Birthday Wishes- Take 2!

Originally, my thought was to celebrate Hattie's first birthday ON her birthday... Friday evening, a few family members, some cake... and done. Then (bear with my side story here) one of my girlfriends made a comment about how much all of the girls looked alike. While I searched for pictures of them all about the same age to compare (because I just don't see the resemblance ...) I came across photos from both of the older girls first birthday parties.... and guilt took over. It wouldn't be fair to Hattie not to be able to celebrate her special birthday with friends, family, and a nice cake because mom was feeling lazy... ahem, I mean overwhelmed... would it? Besides, as Lucy liked to remind me- this was going to be Hattie's "sparkle" (golden) birthday. We HAD to have a party, didn't we? 

So.... on to Pinterest I went. I had pinned a cake a few months back that I was eager to try out- It had cake pops baked inside to give the cake a "polka-dot" effect when you cut into it. And so... Hattie's polka-dot themed birthday party was born! 

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the party! (a special thank you to my good friend, Diann, who took over 'camera duty' so I could tend to guests!) 

Hattie's almost-completed birthday tutu make a nice accent to her cake!

  while the outside of this cake was pretty easy... those damn polka dots inside were another story.... At least it didn't turn out like any of these cakes here

 Party favors... because frankly, who doesn't love gumballs? 

Hattie's polka dot wall of birthday wishes!

 Maggie's wish for Hattie: "I wish you wr a mermad with me." 

Month by month garland... Man, time flies!

 Uncle Eric and cousin Milan were there to celebrate!

  Gramma and the birthday girl

 Gramma catches both Hattie and cousin Leo for a quick snuggle!

I worked really hard on Hattie's birthday outfit... and am bummed that I completely forgot to take a full-body picture of her in it! Grrr....

the family

blowing out her candle!

 as awful as it was to bake- it was worth it! I think it turned out awesome inside!

 

 cupcakes and gumballs....

 Hattie loves the cake!

Claire and Emmalyn enjoy a cupcake... while Hattie tries to see what's going on... 

 

 ...still eating...

 Hattie takes a break to share a smile with Kurt!

 Papa shakes cake crumbs out of Hattie's tutu...

 ...and she thinks it's the funniest thing ever!

Hattie's "after cake" face... Not too bad!

  Gale and Anderson

 party guests

 Ready to open presents!

 Hattie realizes all this celebration is just. for. her!

 Hunter and Gramma

 Not sure what the conversation was here... but I look confused... and Hattie looks like she's having a blast!

 after presents. the kids all disappeared into the living room... where they set up school and practiced fire drills

 Leo

 Hattie gets a snuggle from her godmother, Jill

 Lucy found the gumballs... 

 Maggie's birthday card for Hattie- "for the swetist litl grl in town" Adorable!

 H is for Hattie!

 someone's getting tired!

after all the guests left... someone needed a good nap!

If you've been following this blog at all, you know how much emotion was behind my baby turning one. (if not, check it out here) Looking back, I am so, so glad we chose to celebrate in a BIG way. She deserved it. 

We used this poem on the back of Hattie's b-day invitations. It pretty much sums up exactly how I was feeling about her first birthday!
"The cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,

For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow. 

So quiet down cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.

I'm rocking  my baby... and babies don't keep." 

Birthday Wishes- Take 1!

On Friday, We woke up to this face: 

"Why so happy?" you might wonder... Well, obviously this little peanut realized it was her BIRTHDAY! Not just any birthday, either- her first... her GOLDEN (or as the girls call it, her "sparkle") birthday! We had a day full of celebrating ahead of us! 

 All dressed and ready to go... She looked adorable. I'm kind of bummed that this is the best picture I could get!

Thanks to parent-teacher conferences, Maggie had the entire day off school. We all got dressed and picked up gramma on our way to a 10am appointment. After it was over, we met papa at Olive Garden... that's where big sisters picked to celebrate Hattie's birthday lunch. 

 Hattie opens the first of many gifts to come.... Look what gramma and papa got me!

And of course.... no celebratory lunch would be complete without an ince cream sundae, of course!

 Snuggling with papa...

 ...and gramma, too.... (although it looks like Hattie was in the midst of a headband malfunction here) 

Quick picture with mom before we head out!

After lunch, we had a few stops to make to pick up some last minute supplies for the big PAR-TAY on Saturday. Then we hurried home because Grandma Bernie and Grandpa Mark were on their way to town. We got home just in time! We just got in, got the van unloaded and got everyone settled when they showed up. After pizza, we brought out Hattie's birthday cake. 

