The Big 1

By Liz -
I find it so amazing that in a mere 12 months Lorelei grew from this tiny little baby...

...into this sweet, kind, funny, adventurous, and independent little girl. Wow.

So for Lorelei's big one year old birthday we threw a small, intimate party for our family. In attendance were Gramma and Grandpa, Grandma Elly and Papa Bob, Aunt Kathy, Great-Grandma Gen, and cousin Mike. Auntie Anne and Uncle Steve couldn't make it up, but were there in spirit!

My mom made a delicious tarragon chicken salad for the main dish and which I accompanied with a green salad with beets, feta, and golden raisins, crossaints, fruit, pink lemonade and pink sparkly wine. I made cute paper bunting (and Steve helped me pin it up to the walls), took Lorelei to get pretty balloons, arranged vases with pink gerbera daisies, and made fun photo-mug favors for our guests! We had a great time celebrating our special little girl.

The birthday girl with Great-Grandma Gen and Grandma Elly


Papa Bob and Lorelei


The whole gang (and the decorations)



Lorelei reading one of the cards filled with birthday wishes.



In a cute orange hat from Papa Bob and Grandma Elly



Lorelei is ready to start playing with these blocks from Gramma and Grandpa right away!



Opening up a present from Auntie Anne and Uncle Steve






Lorelei quickly got the hang of unwrapping her gifts.


This last big box is from Mommy and Daddy.



Wow! Her very own swing!!



"Why do I have this hat on my head? You know I don't like hats!"



The mom in me who, along with Steve, has worked so hard to raise a vegetable and fruit loving child without sweets, found the idea of a sugary cake a little unsettling. But then I came across the perfect recipe from Lorelei's Great Grandma Doris for a carrot-apple cake with cream cheese frosting. Not only was it full of grated carrots and apples, but it fit perfectly into our orange and pink color scheme.






Lorelei was so cute!

She started off by picking off all of the orange and pink sprinkles.





Then she found that the cupcake was delicious too!



While we finished up our cupcakes, Steve and Bob got Lorelei's swing ready to go.


Lorelei loves to swing and swing and swing!







Lorelei finally found time to play with all of her new toys. Recall in the last post how I mentioned she likes to get in baskets, boxes, etc.



I decided to help her out by taking the blocks out of the cart and putting them in the basket. She immediately climbed right in and began playing--banging the blocks together, inspecting the pictures, and placing the blocks on the floor around her before picking them back up.



This orange boat (which we have named "The Tangerine") is lots of fun in the bath.



Her "official" photo shoot on her actual birthday, September 20th.



Steve, Lorelei, and I celebrated together. This girl is all smiles!!





And how do we get such delightful smiles??


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