First Birthday Party!!!

Your first birthday party was definitely one to remember, Lion Cub!  Not so much for the party itself but for the circumstances surrounding it.  I had planned your party to be held at the park that is an icon of our city- the central park of our little spot on the globe, if you will.  I carefully checked the park's website before taking the time to create your adorable invitations to make sure there were no conflicting events occurring that morning and it seemed everything would play out perfectly.  Well, that is until the night before your party when I received a call from Nana at around 9:30 pm to let me know she just found out that the Pride Parade would be in town the next morning and all their festivities would be happening in, none other than, our beloved park!

Can't you just hear it someday?  Recalling the memories... "Why yes honey, we did celebrate your first birthday at the Gay Pride Parade!"

Ummmmm... I THINK NOT!

So, I went into a bit of a panic mode, calling people at horrible hours of the night and the following morning to let them know of the change of plans.  Eventually, I did manage to notify everyone but it wasn't without a fair bit of stress on my part!  Then, once we arrived at our new destination (a different park in town) there was none other than another one-year-old having a party complete with circus tent (ok- not really, but it was one of those big shade tents!), ginormous birthday banner, and balloons!

We brought cupcakes I bought at Costco.
(Which I was already having tremendous guilt over, might I add, considering the cakes I made for your brother's first two birthday parties.  The site of the rival party really spun me into "failure mom" mode!  But sheesh- this year, it was just not happening!  Sorry man!)

I also managed to get sunburned and pooped on by a bird at the party... but this isn't about me!  It's about you!  And you had a grand time!  The weather finally perked up for our first nice day of the summer and our relocated party was at a lovely park, complete with a wonderful play area for all of your friends to enjoy!

Your cool big brother, showing off his new shades!

Cousin Adin

Cake Aftermath

I heard you enjoyed your cake, although I didn't really get to witness it since I was trying to dole out cupcakes to your many eager little party goers!  The aftermath really speaks for itself though!

You were bombarded (quite literally) with gifts and received many fun shape sorters, stackers and toys that allow you to sort things in general- which are all right up your alley!

All in all, you really enjoyed yourself and LOVED being sung to!  We topped off the day with a trip to the farm and dinner at some friends house!  You were wiped by the time we got home but happy and satisfied!  Quite the day but so well worth it!

I love you to pieces and Happy First Birthday again!

You are 1!!!

I can't believe that a year ago you were so small.  

So fragile.

Such a... well... baby!

Now you are big...

and bold...

and tough! 

A toddler.

A little boy!

Walking, climbing and beating up on your big brother!

Your personality is vibrant and unstopable and your shear will and determination are qualities I know I will both cherish and loathe over the coming years!

You are precious.

And wonderful.

And there is no one quite like you!

And I am so glad to call you my son!

Happy First Birthday Lion Cub!

11 Months & 3 Weeks Old!

You are Mr. Mischief!  Here are a few examples!

Your brother- trying to get the tamari sauce back from you!  You snatch things out of the fridge pretty much any time it is open!

Diaperless... again!

Oh yeah- you'll empty that drawer in nothing flat!

And follow it up with my cupboard of tupperware and pans!

Then you want to get into the hair from your brother's haircut!

And to be totally honest, you spend a good amount of time doing this!

But ya know what?  You make up for it with absolute cuteness!

(Your brother took this one of us!  He is getting better and better with those camera skills!)

And oh, so much brotherly love (in between the whompings you two are giving each other in growing quantities)!

You are so strong and steady!  The other night watching So You Think You Can Dance you started doing these full-on moves where you would bend over from the waist, touch the ground and then come straight back up to standing- it was amazing!  I can tell I am going to have two little hip hop dancers in my home this summer!

But I will always cherish those rare moments when you actually sit down and do something quite like read a book!  You also adore sorting things into bins or bags and I can tell already that you are really going to enjoy Tiny Tot School when we start later this summer!

You are sweet, and cute, and a little handful but we are having so much fun with you that I wouldn't trade any of it for an instant!  

I love you forever and always, more than life itself!

Mama