Hadley’s Birthday Weekend

It was ALL about the birthday princess this weekend!

We made a huge fuss over her from the time we put her to bed Friday night (knowing she’d wake up “1 year older”) til she went down Saturday night… I’ve been so sappy this entire weekend thinking about what were were doing this time last year.

I brought this pic back on Twitter Saturday morning. This is what I looked the morning of 8/20 LAST year right before we left for the hospital. Yikes. I hurt just looking at this. This defies gravity. How was I not falling over??

But I swear to you – when Hadley woke up that morning I think she knew she was a year older! She was a total mess all day. I mentioned she’s in to climbing now – but she’s taken it to a whole new level. I need visuals to tell this story…

{So this is how our kitchen is set up. The bar/island area separates the kitchen from the breakfast area, it has the sink on one side, and I put the kids’ activity table on the opposite side.}

Well I was putting up groceries that afternoon- (Mental note – do NOT go to Target on tax free weekend. HELL. It was necessary though.) Anyway – I was putting the groceries up and when I turned around I saw Hadley’s little head poking up from the other side of the sink. It took me by surprise at first but then when I realized what she was doing I about freaked out. I RAN to her, as calm as possible to not startle her, and sure enough the little booger had used the chairs to climb up on to the activity table. Ahh! I’m so thankful she didn’t fall on to the tile, but seriously… How do I baby proof for THAT. Knox was never a climber so this is new to me.

That same day I caught her standing up in her high chair. We never use the straps on it so I keep them tucked behind the cover, but I guess I’ll be pulling those out ASAP. She’s also in to using her Anywhere Chair to climb on to the furniture and then there’s her usual – climbing on to the mantle and the stairs. What am I gonna do with this little monkey?!?

{This is in honor of her growing in to her first pair of size 2 squeakers. Just in time for fall! We think the sound of her squeaking as she cruises is just adorable… Although once she starts walking I’m sure it will get old REAL fast and I’ll have to break out the stoppers.}

Saturday night we had Hadley’s little birthday celebration. I had started planning a party for her, but the closer we got the more impractical it was becoming. Literally none of our family would be here for it, and she is too young to appreciate it. I decided to save myself the stress (and $$) and just do a low-key family party for her. I never enjoy party day because I get so stressed out, and I feel like when I’m having to host something I miss engaging in the experience. So this was the right decision this year. I’m sure I’ll be having to throw many blow-outs in the future to make up for it…

Anyway – we started it off by getting Hadley’s exact birthday picture. This is something we’ve always done with Knox. We’re continuing the tradition, so here ya go…

Miss Hadley Carter on 8/20/2011 at 5:49pm. EXACTLY one year old.

I made a tray of my mom’s lasagna for dinner, and it may not have been AS good as hers, but it was close!

YUM! I’ve posted this recipe before here but I realized when making it there was a typo in that post – it should only be 1 egg mixed in with the ricotta. Not 2. I’ve fixed it now, though.

We had it with ceasar salad and Sister Schuberts rolls. Heaven on earth…

{These bottom two are Knox’s new “pout” face. He tries REALLY hard not to laugh when he does it… But I can always get him to cave.}

For dessert I made our new favorite - Chocolate Chip Poundcake. I know, I know – not your traditional birthday cake. But oh so good… And really, I don’t think Hadley minded a bit. I just cut off a slice for her, stuck a candle in it and we sang Happy Birthday.

After cake – it was bath time for both. They were a mess!

Then we headed in to the living room for presents…

I like the idea of getting the birthday boy/girl one “bigger” present – but having it be something that both/all kids can have fun with. We got Knox the swing set for his birthday, and for Hadley I decided on that adorable vintage kitchen. It’s more on the girly side, but still unisex. And I chose red over pink so we could keep it in the playroom. I just need to find some cute food and pots and pans for it.

We went ahead and got her two smaller gifts just for her…

A Cabbage Patch from Mommy and Daddy that she ADORES. They have a “Preppy” one that I really wanted to get her, but this is the only one they had that remotely looked like her at Target. Maybe we’ll find the Preppy one for Christmas. My mom recently sent me home with one of my old Cabbage Patch’s she found. (You know the one… Yarn hair. Pigtails…) She's looking pretty rough though! But really - I get the biggest kick over seeing Hadley loving her babies…

And then Knox “got her” a little developmental Fisher Price toy. It’s the cutest little thing – a gator ‘ball popper’. Both of them had the best time with this until it was bedtime. It was so funny because Hadley was squatting down beside it and James and I witnessed her stand straight up, dance to the music, and then squat back down. She did this like 5 times like it was nothing. Yet when we try to make her stand she goes limp in the legs. Little stinker.

We got the kids in bed on time Saturday, and James and I treated ourselves to a little “date night” at home. We baked up a crab cake and some panko shrimp and ordered Something Borrowed. If you haven’t seen it, it’s the cutest movie. Definitely a chick flick by default, but still funny enough to where James liked it too. A great date night movie.

Sunday we did a little work around the house and yard, and headed out to Costco for some essentials. (Again it was a nightmare being tax free weekend, but it was a must…)

I’m absolutely dreading tomorrow… Go figure – the ONE time I leave the house without my planner I screw up. I had to make a doctor appointment while we were at the Little Gym last week, and dummy me scheduled it for Monday (tomorrow) at 10am. I just realized yesterday that Hadley has her 1yr check-up tomorrow at 8am. Oh it’s gonna be a looooong morning. :-/