12 months: Happy Birthday Edition

It’s official. We survived the first year. Thank you Jesus.

There were times when I was just praying to make it through the night, and making it a whole year was barely even on my radar. But we did it! And we have the most amazing little boy to show for it.

So, you are officially invited to G’s virtual birthday party (just one week later! I’m not that much of a slacker mom, right?)

The theme was “I Dig Being One!”

Since he was turning one on the first day of the month, we had the party at one o’clock to keep with the 1.1.1 theme. And the construction stuff? Well, we thought it was perfect since his favorite toy is his construction truck that says “I dig the dirt.” and “I dump the dirt.” and “Be careful around construction sites.” It also says “I build the buildings.” and one day when he grows up and works for the family business can build the buildings too.

And this is what Garrett thinks about that idea:

Just in case anyone forgot, he had not only a hat but also a personalized shirt declaring that it was his first birthday!

A big thank you to Nana for bringing him this awesome shirt with his name on it! He loved it!

But he was not so sure about that noisemaker thingie.

He even had a big banner with reserved parking for Garrett (and his presents!)

All the guests enjoyed a great big Taco Bar with all sorts of mexican food prepared by yours truly.

The Leggo construction themed cakes were prepared by Publix, because yours truly knows better than attempt another massively decorated cake the night before she has a huge group of party guests coming to her house.

The other good thing about Publix cakes? They include a FREE SMASH CAKE when you tell them it’s a first birthday cake! Isn’t that awesome?

I thought so.

Here is G checking out the goods for the first time. He’s thinking, “Ooooooh Baaaaby. Just wait til I get ahold of you. Your icing is MINE.”

Oh, and since this is a monthly update and all, I’ll fill yall in on developmental news, he’s still babbling like a mad man, but the only word he uses in the right context is “Byebye” as he waves. There are plenty of other words that he babbles –mama, dada, and baaaaaa when you ask him what a sheep says. Trouble is, he doesn’t use them consistently in the right context yet. He has just started to try to repeat the sounds of words back to me when I say them to him. He can get the “ish” of “fish” and “ip” for “flip” everyday when he flips the light switch as we head downstairs. And I know he comprehends a TON of words that we say because he follows directions well. I learned that one night as I sat down with a plate of dinner and asked “Garrett do you want a bite?” and he scooted over faster than lightning with his mouth wide open like a starving baby bird. So yeah, no doubt he understands what we’re saying.

As for walking, he’s not quite there yet either. He can cruise the entire room holding onto the furniture and the walls, kind of like me at an ice skating rink clinging to the wall at the edge. But let go and skate? No sirree. He will even take two steps from the ottoman as long as there is the soft safety of the couch waiting for him on the other side of those steps.

He will let go and stand unassisted for about 20 seconds, but he won’t take a step out into the open no matter how much coaxing or tempting treats we wave in front of him. Maybe one day soon. I know he can do it, it’s just overcoming that fear of letting go and skating off into the wild blue yonder. And when that happens, we’re in trouble. I have a feeling he’s going to go from zero to sixty as soon as he gets his nerve up.

His favorite thing to do right now is snort. He wrinkles up his nose and snorts like a bull charging a matador in the ring. I don’t know how or where he picked up this little habit, but he does it A LOT these days. Like all day everyday.

See? Here I am with Snorty McSnorterson.

He loved opening all of his gifts, and he even helped with a bunch of them.

He received all sorts of goodies, including dump trucks, a personalized step stool, a jack in the box, tons of cool toys, books and games and even some birthday money!

He also got lots of great clothes. He even got a sweater with Gus and Woodrow on the front! How perfect is that?

Everyone had such a great time at the party. It was so much fun to celebrate with family.

Ok, and now the part you’ve all been waiting for. The best party of the entire day–The Cake Smash.

Yall, it was so funny.

First, we lit his candle, and blew it out and everyone sang Happy Birthday.

Then he checked out the cake like, “What is this? An entire plate of sugary goodness that is ALL FOR ME?!!?

NO.

WAY.

I CAN’T BELIEVE MY LUCKY STARS!

And then he dug in.

And he was like a cake eating MACHINE!

He took a small breather, and then he was back at it, shoveling more into his mouth by the handful.

Double fisting the icing because one handed just wasn’t fast enough. He kept shoveling icing in his mouth until the whole top of the cake was nearly gone.

And eventually all the different colors in the icing started mixing together until they became a big brown smear on his face.

I think he would have eaten the whole thing if we had let him. But after about 5 minutes of sugar slurping mania, we decided enough was enough, and tried to take the cake away from him.

And just as J went to pick it up, Garrett got his hand underneath the bottom and shoved the ENTIRE cake in his face!!

That’s my boy! Never let a delicious baked good get away from you without putting up a fight!

Here is the end result. Garrett 1, Cake 0.

It’s going to take months to scrub away the greasy red Ring-Around-the-Tub that was left behind after this bath.

Thank you so much everyone for all of the great gifts and especially the great memories that we have of G’s first birthday. It was a wonderful day, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. After bathtime he went and took a nap while everyone else enjoyed cake and slowly trickled out the door. The whole party only lasted about 2 hours, but it was perfect! We had such a great day, and we really appreciate everyone making it so memorable.

Happy Birthday to my sweet little man. I hope you have a hundred more that are all just as much fun!!

I love you Garrett!