The Best Day

Confession:  I was dreading Sweet Pea's first birthday.

I just couldn't fathom that my tiny baby could possibly be turning one.  I was struggling with feeling like something was over, something somehow lost that I couldn't get back.  I have a tendency to feel that way any time something I love changes.

I also have a hard time making decisions, especially when the decision is over something important or special.  I had a hard time deciding how exactly to go about celebrating this birthday.  I couldn't choose a dessert, couldn't choose a present, couldn't figure out how to spend the day.

I know, I know.  I'm a little crazy/weird/ridiculous.

But last Wednesday, her birthday, ended up being entirely perfect.  The only downside of the whole day was that we had to miss playgroup because I was waiting for FedEx, but that ended up being a good thing because she at least got a little bit of a nap in.

My mom and I decided to take the girls to Costco (I needed food for Sweet Pea's Sunday birthday party) and I also decided it would be perfect opportunity to take another visit to South Mountain Creamery, a dairy farm that allows the public to come in every day at 4 pm to help feed their calves.  They also have amazing ice cream.  Animals and ice cream are basically the only things Sweet Pea lives for, so it was a perfect fit.

Probably my favorite picture ever.

She love ice cream.

  

South Mountain Creamery is really an awesome place to visit.  The kids love it, and you can't beat bottle feeding a calf.  (I didn't get any photos of that because I would have needed between 3 and 5 more arms.)

My parents then surprised us with treating everyone to dinner at our new favorite restaurant, Elevation Burger.  They have organic burgers that they'll make them with a lettuce wrap for those of us who can't eat gluten.  (In my immediate family, that's 5 out of 7 people.)  Also, they have milkshakes.

SOLD.

We've only eaten there a few times, but Sweet Pea loves it.  She loves the french fries, I think because they are small and she can eat them up so easily.  She seemed to know that we were there for her, and loved soaking up the attention.  She wouldn't eat any of her burger, but ate lots of fries and some pickle.

If you're keeping track, so far she's eaten ice cream and french fries.  Awesome.

Watching our food get cooked and playing "ahhhh!"

Grandpa is hilarious.  

Birthday hats

"Food mat fail, Mom.  Here cousin, have a fry."

We then headed home to open a few presents and have dessert.  My over-tired, over-sugared little one was a ball of hyper-human energy and reveled in the fact that the whole evening was all about her.  She was a total ham and loved having everyone look at her.

Get ready for a whole bunch of snapshots.  I've learned to put my camera down in moments like this and not stress over a perfect shot.  Sometimes you just need to be present.  Or get presents, as the case may be!

  

A special and super-soft coat from Aunt T.  Sweet Pea immediately cuddled it.

Showing off.

Being a big girl and practicing standing.  

 I decided to make gluten-free ice cream cookie sandwiches.  I wanted everyone (both sides of the family) to see her eat her actual first cake at her party.

Um, birthday candle fail, mom.  Get it together, already!
In my defense, when planning birthdays for a baby it's kind of easy to forget about birthday candles.
I mean, really, who associates babies with fire?  Thank goodness for tea candles.

Someone (ahem...Bean...ahem) got a little over excited and blew out the candle for Sweet Pea too soon.

Candle and song, take two.

First taste.  Yum!

  Welp, she wasn't shy about it, that's for sure!

It really was such a fun day and night.  I loved every moment of it, but the best part was when my overtired baby fell asleep in my arms by the light of her nightlight in her room.  I loved getting to cuddle and sing and cry with the weight of her little body against my chest.

I'm really excited for the next stage.  Before we know it, she'll be two.

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