Why so sad, Hattie? 

Singing Happy Birthday... and she has no idea what's going on.... 

I had baked a "real" one for the party on Saturday, and wasn't quite up to making a second.... so I picked one up while I was out running errands. My choices were limited- a small white cake with a mishapen shamrock... or a chocolate cake with blue roses. I never even considered what chocolate frosting + blue roses would look like smeared across the face of my one year old: 

 

  

....AND.... I'm done!

After a quick (but sooooo necessary) bath- it was time for presents. Both the girls had cards and gifts for Hattie and we had a "little" something for her as well.... 

...a brand new car! (Dan and I are still trying to figure out how we made it through 3 kids without owning a Little Tykes coupe car befoer this point....) 

Happy (almost) Birthday!

In a matter of hours, February will come to an end and we'll be able to flip the calendar page to March. In a matter of hours, Thursday will turn into Friday, and we will all be one day closer to the weekend. In a matter of hours, my sweet chunk-a-lunk-a baby turns one. 

Sigh. 

I've done this before. Twice before, in fact. For some reason, this particular milestone is hitting my heart in just the right spot. My poor co-worker Jennifer, saw waaaaay too many tears today. She finally stopped asking about Hattie's birthday party and gave me a quick "I can't wait to see pictures!" before she darted out of the office at the end of the day. There is something about the fact that this may very well be the last "first" birthday we get to celebrate in the Salmon house... (yes... you heard right. It MAY be the last....) 

Sure, in the morning her fingers will still be fat and dimpled. Her neck will have that awesome smell... like a mixture of baby lotion and yeast dough. Her hair will still be wild and unruly. Her goofy grin will still show off her eight little jack-o-lantern teeth. Her fat little toes will still curl up when I try to put her shoes on. But... she will be one. 

The weekly emails I get from babycenter.com (yes... I still get them!) will change from "Your baby should be  able to....." to "Your toddler should be able to...." Such a small, small difference- but it's monumental to me. Tomorrow I will once again pack away my copy of "Great Expectations: Baby's First Year" that I read faithfully on the first of each month, anxious to be reminded of what milestones to look forward to. I'm scared and heartbroken that I might not ever need to pull that book out again. I know I should be excited about what's to come... and I am! It has been so incredible to watch the older girls grow into these awesome little people.... and I am so excited to see what type of awesome little person Hattie will grow into. But I would be a complete liar if I told you I wasn't going to miss the "baby" stage- the newborn, milk-breath, scrunched up, squeakiness of a newborn to the bananas-in-her-hair, crawling-into-the-kitchen-drawers fearlessness of an almost one year old. I love, love, love being a momma to babies. It just all goes too fast. And that makes me sad. 

Sigh... again. 

I love you with parts of my heart I didn't even know existed until the day you were born. 

I can say without a doubt that you were the best surprise I've ever received. 

Happy, happy birthday, Miss Hattie Irene. 

SNOW DAY!

Finally! Students (and teachers) all over SE Wisconsin were doing the happy dance when school was canceled this morning! They were predicting 3-6 inches of wet, heavy snow. This afternoon, I took the yard stick out and measured almost 11" and it was still coming down. They are predicting another 1-3 inches to fall yet tonight. 

While dad still had to go into work, the girls and mom had a great day at home. Hattie (decked out in her snowman finest!) had a great time watching the big, white, fluffy flakes fall all morning through the family room window. She was truly fascinated.... a future meteorologist, perhaps? 

After naps, the girls and I tried a little science experiment... just because we could. It turned out super cool! We took dishes of milk (the higher fat, the better- we used Hattie's whole milk)...

The girls carefully dropped food coloring into the milk. 

 Then we took Dawn dishsoap and placed a SINGLE drop into the dish. The colors run together and make the coolest designs. The girls seriously watched this for close to 10 minutes. It was really neat! They were heartbroken when I finally dumped it all down the sink! 

While the girls were "scientists," Hattie was busy in the corner, preparing us a snack... 

She also took the opportunity to climb into several drawers. The one that holds the pots and pans lids seemed to be a favorite... 

 Once our science experiment came to and end, the girls weren't ready to be done with their aprons just yet. They decided it was a good day for watercolors. They worked really hard on making birthday cards for Miss Hattie (but shhhh..... don't tell her!) 

Finally! After dinner, the big girls headed outside with Dad to help him shovel....

 ....while Hattie watched from the front window....

 Look at that snowman! 

What a super awesome day with my snowbabies!