Happy First Birthday, Claire!

Dear Family and Friends,

I can't believe my little girl is one!  Actually, scratch that, I can't believe I have a little girl who is one!  On Sunday, I decided I would go ahead and bake Claire's Birthday cake, and while I was stirring the carrots into the batter, I stopped and thought, "Holy cow! I'm baking my daughter her first birthday cake!" 

This activity brought me right into one of those deep thought moments. Suddenly everything my wonderful parents did for me growing up came to mind, and I realized that I'm not doing anything new, I'm doing something that many generations did before me.  The reason why I'm standing here baking a cake for my little girl is because my mom and dad did it for me. I'm not the only one who suffered through late night feedings, teething and diaper changes, my parents did all of this for me.  It's easy to forget that I was once just as helpless and dependent as Claire.  So thanks Mom and Dad, for going through all I've been through and what's to come, so that I could one day follow in your footsteps. 

I've realized in this past year that being a parent is as challenging as it is rewarding.  I know everyone says that, but for example, today Claire took over an hour to put down for her nap!  An HOUR!  I spent an exhausting hour of my day with a little girl who just didn't want to take her nap, but obviously, I was determined.  I spent that hour laying her down, watching her get up, and then laying her down again. Shhhs were interspersed with lullabies.  I was so relieved when her little eyes started to roll back from exhaustion.   Later, when she got up from her nap, we were eating lunch and a country song came on that crooned, "You're going to miss this, You're going to want this back, You're going to wish these days hadn't gone by so fast..." and I'm crying as I look at my adorable little girl happily eating the food I'm spooning into her mouth.  

To demonstrate just how fast a year goes, here's Claire from the past year!

Claire on her birthday!

February - 1 month

March (Madness) - 2 months

April - 3 months

May - 4 months

June - 5 months

July - 6 months

August - 7 months

September - 8 months

October - 9 months

November - 10 months

December - 11 months

January 16, 2012 - One Year Old!

To celebrate this wild and crazy year, Chris and I decided we would spend the day with Claire the same way we did on day one, with just the three of us.  We got some balloons, sat down together for a birthday lunch and sang happy birthday to Claire at 1:20pm (her time of birth).  Claire definitely enjoyed all of the attention.  She also thought the cupcake was pretty neat until she tried to eat it!  Two short videos of the experience:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tchPDdUHjyE & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbbKzQ4CIy4

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Chris was showing Claire how to blow out the candle and Claire thought he was so funny!

"Claire, What do you think about that cupcake?"

Opening presents and birthday cards!
Thanks everyone for all of the GREAT gifts!

I'd like to thank all of my family and friends who have been so supportive during this first year, but I would especially like to thank my husband for being so wonderful and for always asking how I'm doing and for encouraging me and appreciating the work I do.  I love you, Chris! Thanks for being such a wonderful husband and father to Claire.

And now that we've survived the first year, I wonder what the next year will be like?  As if in answer to that question, Claire gave me a little sneak preview this week...

Look who found the stairs!

I'm SO proud of myself!

"I just love to open doors, and I especially love to find shelves full of stuff inside those doors,
and then I love to empty those shelves of all that stuff!"

 "Throwing things on the floor is fun!"

I hope everyone is having a great week!
Love,
Bethie