Happy First Birthday, Clara!

We had a few days of celebration for Clara's birthday, starting with a party with a few friends on Saturday morning. Because our family doesn't live here in town, and we just saw all of them about a week and a half ago, I knew they weren't going to come back around for her birthday. But, I still wanted a party, mostly so I could have fun planning it. It ended up being a little more work than was necessary, but it was fun. We met at our church basement and let the kids play with toys, had a short singing time, played on scooters, and then ate Clara's favorite lunch: chicken nuggets, green beans, canned pears, and crackers! I also made cupcakes with a little number 1 on them, and stuck some "flags" in them with a recent picture of her on one side and a picture of her as an infant on the other (an idea I got from "Family Fun" . . . love that magazine!). She was not feeling great that day, with an icky nose, but she still had fun.

Sunday was her actual birthday. We didn't do anything special that day, except that I put a cute "birthday cake top hat" on her that said "birthday girl" at church, which she willingly wore around all morning. She is the little princess at our church, being pretty much the only baby girl, and one of only two kids under the age of 3, at all. She got lots of "Happy birthday, Clara!" all morning, and didn't have a clue of why everyone was paying so much attention to her.

Finally, last night, Jeremy's parents drove up from Portland and my sister, Sara, came over for one more celebration. We ate another favorite of Clara's, homemade macaroni and cheese, with more green beans and rolls. Then, Clara opened a few more presents from Grandpa and Grandma, (she's getting used to opening presents now, with Christmas and her birthday so close together!) and then we did the traditional, first birthday, "let them dig into some cake and get it all over" thing. We have it on video, which I am determined to figure out how to upload onto here sometime in the next week. She actually didn't make that much of a mess . . it took her a while to even start eating it! Here are a few pictures: Eating her cupcake last night
Playing with a bow, which is WAY more exciting than the presents! There's her hat, too . . .
Opening a few presents at her party on Saturday
Our toddler and mommy group
"C" is for Clara! Happy Birthday!

Oh, I guess also, in keeping with tradition, I'll add one more update for her 12th month. Now that she's a year, I won't do this every month anymore. :(

1. I am walking/running all over the place with a lot of confidence now.

2. I still like my bottles of formula, and haven't figured out how to use a sippy cup yet, much to mommy's dismay. I will carry the sippy cup around with water or formula in it, and take a little sip here and there, but not enough to get my liquid intake for the day.

3. I am obsessed with dogs . . . every animal I see is a dog and I say "dah" and sign dog when I see it. However, recently I call our dog Mattie, "Daddy" which confuses mom and dad. Am I saying "Daddy?" which I also can say? Am I saying "Mattie?" Am I saying "doggy?"

4. I also say and sign "please," "milk," "all done," "bye," and I can do "more" but now that I do "please," I have pretty much dropped saying "more."

5. Most days, I take 2 naps, but sometimes I just hang out in my crib for an hour or so for one of them and fuss or talk to myself . . . or pull the wall paper border off the wall! Little stinker!

At the doctor yesterday, she was 29 inches long and 18 lbs., 4 oz., which is between 25th and 50th percentile for height, but only 10th percentile for weight. The doctor wasn't concerned, but did say to start her on some whole milk soon. And, we're trying to figure out how to fill her up with stuff that will add a little meat to her bones without having to feed her all day long. If you have suggestions, let me know!