Madelyn's Introduction to Cake

After Madelyn got home from playgroup she took a long nap, ate lunch, and then Daddy came home early to celebrate! She ate macaroni and cheese for dinner, and then got to meet her ladybug cake.  She had been wanting to play with her cake all day long, so she was pretty happy when we placed the cake in front of her.

Her day wasn't perfect though. As we started to move the cake closer to her, in preparation to blow out her candle, her little pointer finger pointed right into the flame. After a few minuets of tears she was ready to eat a cupcake, but didn't want anything to do with the ladybug. 

 After a quick warm-up with the cupcake she was ready to destroy her first cake.  

What an accomplishment!

As she finished off her first cake I couldn't help but to look at Madelyn and think to myself, "What an accomplishment!"  She has grown up so quickly, I can't believe that she is already one.  She is turning into her own little person.  She is full of cheesy smiles and complete happiness. She truly has filled our lives with her joy over the past year.  We are so proud of her!  Happy Birthday Madelyn!  

Happy Birthday Part One!

Madelyn is officially one!!  Such an exciting day and yet she has no clue what is going on.  Anyway, we decided to let her open her presents in the morning so she could have all day to play with them.  I thought I would post a few pictures of her opening them just in case there was a grandma out there wondering how it went.

The Warm Up!

Catching On!

The Finale!

Last but not least, The Cake!

Sentiments of a Mother

I found this while blog hopping and thought that it would be appropriate to share the night before Madelyn's 1st birthday.  It shares how I feel about our first year together.

WHAT I WOULD TELL HER: created by Katherine Centers

(If I knew what to say.)

You are a miracle.
And I have to love you this fiercely: So that you can feel it even after you leave for school, or even while you are asleep, or even after your childhood becomes a memory.

You’ll forget all this when you grow up. But it’s okay. Being a mother means having your heart broken.
And it means loving and losing and falling apart and coming back together

And it’s the best there is. And also, sometimes, the worst.

Sometimes you won’t have anyone to talk to. Sometimes you’ll wonder if you’ve forgotten who you are. But you must remember this: What you’re doing matters.

And you have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs. The truth is, being a woman is a gift. Tenderness is a gift. Intimacy is a gift. And nurturing the good in this world is nothing short of a privilege.

That’s why I have to love you this way. So I can give what I have to you. So that you can carry it in your body and pass it on.

I have watched you sleep. I’ve kissed you a million times. And I know something that you don’t, yet: You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day.

And my greatest hope for you, sweet child, is that I can teach you how to write a good one.

Madelyn's Last Zero Day :(