Miss Madeline celebrated her 1st birthday in style today with the birthday party to end all birthday parties! We had a wonderful GiGi the Giraffe cake and family and friends came over to celebrate the end of Madeline’s babyhood and the beginning of Toddlerhood!

Unfortunately Madeline did not get the memo that she was supposed to be happy about this.

The poor dear was so shocked when she woke up from her nap and there were all these people in her house that she stuck to me like Velcro for most of the day. When she wasn’t velcroed to me she was stuck to Jonathan. She did break out of her shell a little bit later in the day and ended up enjoying playing with some of her cousins and watching them open her presents.

The cake “smashing” was not smashing at all. After trying to grab the candle and shocking herself in the process, she really didn’t want much to do with the cake. The girl touched the frosting on the cake and made this face like…uh, no way. She took one taste, but really wanted nothing to do with the cake at all….such a change from Claire who shoved the entire portion of cake into her mouth and screamed for more.

She received some VERY nice gifts including some adorable clothes and a couple cool toys. So far her favorites seem to be the bath toys and the wooden rainbow arches.

When all was said and done, Madeline was in bed by the end of her party — in the peace and quiet of her room which she loves so much.

And yes, if that dress looks familiar, Claire did wear it for her 1st birthday. Here they are side by side….they do look like sisters, but they both have distinct looks, don’t you think? How I found that same bib and the same tiara two years apart, I have no clue!

yeah I failed….;)

But look for a super sappy my baby is 1 post tomorrow…

…I signed up to do this blog post a day thing and now I’m clamoring about what to write.

Claire has her first “friends” birthday party this weekend.  10 3-year olds going bowling.  I so can’t wait.  It’s going to be absolutely hysterical.

Kelly, Ali & Emily are participating, so I am too!

http://nablopomo.ning.com/

guilt, harass, pester, and annoy certain people into updating their blog.

You know who you are.

But this is what we got her for her birthday.

Yes, that is truly a band in a box. I don’t know what we were I was thinking exactly….but I know she’ll love it. I pray for my sanity and my hearing.

And this…

It’s a wooden birthday cake set. The girl is obsessed with “birthday parties” so now she can have one of her own anytime. The toppings all velcro on to the top of the cake.

Melissa & Doug make such cool wooden toys. And there’s no danger of lead paint, which is an added bonus for sure.

We’re having her birthday party on September 8th at the local elementary school playground. They have a really nice pavilion that we rented, or rather reserved (it was free!). She’ll share her party with her cousins Nora and Kyle who all have September birthdays as well. Pray for a nice day!

I can’t believe my little baby is going to be 3…..

This weekend was extraordinarily busy. I am not sure I remember Saturday, but I do know that I got up and went to a 7:30 a.m. eyedoctor appointment. Anne went to a baby shower somewhere in there, and I mowed the lawn, and then Anne went to cantor at Church.

Today, I got up and went to early Mass (7:00), then came home. We played with the kids, etc., until Anne left at 9:45 to go to prepare to sing with the St. Pius Festival Choir - today was the annual Church picnic. Anne came back around 10 mins after 1:00 - at that point I was kidded out, as both Claire and Mads were rather…high-energy…today. Fortunately, Mads took a nice nap from 1:00 - 2:30, so she was well rested when we went back to the picnic from 2:30 - 4:00. Then we went shopping and came home. Anne wasn’t feeling well, so she took a catnap and I played with and fed the girls. She got up, and I gave Claire a bath (she was diiiirty) - then I read Claire some stories and I put her in bed while Anne was putting Mads in bed. Claire proceeded to be up and down for the next hour, until I finally went up and snuggled her, told her she had to be good and stay in bed. So, she did. (I have to remember to ask first, threaten later.)

–Jonathan

so it begins!  I’m off until next thursday.  We’re headed up to the Lake on Monday morning and to a wedding tomorrow.  Fun stuff.  Have a great weekend!