Octuplets’ first birthday low-key
But ‘they had a blast’ at larger party Sunday
LA HABRA, Calif. – A bouquet of balloons – six blue and two pink – was delivered to the home of Nadya Suleman Tuesday, commemorating the first birthday of the world’s longest-living octuplets.
Suleman gave birth to six boys and two girls, each less 3 pounds, on Jan. 26, 2009.
The mother was planning on keeping festivities low-key with her octuplets and six older children, her attorney, Jeff Czech, said.
A larger party, which included extended family and friends of the older children, was held Sunday.
Youngsters frolicked in a bounce house and the babies smeared their hands and faces in the birthday cake.
“They had a blast,” Czech said. “They are really starting to get around.”
One of the octuplets is walking, the attorney said.
As the babies grow, the family is starting to outgrow the four-bedroom home and Suleman would like to move, Czech said.
However, Czech said money is tight for Suleman and he wouldn’t speculate on when she would move.
“She is doing her best,” he said. “The octo-van is falling apart and there are lots of expenses.”
Czech said he is negotiating with a production company for what he calls a documentary – as opposed to a reality show.
The balloon delivery, recorded by four photographers, was the only activity on the cul-de-sac at 10 a.m., contrasting sharply with the frenzy that occurred March 17, 2009, when Suleman brought the first two of her octuplets home from the hospital to a horde of photographers and lookie-loos who nearly broke down the garage door.
Since then, the neighborhood has gradually returned to the peaceful state it was in before the octuplets moved in.
La Habra police said there have been 21 calls that involved Suleman’s address during the past year. The majority occurred during March and April, which coincides with the babies coming home, according to a statement.
“About the past six months, it has been really calm,” said neighbor Mark Mimoso, whose backyard borders Suleman’s driveway. “Once in a while, there are some paparazzi.”
Mimoso sometimes sees nannies walking the babies to a nearby park in two four-seat strollers. “You can see the babies growing up,” he said.