CHLOE'S CORNER: April 2008

I'm one year old everyone! Horray!

So I might as well answer the first big question --- about walking --- Well, my major rite of passage is ALMOST here - I haven't taken my first steps yet, but I will soon, no doubt! My favorite place is still in the arms of my parents, but I also love crawling and cruising aroung on furniture whenever possible. I have a toy cart that I push around and it's purely joyful to go from one side of the room to the other with my parents cheering like crazy. I also amble around by pushing grown-up chairs across the kitchen. No doubt about it, I am certainly mobile!

Now that that's over with, let me tell you about my birthday! Well, I got up at the usual time at about 8 am, about a quarter hour before I was actually born. I had a yogurt snack and afterwards, Mommy took me to my friend Ava's house. Ava's mommy, Tecca, has a family pass to the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science so we all went together. I had a great time playing in the kid's zone. I even slid down a two-foot slide and crawled my way through a short tunnel with Mommy's coercion.

I watched Ava giggle as Mommy tickled her belly and I got the bright idea to tickle her belly, too, since I'm so good at bringing about joy in people's lives! But, I don't quite have the tickle part down yet, but I had fun trying. When I really want to get a laugh out of someone, I just grab their big toe. It always makes Mommy and Daddy laugh like crazy! I just wanted to add a few other tricks to my trade. After playing inside the museum, we walked around outside and the weather was so mild, so breezy, so comfortable, that I just couldn't avoid napping a bit.

I napped during the ride to pick up my birthday cake, the ride back home, the ride through the grociery store, and then, I finally woke up when Nana and Papa arrived to help Mommy and Daddy get ready for the party.

Flowers were a main party theme, along with silly party hats! See, I was born in April, when pretty flowers sprout up all over the place so the theme was most appropriate, especially considering my middle name! I've heard that "pictures are worth a thousand words" and there were probably a thousand pictures taken. Here is a brief series of photographs taken of Papa hoisting me up to play with the dangling daisies! I wasn't dressed in my birthday best yet, but I matched Papa not only in attire but also smile, spunk, and spirit, so that made for some great shots!

It should come as no surprize that I only like stylish hats so I didn't want one of those pointy paper party hats! In fact, I have my whole life ahead of me and that's why I didn't want to wear any hat at all! I just wanted to amuse Mommy by wearing this hat for a brief photo capture. Then, I promptly tossed it to the side.

Mommy and Daddy are often too busy taking pictures of me that we rarely get a photographic moment together. Thanks, Papa for this magical moment on "film". We all look superchill, but we're as happy and peaceful as ever a family could be.

After playing with Nana and Papa during the party preparations, it was time to get dressed. I don't often wear stockings so I just had to know what these frosted frilly leggings tasted like... not bad.

Mommy put my hair up in little frog-shaped clasps that Nana got me for Easter! I have to admit, I think I looked perfectly adorable, but beauty should never get in the way of play!

I got "dolled up" just in time for Granny and Gramps to arrive. She, of course, thought I looked as cute as a button! I was so happy they were able to make it down from West Virginia. That can be quite a drive!

Granny and Nana enjoyed a cup of coffee together on the couch! They are both very sweet and loving! I'm really forunate to have such wonderful grandparents!

Neighbor Destany arrived a few minutes later. She is only two months older than I and I really look up to her. She always has her hair up in bows and beads that fascinate me!

Neighbor Ava and her parents, Tecca and Ashley, arrived next. Ava is one month older than I and she and I attend daycare together. I got to play with Ava and Destany and that was great fun!

Cousin Harrison was next on the scene with Uncle Jon and Aunt Jennifer who drove all the way from Charlotte to celebrate my big day! Cousin Harrison is only about forteen months older than I, but we have a great time playing kiss. He surprized me on his birthday with several sweet cheek pecks right before we left Charlotte. It's great to have lots of wonderful, loving family!

Cousin Charlotte arrived with Aunt Liz and Uncle Eric M. Cousin Charlotte wasn't looking at the camara so we got a super close-up of her holding me. She is four years older than I and likes holding me.

Irish Kevin brought his festive self! He had missed out on the run in the morning with Daddy, but nonetheless, was happy to celebrate with me in the afternoon! He even padded for my pig with a whopping twenty dollar bill! Mommy and Daddy filled up my first-year pig with silver so they will soon pack it away to start a second-year pig. Recall, I also have a neonatal coin bank as well! How exciting!

Granny can be seen in this shot tempting me to wear my pink birthday hat, but I just can't bring myself to keep it on.

Cousin Matilda arrived for the big affair with Aunt Tember and Uncle Eric J. Cousin Matilda is eight months younger than I.

I had never eaten cake before my first birthday, and boy, was it tastey. I had my very own cake with red chrysanthemums on it! I blew out a candel Mommy and Daddy's help and dug in. It was a fabulously messy affair and I found myself in a daze devouring the scrumptuous delight. I didn't even come close to eating the whole cake in case you were wondering.

After having some cake, my grandparents shared a couch together (Gramps, Granny, Nana, and Papa). I got to sit in the middle of the merrymakers and that was quite magical to have them all together on one big couch all in my honour!

After the party, my grandparents left, both sets of them. I watched them leave and then mused what a fabulous afternoon I'd had! I had a truly ONEderful time!