Happy birthday Clara! I can't believe my baby girl is already a year old! You've been getting the hang of walking and you want to be in the thick of everything. You don't particularly like to cuddle but you like to be held so you can see what the big people are doing and try to get your share of the action. Everyone comments on how pretty your hair is (and how much you have!) and you hate wearing hair bows or headbands to your mother's extreme disappointment, haha. You like to hold my finger with your tiny hand when you walk around and melt my heart. Your favorite anything is whatever your brothers have at the moment and you love to waltz over and grab one of the toys they're playing with. They're usually good sports and let you sit with them while you inspect whatever toy you snagged, turning it over and using your teeny tiny little fingers to explore different shapes and textures. You still make me nervous because you're so tiny and I'm definitely (a little) more overprotective with you than your brothers. I'll try to keep that in check, but no promises. ;)
Tammy made an adorable little smash cake for Clara's first ever birthday cake and we had a veritable feast to share with all the family who came over to celebrate "Daddy's Princess Pie." Apparently that's what Jeff used to call Lanae, so Mitchell has excitedly and enthusiastically adopted that little moniker for Clara. She's got him thoroughly wrapped around her teeny little fingers. Oh, is she going to be spoiled rotten, haha.
Nana, Aunt Amy and Aunt Val brought presents for Clara to open and she was more fascinated with the wrapping paper than with the presents, til Nana got the Minnie Mouse push toy open and ready for Clara. All the cousins thought it was awesome (though the nephews were admittedly more interested in the little truck that randomly spit balls as you pushed it) and everyone had a turn.
Here's to hoping that the next year brings some babbling and maybe a "Mama" or "Dada!"
*Miracle of miracles! These photos were accidentally deleted from my computer and thankfully I found a post draft on my blog. Hallelujah!!!*
The Feast
One Year Old!!! :D
Oooo... fire...
Derek jumped in to help Clara blow out her candle
"Hmm.... I think that looks interesting..."
Yum!
Unfortunately we forgot to request a full size cake to share with everyone else, so the disappointed cousins looked on jealously as Clara dug in with relish
Bryce thought Clara using her hands to grab cake was the funniest thing.
"All mine!"
Oh yeah... Grandma's cakes are the best!
She's certainly not afraid to get her hands dirty, haha!
Aunt Amy teaching Bryce how to do "duck face."
Yay, messy face!
Aunt Val and Clara getting ready to open presents
Clara was moving too slow unwrapping her presents so Emeri and Bryce happily jumped in to help her out.
Oooo... presents! Happy birthday sweet girl!
