Libby's First Birthday

So last week, just before my baby's First Birthday (gasp!) I had to go out of town for work for a few days.  This was the longest time I've ever gone without seeing my Libby and I was a bit nervous.  I may have shed a few tears while I was away, but truly, I did quite well.  Libby, on the other hand, celebrated my absence by playing non-stop with Marmena, who came to help take care of her while I was gone, and with Daddy, when he was home after work in the evenings.  She managed with only a phone call from me each night and celebrated my return by squealing at Commissioner, who was in my arms, when I came in to see her.

That was a little harsh, but I always enjoyed hanging out with my grandparents and babysitters when my parents were away.  And I still love my parents and being with them very much.  So I'm sure it's fine.  I'm telling myself that anyway.

So, I get back and enjoy Friday with my almost ONE year old baby.  And I made cupcakes for her party (which were so fun to make and frost!)

Daddy prepared by making her an abstract artwork of her initials - EVG.

The table, cake and cake arrangement.

Then, the important sign to record her "look" at one year.

Miss B had a ball with "her public," as always.  That child loves a crowd - not more than she loves Commissioner, but it's high up there.  I wonder if that will last?  Or if she'll become shy for awhile and ultimately love it it again.  Of course, as her mother, I wonder about everything she currently feels, thinks about, etc. and what kind of person she'll become as she grows.  I know for now, I'm enjoying every step of the way.  Speaking of, she's doing a lot more real stepping lately.  It's hands and feet if she's on a mission, but she's doing a lot more walking from one thing and place to the next - and for a lot longer, too. She also enjoys standing, squatting and standing back up repeatedly.  She's still very busy and inquisitive and it's no wonder she takes pretty good naps!  I feel like I need at least one a day just from watching her.  Of course, that doesn't actually happen.

Anyway, we celebrated her birthday with a small party of family and friends who are family and I feel like it worked out great.  I didn't want it to be overwhelming for anyone, especially Libby (or myself, since I was gone the week before) and it wasn't.  It was perfect and fun and memorable for us.

Miss B enjoyed seeing her family and had fun with her friends.  She received so many neat gifts!  She loves music boxes and got an "Alice in Wonderland" one.  She got books.  She got a xylophone for the BATHTUB- how cool is that?  She got clothes (woot!)  She got a sit-and-spin, a water activity table to play with outside in the spring and summer (can't wait to try this one out), a tunnel, a ball pit, a castle shape-sorter toy, a Little People bus, a shape sorter barn with fun animals, a Cookie Monster doll, baby crayons - and more!  Some of the stuff we've put away to pull out and enjoy later and she's already having a ball with a lot of it, too.  And she has so much cool stuff that I hope her friends will want to come over for frequent play dates (hint, hint).  A friend asked about the quantity of it and the fact that it's taken over the dining room.  But we made the decision for Libby to be at home and me to work part-time, so while she may not "need" all of it, it's great for her to have plenty to stimulate her here at home.  She's good at entertaining herself and it's fun for her many caretakers to play with her using it, too.

Instead of a ton of photos, you can see how she first started out with her ball pit.  (She's since taken to flinging herself around in the balls and trying to tip it over (and succeeding) from inside it.




Then, it was the moment we'd all been waiting or.  The cake!  I was delighted with Libby's smash cake and since she makes a mess with her food at most meals, I was certain that she would take right to it!

So, we thought maybe she might like it on Sunday, without a crowd and perhaps if she was a bit less tired.




Nope.  But she did beg for more and more green beans, sweet potato fries and BRUSSELS SPROUTS at dinner tonight.  What a one year old!

We really had a fun day with her and Michael and I continued the celebration with a friend's wedding in Athens that night.  We got to sleep in on Sunday and have brunch at one of our favorite restaurants there, The Last Resort Grill.  Miss B stayed at our house with Marmena and Granddaddy Al Hodge who doted on her and took care of her every desire, including an hour long ride in her wagon around the house on Saturday evening - a favorite pastime of hers!  And she slept in on Sunday - and today - too!

It's been such an amazing year - and in case you were wondering, yes, THIS is my favorite age!