The Big ONE!

Bueller? Anyone?

Seriously...I'm majorly stinking at this blog thing lately. To be honest, I was kind of stinking at the whole life thing there for a bit and blogging seemed WAY down on the list, but I left off at such a huge milestone, and I'm determined to get back to my blogging, as I am also feeling like I'm getting my mojo back. Thanks to my 3 or 4 dedicated readers who actually enjoy following along with me, but mostly this is for my kiddos in hopes that one day they'll be able to read back on these mostly great, and some not so great, memories. 

So here it goes, my baby turned ONE.... Yes, it was like almost 2 months ago, but bear with me as I catch up to speed.  After all, any baby that dives face first into her cake like this deserves a great post from her mommy to document it:

We celebrated Charlotte's first birthday in St. Louis.  Since most our family and close friends are there, it made sense.  We rented my parents clubhouse just like we had for MJ's first birthday party a few years ago. We invited all Charlotte's family and just a couple close friends.  Since it was right near Christmas, I went with a gingerbread theme with colors of hot pink, turquoise, lime green, and purple.  It was colorful but so fun and easy to decorate for!  I never knew there were so many Xmas decorations in that color scheme.  We had her party at 1PM and served a baked potato bar, a couple little munchies, cupcakes, punch, and water.  She seemed to be soaking it all in.  She was rather serious and inquisitive about it all.  She wasn't yet walking at the time but was crawling and cruising all over.  One thing was for sure....She LOVED cake! 

  It's my party, I'll eat my cake how I want to! 

 

 

Invitations to Miss Charlotte's birthday party

 



Her coordinating thank-you notes.  Thank you Etsy!

I found an Etsy designer I loved.  She was so incredibly cheap and made .jpeg images for me for the invites, thank you notes, this banner, and water bottle covers.  Made my job a cinch!

 

 

Decorating the clubhouse and ready for guests to arrive 

 



Charlotte's month-by-month photos

 



Goody bags and decor

 



Our precious birthday girl

 



Thanks to my mom for peeling and sticking all of these water bottle labels.  ;) 

MJ sure was happy to see his Mema arrive! 

The birthday girl arrived with her daddy

 



Goldfish cups and carrot/dip cups ready to be eaten

 



Baked Potato Bar..mmmm

So pleased with how adorable Charlotte's cake and cupcakes turned out.  Thanks to my friend Jill for the wonder (and cheap) recommendation!  :)

 



Charlee's cute smash cake

Our little gingerbread birthday girl!

 

Mema and the birthday girl

 

Gigi, Meg, and her cuties-Haylee and Rylee

 

Daddy and the birthday girl

 



Mindy, mommy, and Miss C (Mindy was very newly pregnant with her own little one here)

 



Birthday Buddies!  Charlotte and Bennett, Stephanie's son, were born just 4 days apart. 

Time to blow out the candles!

 



 Mmmm...I think I like this.

 

 

 

 

 

Time for birthday presents, and big brother MJ was happy to help.

 



 

I love this picture of all the kids gathered around looking at the presents and Charlotte just taking it all on.  Her dress didn't stay down the whole party I don't think.  I'm glad I added the bloomers at the last minute.  She was such a busy girl!

 

PopPop reading with Charlotte

 

MJ had quite a grand time at his little sister's party.  He was such a great helper and loved playing with his cousins and little friends. 

 

 

The following day, December 23rd, was Charlotte's actual birthday.  It was nice and low key and just quietly celebrated.  I dressed her in her sweet little birthday outfit and we spent the day at my parents just playing with new toys and enjoying the kids.  How in the world did my baby girl already turn 1 year old?  Seems like it was just Christmas time in the hospital with me snuggling my newborn.  One year later I can't even imagine how my life seemed complete without her.  I know it's so cliche', but it goes sooo fast and even so much faster the second time around than it did with MJ.  

 

 Melt my heart!

 

Officially a one year old cutie!

 

 

That night we went to Crown Candy Kitchen, in St. Louis, to celebrate.  It had been years since I had been there, but Mat and the kids had never been.  My parents had taken me several years ago, and while it was fun to go there with my own kids, I think it left a much bigger and better impression on me when I was younger.  Ha!  Charlotte had a grilled cheese and special little birthday sundae (her first ice cream) to celebrate.  She then opened a couple presents from mommy and daddy. 

 Big smiles for her new drum!

 



She received her first little purse with pretend money, keys, and lipstick.  She now likes to walk around pretending to put her lipstick on.  :) 

 

After Crown Candy we headed to Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo.  We did this a couple years ago when MJ was little and had a blast.  Somehow this year the crowd was MUCH larger.  When we saw all the traffic as we approached, we were about to ditch the plan all together, but MJ was about to go into meltdown mode.  Little guy had been looking forward to it all day, so we pushed through, and I'm glad we did.  It was definitely a great time, despite the large crowd.  I also vividly remember that Charlotte began to make her wishes known that she did not want to be in her stroller and she was ready to walk like a big girl.  She still needed help with this task and just did a few steps at a time, but her independence definitely began to be asserted.  Within just a few more days, she was walking on her own! 

 

Thanks to all who celebrated our sweet girl, and thanks to all who have prayed for her, loved on her, and celebrated her over the past year.  We are so blessed by this little girl.  Sometimes I still feel in shock that we even conceived her and now here she is charming us all!  God's plan for our lives never ceases to amaze me!