeling well Monet Im happe you are better!!
This cake is sooo cute and Lucy is adorable !!! blessings!!
xo
Monet, I’m so glad you are doing better. I tried to leave a message on your post (not sure if you actually got it) but I kept having trouble. I’m sure it was on my end, not yours. This cake is almost as adorable as little Lucy – lol. But nothing will ever be that cute 🙂 Have a great visit with the Original Lucy and I’ll be watching for a post about it when you return.
what and adorable cake…that is so so cute. Safe Travels.
Oh my gosh this cake!! The very hungry caterpillar was my very very favorite book when I was little, according to my mom : ) So cute! Good luck with the flight – I’m sure it will be fine!
Good luck on your trip, Monet. I’m anxious to read about the whole emotional reunion between both Lucy’s 🙂
xoxo
Glad you are feeling better.. Hope you have safe travels..
This cake is gorgeous! you’re one talented lady!