Happy 1st Birthday Spencer!

August 22, 2009 - 1st Birthday

My baby turned "1" this past Saturday. I can hardly believe it. And just to prove that he is getting to be a big boy, he decided to start REALLY walking today. For the past 5 weeks, he's been cruising around with a toy or furniture in front of him. Then the past 2-3 weeks he's wanted nothing more than to hold our hand and walk around. Suddenly this afternoon, when he was home with Brad, it just clicked and now he won't stop! He walked a circle around the living room for about 10 minutes tonight, smiling the whole time, so proud of himself. Mommy and daddy were smiling, too, equally as proud!

His birthday party was a mix of fun and chaos...what I expect all birthdays will be from now on. Both of my sisters and their families were here, my mom, a few neighbors, and several friends. A few of our friends have babies the same age as Spencer, so they just crawled over each other, grabbing for the same toys. The older kids ended up unwrapping most of his gifts and playing with many of them. It's nice to know he may get some use out of his toys for years to come, although I'm sure he will be bored of them by then and find more enjoyment in another child's toys! I don't think he got one toy that doesn't make noise, other than a few books and cars/trucks. That must have been the theme printed in tiny print on the bottom of his invite. Funny that I missed that. My sister Talitha definitely took home 1st prize for the loudest toy. It wasn't so much the electric ridable motorcycle she got him, but more specifically the Schwinn horn she attached to the handlebars. She was laughing so hard she was crying, as was I. She told me many times over the years, as I got whistles and noisemakers for my nieces, that I would pay. And so I am.

He didn't disappoint with his smash cake, doing all the right things. He smashed away at the frosting, tasted it, got it all over his face, and smiled the whole time. It was perfect. The frosting looked like it might permanently stain his little cheeks and fingers red, but it amazingly came out in the bath we dumped him into immediately after the cake smashing!

It was a day I hope to remember always. I was so happy that my family was here to share it with me. I was sorry Brad's mom and his brother's family couldn't be here...they would have loved seeing the little monkey on his special day. So I am posting some pictures (and soon some videos on youTube) so that everyone can get a little glimpse of the birthday boy!