1 Year Old...

Wow...I have no idea where the past year has gone. In some ways it feels like a big blur. We lost Mame a year ago today, which still doesn't seem real. I still think about her everyday. Sometimes when Brooklyn is smiling or laughing at "nothing"...I think maybe Mame is making her smile.

Anyways, this little girl (which totally describes her now) celebrated her First Birthday last week. On her actual birthday, we went to Osaka with grandma and grandpa and watched them cook on the table. We thought this might entertain her...but turns out we might need to wait a year or two more...or just make sure she has a fresh nap first. She was a tad fussy...which was finally relieved by an order of mango ice cream. She was also graced with a visit from Great Aunt Jamie on her birthday!! She made the trip to hand deliver some flowers...and to sing to the Birthday Girl.




Mommy and Daddy woke Brooklyn up by dumping balloons in her crib and signing "Happy Birthday." ...the was followed by some fun music and more balloons in the living room! That night Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa...and the BIRTHDAY GIRL went to dinner at Osaka. We thought it would entertain Brooklyn if they cooked on the table. Ahhh, maybe this will be more entertaining in a few years. It caught her interest for a bit and then she was bored. However, considering she didn't really nap all day...she did quite well. Some mango ice cream seems to be the trick!!



We had her actual party on Sunday, September 6th. The Nethery clan won the award for coming the farthest. They drove down Saturday and stayed with us through Monday! Brooklyn had fun with her cousins!! She and Gracie and going to have so much fun doing all the "girly" things as soon as Brooklyn gets a tad older. Well actually, Gracie LOVES doing the girly things with her now...but Brooklyn will be able to participate more in the future! ;)


Grandma S-L-A-V-E-D away in the kitchen all day on Saturday baking and decorating cupcakes and cakes (yes, plural...because Brooklyn had to have her own cake to SMASH!!). My Mom always made my cake each year (one might think I would want to tackle this tradition for my own daughter...but my Mom is so great at it...I thought she should continue with the tradition...maybe I will take it over in the future). We had a #1 cake pan, which matched the invitations perfectly!!! ...and when I say perfect, it is because Grandma took the time to ice each little pink and white square with the star tip...and then gave it a green border...TOO CUTE!!!


Talk about a HUGE party!! I think there were more people here to see this little cutie dig into her cake than we could ever get together!! Let's face it...we don't really through parties...haha. Just to name a few: Grandma & Grandpa K, Nethery Family, Great GREAT Aunt Jo, Great Aunt Jamie/Great Uncle Johnny, The O'Brien Family, Katherine, Mary Lynn, Steven, Jennifer, Ian, Pamela, Yokley Family, Melissa (Tillie), Danielle (Christian), Martin Family, Dawn (Arianna), Benavides Family, Heather (Cindy)...and please forgive me for those that I forgot!! Let's just say this girly of ours is LOVED!! I bought bubbles, sidewalk chalk and play dough for the kiddos to play with...they seemed to be entertained!!




However, I totally overestimated how much food we needed...so we had enough to feed an army. We had fruit and veggies galore (and literally enough fruit dip for an army...9 cups to be exact...oops!). Yummy spinach dip (Thanks Aunt Betsy!!). Delicious tortilla pinwheel sandwiches (Thanks Target!! ...the best deal in town!! ...one tray would have been plenty). And did I mention cupcakes, cake and more cupcakes??

Everyone gathered around to watch the Birthday Girl eat her cake. I have to say, she was a bit hesitant at first. I think the icing might have felt funny to her. Since it was done with the icing tip, it was kind of textured. She basically picked at the edging for a while. Finally, I gave her a good taste and she delved a little deeper. Never made a huge mess...but she did get pretty darn sticky and had icing everywhere!! I stripped her down and dunked her for a quick bath in the sink before her festivities could continue.

I can't hear you...can you please sing louder!!

The birthday girl needs a little ice cream too!!

