First Birthday Party

With Claire's birthday being in the middle of holiday season, I decided to go sweet, simple and no theme. I bought some 12m pants from Southern Tots when she was newborn, and decided t0 base everything around those because I thought they were cute.

The pants were a tan and cream stripe with Ruffles. My first thought was burlap! That's easy and "fall-ish"! I went through all of her bows to find a color that I liked with the pants- Navy! So simple! I had a white shirt from Blanks Boutique, so I asked my SIL, Lyndsy,  to put her name on it in the navy. Perfect. Outfit done. 

I had seen all of the cute birthday decorations with fabric garlands and bunting on Pinterest, so I went to Hobby Lobby to find fabric that I loved. I got half a yard of cream with gold triangles, peach stripe, and navy with white polka dot. I also got a roll of lace and a roll of burlap. I picked up some twine and extra blank pennants for a bunting. Lucky for me, target had an amazing dollar bin at the time I was looking! At target I got premade card stock bunting and burlap die cut letter stickers! Score! I made a fabric garland to go around her highchair and a mini one for a cake topper. I used the sticky letters to make a "happy birthday" bunting and "Claire is one". I used the leftover fabric to sew a fabric bunting that I hung in front of her dessert table. 

We fed lunch at the party, so I had a chili bar with all the fixins. There were apple slices with caramel and water and cider punch. I made all the desserts as well: brownies and pumpkin spice cupcakes. My friend Kaitlyn gave me some tips and I was able to make Claire's "naked" birthday cake at home. It was white cake with whipped icing and her favorite - blueberries- on top! I was a lot of work, but I loved being able to make instead of buy! 

Guests arrived and we talked, opened presents, sang "happy birthday" and ate. 

Claire got so many wonderful new toys! I'm thankful because it sounds like we might be stuck inside a lot this winter! 

When Claire listened to us sing to her, she kind of just froze. It was so funny! I thought she would dance. When she got her cake, she first ate all the blueberries one by one. After that she got serious and had some major icing and cake fun. 

After a quick wash in the sink she was back and ready to play with friends and her new toys! 

I'm so thankful that every year we will have a day just to celebrate this special, wonderful, beautiful, perfect little life! She is loved by so many! 

{How to make fabric garland: 1. Cut strips 1.5 inches, make as long as you need when fabric is folded in half. 2. Choose your pattern. Throw in some different textures like burlap or lace. 3. Measure twine. 4.Lay your folded strip under the piece of twine. Grab the loop at the top, bring the bottom pieces up over the twine and through the loop. Pull tight. EASY}

Month 11

She loves: cabinet doors and drawers, balls, food, books, peek-a-boo, mommy and daddy, standing while holding things (she has no interest in standing independently)

She doesn't love: getting her nose wiped, having the sunroom door or refrigerator door closed on her.

• 12 month clothes
• 22lbs
• 5 teeth
• Says "dada", "bye bye" and "hi"
• size 3 diaper for day and 4 at night
• size 3 shoe
• nurses 3 times
• 2 naps, sleeping from 8-7:30!
• Laughs all the time, loves chase and playing with balls and stacking rings, and pulling off all the books on her shelf.

- Started screaming while crying.
- She can play by herself for a long time!
- Rolls around on the carpet for fun.
- When she's hungry, she shovels food into her mouth barely allowing time to chew! She also smacks her lips when she's ready to eat.
- Can redirect her walker while walking and can use it with only one hand.
- Can walk holding just one hand.
- Today, we kept her with us during worship at church. Seeing her clap and smile while we sang "Victory in Jesus" was one of the greatest moments of my life.
- She giggles at herself.
- She stood on her own for a few seconds on 10/1. She even squatted down and stood back up. She did it again the next day in the tub. She's done it a couple more times, but really doesn't have much interest!
- She got a tiny patch of cradle cap. We've been putting coconut oil on it and it's already almost gone.
- Meme watched her one night while we went to an event. She said that Claire played and drank 9+ oz IN A BOTTLE and then went straight down. She slept all night!
- She crawled in the grass without trying to eat it!
- Top right front tooth broke through on 10/4. There is a significant gap...
- The tooth beside it broke through on 10/19.
- Spent our few days with Annie!!! It's tough having the 2 best girls in the same house ;).
- Found out she has croup on 10/7. Went in for bad cough and difficulty breathing. She got a steroid to take for 3 days. We went outside to breathe in cool air and sat in a steamy bathroom. I squirted saline solution a few times a day. The cough lasted about 10 days. I wouldn't let her cry at night because it messed with her breathing. We had to do some more sleep training.
- She's starting to use more sounds while she jabbers, but still mainly says "dada".
- Knows ball, where shoes and bows go, what monkeys, Tigers and elephants say (working on snakes, dogs and cows). She waves hi and bye and says both words. She puts her hands on her cheeks when we say "oh no" and started blowing kisses!
- She hugs and pats my back.
- The Flanagans kept her one evening while I had pics. They took her to Luke's soccer game. I think everyone had a great time!
- She still has some nights where she just cries and needs mama. I'm trying to just hold her to calm her rather than feed her. Sometimes it works.
- Practicing eating with a spoon.
- She's finally started to imitate some more sounds rather than "dada" she does a /t/ and /s/ and /n/ the most. We are trying to work on animal sounds and letters. And MAMA!!!
- She likes to pull things out of bags. - While she was eating she bit me. I spanked her and said "no ma'am, that hurts!" Her instant reaction was to give me a kiss.
- Papa and Poppi's girl
-Plans for her first birthday are in full swing!

My girl, I can't write anything right now without crying. You're amazing. You're almost 1. I can barely handle it.