Birthday Party!

Hannah had an absolutely wonderful birthday party this year. I can certainly say that #2 was so much more fun than #1. Although Hannah's first birthday was a milestone in her life and it certainly reminded Jon and me of how far she'd come in her first year, she really wasn't all that into her birthday last year....she ate some cake, she checked out her presents, and played a little, but that was about it. This year....this year was different.

Hannah's wonderful babysitter, Lisa, made her birthday cake. We'd been talking about her birthday during the week, and when the Elmo cake came into the house on Friday afternoon, she went nuts. All she could talk about was her "Elmo cake" and "Hannah's birthday". It was so much fun to watch. We scheduled her party for Saturday afternoon so she'd be refreshed from her nap and our family from out-of town could make it, since no one from my side of the family was able to make it to her first birthday party. We decorated during her nap, so she woke up to a few Elmo decorations hanging from the ceiling, and Elmo plates & cups sitting out on the counter. She LOVED it!! She is now a pro at opening presents and wanted to play with each new toy as she opened it. We had a hard time convincing her to move on to the next gift! After presents we had City BBQ for dinner, which was very yummy and it meant that no one had to cook. We ended the night with a very, very yummy cake.

It was a great day for everyone - we had a houseful of family and a few friends. Hannah is really developing her own personality and it is so much fun to watch her grow up and become more independent. After Hannah went to bed we managed to visit for a little bit before everyone left. I love it when our house is full of family and friends enjoying each other's company.

Enjoy the pictures!

Hannah's cake

Hannah's new play dough

(until now, we only had the homemade kind!)

Books & Puzzles - What Fun!!

Jaidyn is so excited about the presents that she forgets that she's only 7 months old...this little turkey is trying to walk!!

Hannah's friend Jake brings her a present

(and Hannah is wearing the new Elmo backpack from Grandma Folger...she didn't want to take it off all evening!)

Cousin Gavin likes the wrapping paper!
Gavin's other love -- Hannah's car!!
Hannah wasn't too sure about the lit candles in front of her or everyone singing...and she really didn't want anything to do with blowing out the candles, either.
However, she was interested in licking the Elmo sugar cubes that were helping to decorate the cake....
She may have been on sugar overload after the Elmo sugar cube because she really didn't want much cake, and was actually asking me to go upstairs for her bath/bedtime.
Grandma Folger introduces Jaidyn to the "birthday cake" song.....and like the rest of us, Jaidyn isn't too sure about it.....

"Help, what is this lady doing singing...."

In the end, Jaidyn thinks the song is funny....as did everyone else. Mom used to use it in her kindergarten classroom and every now and then she'll break it out and sing it at a birthday party. The first time I remember it was for my Grandpap Catney when he turned 75...it garnered some laughs then, and still does!

Susan reads to the kids
"okay guys - show me your teeth!"

Uncle Josh meets Jake's new sister, Megan, who attended her first party at 10 days old!

As usual, Hannah begged for a bath with Jake, so we did bathtime together.

After Susan's story about "teeth" Hannah keeps pointing to Jake's teeth!

A very excited girl at the end of her big party day!

In the weeks since Hannah's party, she has frequently asked about having an Elmo cake and presents. Apparently, it's difficult to explain to a child that you only have one birthday a year. I think that having her birthday less than a month from Christmas (which we celebrated twice) has made her think that every time we have people coming to the house that she's getting an Elmo cake and presents.