After cake, most of our friends left...and we just had family here. It seemed like an appropriate time to let her open her gifts. Cousins Gracie and Quentin were her helpers!! Needless to say, Brooklyn seemed to be more interested in the boxes that her gifts were in vs. the toys! WOW...I think we know own a complete Little People village!! It is so incredible and they are the cutest toys!! I love it that she will be able to play with them for so long!! Quentin is 7 and was still having fun with them!! She got: Happy Sounds Home (Grandma Q/Grandpa Joe), Car Garage/Race Track (O'Brien Family), School Bus (Jennifer/Karol), Tractor (Aunt Maggie), Boat (Ian), Airplane (Steven), SUV (Danielle)...and the Farm!! She also got a ton of clothes and a Little People Parade push/ride along (Grandma/Grandpa K). The Netherys (ahem, Cousin Gracie) gave Brooklyn not only her first baby doll...but a Baby Stella Doll...which Gracie has too!! They were soo cute with their little dollies!! She also got a ton of fun bath toys and a tent/tube (Aunt Jamie/Uncle John). Some other fun goodies that she got included puzzles, books, jewelry and much more!! Yes, I did say jewelry.

Brooks and I gave Brooklyn her charm bracelet. It is actually my old bracelet that I ran out of room on when I was younger and upgraded to a bracelet with more links. I thought it would be neat for her to have and for us to be able to start that tradition for her. She has the "B" and a cupcake!! The other jewelery that she got is a diamond ring from her Daddy (it is a marquis, solitaire). Brooks came up with the idea all on his own...and didn't even tell me about it!! He wanted her to have something from him that was hers her whole, entire life (or nearly!)!! Brooks gave it to her with a super sweet note that basically said that it is to remind her that he will always be there for her no matter what. He wanted her to have this ring to keep with her as a reminder, and then when that special day comes...when she finds a person that makes her feel the way that he feels about me, that person can replace it. How sweet is that?!?!



Aunt Betsy and Uncle Curtis were also so generous to give us one of their Little Tyke outdoor slides!! It is so awesome!! It is a small slide and swing that is perfect for Brooklyn!! We don't have anything like this...so I know it will be used a lot!!! Speaking of outdoor play stuff...Brooks and I also got her a water table....which we FORGOT to give her. ...and have been so busy, that it is still in the box!! We will give it to her soon...I mean, the girl LOVES to splash in the dog's water...just think of the fun she will have with this!!

Another neat present that she got was a hand crafted t-shirt from Melissa!! Melissa has her own company, Melimba, and she makes the cutest creations!!! Stationery, clothes...and now her very own fabric!! She is quite the talented friend!! I wanted Brooklyn to have a cupcake shirt for her party...so Melissa designed one!!! ...AND she even gave us some stationery with cupcakes that have Brooklyn's name on them!! Fancy!!

Cousins & Baby Stella Dolls!!

TAADAA!!! The big finale!! After Brooklyn finished opening her gifts...she PULLED HERSELF UP!! Our little girl had not been wanting to stand...but how amazing is it that she did it when we had the camera out!! She acted as if she had been doing it her whole life!! (all 12 months of it!). She only did it one time that evening...but after that she was on a roll!!! It was funny, at first her legs would get so so wibbly wobbly and she would stand there crying...not knowing how to sit. Thankfully (for her sake), her legs have gotten stronger and she has figured out how to sit! She is know a furniture cruising fool!! ...and PS - a few days later she learned that she can also climb stairs!! (did I mention that I just ordered two baby gates? yes, yes...one for the top and bottom of the stairs...).

A hat or tutu, that is the question!

To wrap things up....my Mom and I took Brooklyn to JC Penny (a few days after her birthday) and had her picture taken with a little round cake from HEB. These were just diaper shots digging into the cake. This icing was definitely more fun for her to touch (either that or her cake digging experience has improved)...but she was such a mess and had a blast!! Our favorite was when she stuck her foot in it!! She LOVES to do things with her feet!! Then, she had enough and there were pink hand prints ALL OVER the sheet!!

Today, our wonderful friend Catherine (Four Creative Studio) took pictures of Brooklyn in her tutu. A minor detail that I forgot. I bought Brooklyn a tutu for her Birthday...I thought it would be cute for her to wear. She actually just wore it during presents...and kind of looked like a little peacock when she stuck her hiny in the air and crawled. It was pretty fun! Aunt Jo even thought it made a festive hat! I agree, don't you? Anyways, we met Catherine today...and she was so gracious to take Brooklyn's picture!! She kind of reminded me of a little fairy in a garden! She just wore her birthday tutu and her multi-colored corker bows from Grandma. I can't wait to see the pictures!! We are doing family pictures with Catherine this next week!!

Alrighty, I seem to be a bit long-winded...but it was a BIG day in our little Brooklyn's life...so I had a lot to say. I think this seems to sum up all things 1st Birthday. Pictures you ask? Yes, that will be my next step...to add pictures for this post....AND the last!!