Birthday Celebrations

The day before Abby's birthday, we celebrated with a family party! We had lots of fun. It sounds kind of funny, I have dreamed of the day I could throw my child a birthday party for a LONG time. I love birthdays and I love making birthdays special (not to mention making fun cakes and decorating!). I thought a lot about a party theme and kept coming back to Abby's favorite: Elmo! He was a big part of her first year. I even figured out how to make an Elmo birthday party girlie, which might not sound like a big deal to you, but it bothered me that all things Elmo are red and blue. If I couldn't incorporate girlie colors into my little girl's first birthday, it was going to be a pink cupcake party instead. So, I set to work...

the cupcakes! These were lots of fun to make. My friend Kelly and I had fun creating mini-Elmos the night before the party. I'm so thankful I had her help (and company) to get it all done after a week of being sick.

the centerpiece.
pink, red, orange and yellow! It worked.

happy birthday banner

don't miss the life size Elmo balloon in the corner. He is still alive in our dining room and Abby loves seeing him everyday!

The celebrations begin and our family starts to arrive:

Papa and Uncle Cory "hugging"

just waking up from her nap and trying to get into party mode

"Hey guys, check out my tutu! Isn't it pretty?"

"Are you here to celebrate me?"

crawling everywhere

hanging out with Aunt Kelly

Hi Grammy!

Uncle Cory trying to teach Abby how to ride a quad

"Are all these for me?"

Uncle Cory loaded up the ribbons

playing with Cory's blackberry

Nana sent Abby a baby doll. After Abby examined the baby's face and we took the baby out of the package, Abby hugged her just like a little mommy.

checking out her first purse from Uncle Tommy and Tori

"Look at my baby!"

blow out the candles

Make a wish baby girl!

"Yum! CAKE! Who's been holding out on me?"

mommy and daddy with their birthday girl

Grammy modeling Abby's birthday hat

It was hard to follow up the great party with birthday celebrations on Abby's actual birthday the next day, but we did! Grammy stayed for a couple days, so she was here with us. We started the morning with a birthday breakfast of blueberry pancakes and a couple more gifts.



Then, after Abby had lots of quality time with her Grammy, we went out for a birthday lunch (for Abby and Grammy whose birthday was three days earlier) at Peaches Cafe. Abby even got to ride in her new big girl car seat and face forward for the first time.


Looking forward to many more years of birthday parties and celebrations!