Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to Caitlin! Believe it or not, Caitlin turned one on August 23rd. It seems unimaginable that our once mushy, sleepy baby is now well on her way to becoming a walking and talking toddler. Before I know it, she'll be packing up her sensible, slightly used sedan and driving off to college. But before I get ahead of myself, I want to share some highlights from Caitlin's big day.

Birthday Highlight Number One: Due to her inexplicable love of monkeys, Caitlin had a monkey-themed birthday party complete with monkey balloons, monkey cups, monkey plates, monkey toys, banana cupcakes, well...you get the idea. Seeing monkeys all over our home evoked squeals of delight from the birthday girl.

Birthday Highlight Number Two: Presents, more specifically, the wrapping paper from presents. I'm sure deep inside Caitlin felt really excited about her new toys, outfits, and other gifts, but she only displayed outward enthusiasm for wrapping paper and ribbon.

Birthday Highlight Number Three: Playing with her cousins Keira, Josh, Luke, and Ryan. Caitlin loves crawling around and trying to keep up with her cousins. At one point, all five cousins were in the dining room clamoring around Caitlin's Exersaucer. Caitlin loved trading sippy cups with cousin Ryan and showing off her toys to Keira, Josh, and Luke.

Birthday Highlight Number Four: The Radio Flyer Pathfinder wagon. Matt and I purchased this souped-up wagon for Caitlin's big day. She loved sitting in the wagon with her stuffed animals, cruising around the outside of the wagon, and attempting to stand inside of the wagon despite my urgent protests.

And last, but certainly not least, Birthday Highlight Number Five: Cupcakes! Caitlin could not believe we allowed her to eat an entire cupcake. When we placed the cupcake on her high chair tray, Caitlin looked at us as if to say, "What do you want me to do with this thing? Why isn't this cut into minuscule, choke-proof pieces like all of my other food?" After giving Caitlin a tiny taste of frosting, all anxiety disappeared and she dove right in and devoured her entire banana cupcake. Caitlin also won the newly established, yet very prestigious, award for Cleanest Cupcake Eater as she avoided the typical frosting in the hair, eyes, ears, etc.

Caitlin's first birthday was filled with family and fun (and monkeys), which was just what we wanted. I am so grateful for the love and support from friends and family as our own family found our way this past year. Happy Birthday not only to Caitlin, but to our little family of three.