First Birthday Party

We had Sophie's first birthday party yesterday. Her real birthday is this coming Saturday, but we don't have the big kids next weekend, so we celebrated early.

Saturday was a gorgeous day, so I finally worked up my nerve to tear into the big project of assembling the playhouse we bought the girls for their birthday. It is the cutest thing - a tiny cedar house for outside. The assembly was a huge job that involved about three hundred screws and even some sockets and ratcheting. The directions claimed that it would take two moderately experienced people 6-8 hours to assemble. Well, one of us had to tend to the baby and children, so I did it myself, except for a little holding here and there from the kids and BA sawing two boards for me. It took me about six hours. I had to keep taking a break to help with something inside, and the bending and kneeling on the cement and wrenching on my screwdriver to tighten screws had me hurting from head to toe. But it sure felt great to have it done! It turned out super cute, and I hope the girls play in it a lot this summer.

Because I was being a carpenter all day Saturday, I did not get any of the other party preparations done ahead of time. I was hoping BA would tear into things, but he only does what I ride him to do. So without my direction, he mainly just watched kids, did a little laundry, did (very) little cleaning, and watched a little basketball, read a little newspaper. . . I was panicked and irritated Sunday morning. I got up at 6:15 and started tearing into the baking of the cake and cupcakes. Sophie was up with me, so I put her in her high chair with a bib and gave her the beater from the chocolate cake batter. Holy cow did she enjoy that thing! She definitely knew there was something special going on. She got it all over her face and hair and was grinning her head off. She couldn't get enough of it. The other kids slowly woke up and joined her in the birthday cake batter breakfast.

I also had to bathe the babe, dress her in her party clothes, do her hair, get the other kids looking decent, decorate cakes, tidy the house, decorate the house, and get my self ready - all by two. I sent BA to McDonald's with the kids for lunch JUST in time to spare myself a nervous breakdown. I managed to pull it all together in the nick of time and calm myself down enough to enjoy the festivities.

BA's parents showed up first, about a half hour early. This is an improvement, as they used to show up at least an hour early for everything. They watched Sophie play a little, and then Ethan, Kelsey, and their new baby, Kaelyn showed up. Right after that, Dad and Tyann showed up, and finally Mom and Jim. We first watched Sophie show off her walking skills and playing peek while the grown-ups filled out little momento sheets describing Sophie as a one-year-old and writing their birthday wish for her.

The next stage of the party was the eating part. We put Sophie in her highchair and let her tear into two little birthday cakes. She had cake in her ears, in her hair, and all over her face. She liked it a lot and seemed to prefer the chocolate over the cherry. The party guests feasted on cherry cupcakes, polka dot chocoloate layer cake, ice cream with homemade hot fudge sauce, mints and nuts, cherry lemonade punch, and party mix. I must admit that it was all delish and cute as hell.

After several swipes with the washcloth, we moved the party into the living room to have gift opening. Grandpa Lon and Tyann got Sophie a cute little car that converts from a walking toy to a ride-on toy. Grandma Nan and Grandpa Jim found a bus to ride on or walk behind that plays all sorts of songs and sounds. Grandpa and Grandma Aman gave Sophie a ride-on pink pony. Ethan and Kelsey gave Sophie a cute little capri outfit. Mike, Karrie, and Libby gave Sophie the cutest little tea set that plays, "I'm a Little Teapot". (Sadie already had a grand tea party with Sophie and demonstrated how to sing and dance to the song.) We got Sophie all sorts of loot - her playhouse, a slide, a Cubs cap (Mommy's team), bat, and ball, Dr. Seuss books (from Sadie, the reader), and a set of keys and cell phone. Sophie loves cell phones and is so cute pretending to talk on them. Peyton and Sadie enjoyed bringing the gifts, reading the cards aloud, and helping to open the gifts. Noah got involved by assembling one of the ride-on toys. Sophie had a hard time putting up with the idea of waiting for things to be unpackaged and assembled - she wanted to tear into her new things right away! She loves all of her new stuff, and Sadie remains amazed that Sophie acquired three new vehicles in one day.

After the gifts, we did a little visiting and took photos. I got to get my paws on that little Kaelyn. She's two and a half months old and as cute as can be. She is very good natured and even got to laughing at Peyton and Sadie's antics. We took her picture with Sophie and with all of her Juelfs cousins. We were happy Ethan and Kelsey could make it, since we don't see much of them. We were missing Andy and Kate, who obviously couldn't travel due to the fact that THEIR new baby is set to arrive any day now. We are hoping that we can celebrate future birthdays with them, since they are Sophie's Godparents. Maybe Sophie and her new cousin can celebrate their birthdays together. Maybe the new cousin will even come on Sophie's real birthday! We'll see. . .

Now on Sophie's real birthday we are planning a play date with her babysitter's family. They are coming over for cupcakes and playing. Their baby girl, Jillian, is seven months old, and Sophie adores her. She hugs and kisses on her constantly and is going to be thrilled to have her babysitter, Vanessa, and family at our house. The forecast calls for a snowstorm (!) on Sophie's first birthday, but hopefully that won't spoil our playdate plans.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make Sophie's first birthday party so fun and memorable and aiding and abetting to the spoiling!!!