Emily's First Birthday

Emily is a year old. Already. In big ways I'm happy that we're a year in ~ having two as close together as we did was really really hard there at first. I realize we don't hold any records for babies being born close together, but for us, this is as close as we've gotten and with my extended recovery, there were a lot of challenges at the beginning. These days we're healthy and a year for a 2-ish year old brings a lot of maturity and more understanding to how things work in the world. All good things!

At the same time of course we're sentimental to the time that's gone by, not wishing away too quickly.

When you get to bring home this:
of course there is a specialness to having a new little life at home!

Today she looks like this:
There is so much that is wonderful about being one. Personality starts emerging (she laughs spontaneously and shakes her head no with fervor), language develops (her new word ~ we are SO proud ~ is p-o-o-p), and mobility increases (she is climbing stairs, crawling long distances and cruising the furniture).

We celebrated Emily's birthday with the traditional night-before picture, to celebrate saying good-bye to being 11-months old:

Family and some friends came over that night to help us celebrate. A last minute catastrophic failure of the crown-shaped cake meant a quick run to CostCo... and while it was sad to not have things go just as we'd planned/hoped, we chose to be grateful for things working out alright in the end.

We interrupted Emily's PT to take a picture next to clock on the minute ~ 10:33am ~ she was born. Another tradition!

Later, the table was set and ready to party!

We now have to question the sanity of parents who put FIRE in front of any (and every) one year old...what are any of us thinking?

Thankfully, she was fine ~ the wax from the candle ended up on her fingers, but she didn't get burned.

She was back shortly to enjoy her cake: That's a happy birthday girl!
After doing as much damage to her dive-in cake as she could, she got whisked away to the tub. The smiles continue!

Then it was time for presents! For just a little thing, she sure was spoiled!

A cute and instantly loved Care Bears Penguin from the Mitchell's

Big bucks from Grandma and Grandpa Freeman

A talking purse from Grandma and Grandpa Evans

Outfits from Chris and Jennie

Overall, a good day!

We love you, Emily Dear, and are so glad to have you with us in our family!