We started out the celebration with a music-themed birthday party on Saturday. Because Siena doesn't have a ton of friends of her own yet, we invited our closest friends and family and we all celebrated together. Preparing for the party was no big deal...in comparison to the cake. Matt and I had this "brilliant" idea that we would make and decorate Siena's cake. We thought it out and had it all figured out in our heads. Making it happen was another story. We took the better part of Friday to create an "eighth note" cake out of sheet cake and decorate the entire thing with little "puffs" of icing. There were times I wanted to throw the cake out the window, against the wall, and/or in my face...but the end result wasn't half bad. I'm not going to quit my day job, but it was an adventure, none the less. The rest of the party planning was relatively low stress and it all came together.
The day of the party, there has to be something that goes wrong, right? Well, ours was no exception. It has been blistering hot the past couple weeks. Saturday morning, our air conditioning decided not to work. While I prepared for the party in the hot house, Matt and his dad worked to fix the air. They managed to get it fixed, but not quite fast enough for our air to make up for lost time. It couldn't get the entire house cooled down before 40+ people came into our house. Our house was REALLY hot and everyone was rather warm, to put it mildly. It's too bad, but the birthday girl didn't seem to care, and we all survived. What do you do...
We had some fun balloon decorations up, lots of food and drinks displayed, music playing, and the "birthday throne". As much as possible, people sat around in different rooms and mingled, ate, and watched Siena WALK around from plate to plate, asking for food.
The time finally came for Siena to dig into her very own cake. She had a ball. I think she had more fun playing in the mess than actually eating it, but that's what it's all about, right?! She shared bites with us and even showed us how old she was. She loved being the center of attention (scary!) and was quite entertained. Just the way it should be for her very first taste of cake!
After cake, we moved right to presents. Siena had LOTS to open! She found great joy in ripping at the packages and pulling at the paper. That may have been more of a highlight than the actual gift. But she got some really sweet, thoughtful gifts that she will really enjoy. She got so many, I'm considering putting them away and taking a new toy out every couple weeks...I think that would get us to Christmas! :)
Siena's birthday party was a great success - a HOT success, but a fun time none the less. We are so thankful for her and for our friends and family who came to share in the festivities. All great things to celebrate!
Today, Siena's actual birthday, was another chance for us to celebrate. The birthday girl decided to sleep in a little, and I couldn't resist. Does it get much cuter?
Matt had football practice in the morning, so Siena and I got to go out and about a little in the morning. We met the "girls" for breakfast first thing in the morning. I ordered Siena a blueberry muffin, stuck a candle in it, and it was her first treat of the day. She loved that muffin! (She made a huge mess - but again, isn't that what it's all about?) Tara even painted the birthday girl's toes, which was no easy task. Gotta look cute with pink toes for your birthday! The girls made her feel very special...we ALWAYS look forward to our dates with the girls.
After Matt got home from practice, it was time for us to celebrate Siena as a family. Matt and I took our little angel to Build-A-Bear, where she got to pick out and create a stuffed animal. Matt took her along the wall to let her pick out her very own. She gave them all hugs, but seemed to gravitate towards a cute little monkey. Siena helped stuff the monkey, pick out a heart, kiss the heart, and put the heart in the monkey. Matt and I recorded a little message for the monkey to hold in his arm that Siena can play whenever she likes. After the monkey was stuffed, she gave the monkey a bath. In creating the birth certificate, we asked Siena what she wanted to name the monkey. Her very own words were, "Yah-Yah". So, that is how Yah-Yah came to be. And trust me when I say, there were instant friends. She seriously loves that monkey. It's just about as big as she is and she takes it everywhere. Sometimes it creates a challenge for Siena when she tries to walk with the monkey, but she grabs it by the neck or the tail and drags it along with her! It makes me laugh. So cute.
After we created Yah-Yah, we went down to Crown Center to look at shops and eat. Little did we know the shops all closed at 6:00. So, arriving at 5:45 changed our plans just a little. No shops - just food! We ate at Fritz's, a really cute little hamburger joint that brings out the food on a little train that circles around the ceiling of the restaurant. That was right up Siena's alley! She loved watching the train come out to bring people their food. Lots to look at for sure! I don't think she minded the birthday milkshake that she got sips of either. :)
It was getting late, so we headed home. Of course, Yah-Yah was there to great Siena when we got back to the car. We opened a couple more presents when we got home, and then the birthday girl went to bed to get her beauty sleep. In my opinion, it was the perfect day. We had a lot of fun spending time together - and the smiles that Siena gave all day were an indication that she enjoyed it too. Momma loves you, Siena! And so does Daddy...very much!!!
To cap off the night, Matt and I opened a very special bottle of "Siena" wine. My family gave it to us when Siena was born. We promised to wait a year and enjoy it on her first birthday. So, cheers to a wonderful, richly-blessed year. Lord willing, we anticipate many more celebrations in the future.
