Claire Turned the Big 1!

 My sweet baby Claire turned 1 year old yesterday! Wow, the time sure has flown by! Here we are the night before...we had just bought the balloons home for her party. Claire absolutely LOVED these balloons, and was so gentle and loving with them. Happy birthday, baby girl!

 I have watched as Claire got bigger...and bigger...and bigger...and bigger. She is still very little, but now I can teach her to hold up her pointer finger for one year old!

 Claire can walk (run, but you only notice if you're the one chasing after her, haha!), and she has started feeding herself with a spoon. She can say "mama" and "brmm", but I know she understands a lot more. She especially understands the words "no" (that one gets practiced a lot when she is trying to get into electrical outlets and such!), as well as the word "shoes" and "bellybutton" (she just recently learned about where her bellybutton is). She also learned to blow kisses and has been waving "bye-bye" for a few months now.

 Claire's birthday party was a success! Claire was still asleep when everyone arrived in the afternoon, so she was a bit surprised when she woke up and saw a bunch of cousins there to celebrate her birthday! Overall, she was a bit overwhelmed, but was very happy. :) We had some snack food and punch at the party, and then played a couple of games--pin the candle on the cupcake, and the standard, good ol' penny toss. Next we opened presents, and then came the cake! Above was Claire's reaction to the cake. She really wanted to touch it, but we were trying to keep it nice for everyone else.

 Happy birthday, Claire!

 Claire was NOT sure about the cake. We cut her a little piece, put it on a princess plate, and gave it to her...and she threw it on the ground! I think it was more a reaction to everyone watching her, since we gave her a piece today and she loved it. :) Less pressure, I guess. :)

 "I think I will just watch everyone else eat cake. I don't wanna eat it..." says Claire.

 "This cake looks prettier on the floor, don't you think? I don't really have to eat it, do I?"

 "No thanks!"

 "I'd much rather eat this carrot than eat that cake," says Claire. What a silly girl! :)

 This picture was taken this afternoon after we got back from church. Claire loves this big toy from Uncle Michael and Aunt Heather, and we both really love this sweet, pink dress from Aunt Kristie and Uncle Barth!!! :)

 Claire, I hope you feel like the birthday princess, because you are the princess in this house! :)

 And what a wonderful birthday princess she is.

 I love that cheesy smile, baby girl. I have loved every minute of your first year (those dirty diapers don't count, right?). :) I am so blessed to be your mother.

My silly girl. One year older and wiser too, happy birthday to you!