Ryan's birthday was wonderful! We woke up early and opened presents as a family:
Ryan and I played all day together, doing whatever he wanted to do (I swear, he told me he REALLY wanted to go to Trader Joe's...so we did! AND, they gave him a sticker!)
The day's activities:
Seth got home pretty early from work, so we went to a park so Ryan could swing on the swings. As a bonus, he got to do this:
Dad always asks me if Ryan is curling his toes, because if he is, he wants to go to the beach. Well, Dad, you're right. Ryan always wants to go to the beach!!! Look at those toes!
After the park, we took Ryan to Sharkey's for his first "eating out" meal. We bought him a little kids (cough...organic, whole wheat, brown rice, sugar-free...cough cough...)meal, and he ate most of it and loved it! Then we came home, and thanks to Emily had a delicious cupcake to give to baby Ryan!
I'm so glad we had a chance to have a Family Birthday party and celebrate with our little man!
There is so much to say about Ryan's First birthday that I'm saving it for another post. To sum it up, I LOVED Ryan's actual Birthday. He was adorable and we had so much fun together all day!
The next day we had Ryan's birthday Party! I have to admit I felt a little air of criticism creep in from several people as the party planning was under way. Of course no baby needs a completely detailed "event" type party for their birthday, and it's true that they don't remember it.
The reason why we threw the party is because we felt strongly that we needed to celebrate the year mark for baby Ryan and for our little family. We wanted celebrate his life, his entry to the world, the wonderfully active, involved and adorable little child we have, and the fact that we made it through some terribly emotional postpartum, unemployed, bar-studying, mastitis and biopsy scary times, relatively unscathed!!! So...we do what we know how to do...we celebrate with all of the friends around who have made an impact on his life and on ours! We couldn't have done it without the help of friends and family, so why not CELEBRATE, and celebrate together!!!
(Also...I shamelessly admit that I've always wanted to throw a "cute" party and haven't ever had the chance. It was FUN to work with sister Heather and friend Elizabeth and figure out a cute design for the invite and the decor and cake and refreshments, it was even more fun during naps to put together little projects, it was fun to have Holly make a beautiful sign and for Emily to bring her delicious foods...it was even fun to bust out my wedding "party platters" that Seth couldn't figure out why I wanted so...there's a time for celebration, and this was it!!!)
Ta-Da!!!! Elizabeth is the genius behind the cake and cupcakes. She posted all about it!
S'more Cupcakes.
Caramel Apple Cupcake.
AND for the big event--The Cake!
He couldn't quite figure out the fondant...
and so we peeled back a few layers, and this is how he started out...
And then he got all into it...not eating, but SMASHING! If you're going to watch one video, watch this one, it's awesome!
He pretty much leveled the whole thing!
Ryan had fun playing with his little friends:
He especially enjoys hugging little W:
Some of Ryan's Friends even came dressed in costume:
They are so cute! (...and we're missing little Natalie! She was there and adorable, we missed getting pictures, though!)
All in all, a wonderful day, a wonderful party, with wonderful friends, for our wonderful little baby toddler Boy. It really turned into a party when Seth brought out the balloon animals!
By the end of the party, little Ryan was tuckered out!
Thank you SO much to our friends for joining us in celebrating a year worth remembering!!!
Phew. I might not sleep tonight. The adrenaline rush in hitting submit alone was enough to power me through a few miles! (maybe I should have registered RIGHT before the race...)
*The picture is because once Mary told me that when she runs she pretends like she's Jennifer Garner on Alias, and I never have been able to get that image out of my head since. I AM Jennifer, I AM! ;)
I REALLY want a Brazilian hair treatment. Like, REALLY a lot. Wondering what that is? It's a hair treatment that smooths, defrizzes, and pretty much straightens hair out without damaging or lots of crazy chemicals.
And this blogger (who I follow regularly) Stacey, is giving one away!!
What a better way to perform a Christmas miracle, but by transforming my hair into a non frizzy, sleek, beautiful work of art? Not really. But at least it's a start!
Sigh, and while we're performing Christmas Miracles, do you think the hair fairy could also have my hair grow 12 inches tonight? That would be fabulous. Thanks Hair Fairy!
I REALLY should be posting about Ryan's EPIC 1st Birthday party right now, but it is too daunting a task tonight. So instead, I will post our latest "Cell Phone Camera Moments"
1. Ryan's first trip to B&N. I was so excited for this. I plopped right down on the floor to read him "The Little Engine that Could". It was so exciting to see him wandering around loving all the options for books (and all the children who were trying to read!)2. "Fold your arms for the Prayer!" Seth gets FULL credit for this one. He always makes sure to ask Ryan to fold his arms, and Ryan is so good at it! Sadly, I was trying to teach him to sign "Please" around the same time...so he got them a little confused and now folds his arms nicely whenever he wants something! 3. Whenever we come to this picture in Ryan's "Opposites" book, Ryan points excitedly to it and says "Da! Da!" It sounds exactly like how he says Dad. ????? Any resemblance? 4. "Teeth" Ryan loves helping us brush our teeth, and loves even more brushing his own. Guess he has a grandpa who is a dentist so it's in the genes! Don't worry...I got a new toothbrush. 5. "Buzz" Seth and I got Ryan this push/ride Buzz Lightyear car for his birthday. I'm pleased that he really likes it! He learned to push all the buttons. His favorite is the one that says "We seem to be low on crystallic fusion, this vehicle requires foot-power!" (You don't think I have it memorized at this point?). He also maybe sits on it backward most times so that his little diaper bum will push the buttons for him. Then he can hold his "dag" (dog) at the same time. Ryan has LOVED all his fun new toys he got on his birthday. MANY thanks, from ALL of us!
Or, Mario Son and Papa Luigi with Mama Toad sidekick. Seth has had this idea for several months, and I really resisted it because I had a vision of Ryan in red tights as superman/baby...but once I found out Superman has blue tights with red boots it was all over anyway, so I went with it. Several hours of my week were devoted to figuring out how to make Ryan's hat and overalls, and then turning and making my hat and vest. Seth bought his coverall costume, and since it was a hideous fit (seriously, it was scandalous!) we decided to cut off the legs and make it into a shirt for him. Ahhhh much better.
Initially we were trying to paint on a 'stache for Ryan, but mama wasn't digging it so dad relented. Ewwww!
Again, Ahhhh much better :)
Ryan's friend Whitney as the gorgeous bumblebee! After this picture Ryan just turned and gave W a big Hug. It was way cute. Even though Ryan didn't get any candy, you'd think he was full of sugar as he ran around the cultural hall! He was so happy to let loose and run around!
I have to give props to our ward and their ability to execute such a cute trunk or treat! It was so fun to see everyone's creative genius!
Bart was Captain Moroni with the Title of Liberty...pretty much the book of mormon was depicted in his trunk! Kudos!
Cindee, our Primary President, went all out with the Simpsons. She was a lovely marge, and was a big hit with all the kids! (And the adults, she had some awesome donuts!) RYAN especially loved her because at the end of the night she gave him a balloon....and he couldn't get over it, it was his prized possession! Johnny Mask always is full of surprises. This year it was a dancing skeleton in the middle with some spooky rogue arms, too. He completed the spookiness with pictures from his last film. They were creeppy!
Even the Elders got in on the spirit of Halloween with pass-a-long cards and Books of Mormon! Thanks Elders! I was happy for LA weather and Holly's awesome camera to catch these moments! :)By the end of the night, Ryan was worn out and haggard in his too-snug costume that he managed to destroy and get super super dirty. Being Mario is tough!
