Happy Birthday, Isabelle! (Ok, 2 days early)

Dan and I decided earlier this week that today would be the day we'd make special for Izzy. With her birthday being on Tuesday, it made sense to have our little party today rather than try and hurry to squeeze it all in after a full work day.

First we bundled up and headed down to Brookfield and into one of our favorite baby discount chains. It was time to bite the bullet and get Isabelle new, forward facing seats for our vehicles. On the way home, we joked about taking her to Chuck-E-Cheese's for lunch, but thought that most of the effect would be lost on a 1 year old. We headed to Uno's instead where we tried to teach her how to color as we waited for the food, but all she was interested in was eating the crayons. Maybe we'll try agian in a few weeks.

By the time we got home, it was time for a much needed nap. While she slept, I wrapped her birthday gifts and Dan installed her new seat in the truck, I would have to attack mine for the car later.

After the nap and once she woke up fully, Isabelle realized there were wrapped and pretty boxes in the living room! Well, those just couldn't go unexplored! She was much more efficient with the wrapping paper than she was at Christmas....oh the difference a few months can make! After exploring the gifts a good while and helping mom with the paper clean up, it was time for the birthday cake! She seemed to enjoy the cake MUCH more than the frosting....she takes after her mom that way, I guess.

After that...yes, there's more! Dan needed to take some movies back. He decided to take Isabelle for her first ride in her front-facing seat. He said she would not quit talking the WHOLE trip, and was getting a huge kick out of looking out the side window like a big kid.

While they were gone, I was able to get my seat installed, so now it's time to clean up the infant seat and put it away. I remember how small Izzy looked the day we brought her home in that seat.

Once they returned, it was time for supper and juice in the new sippies, bath time, and then bedtime! She was tuckered out after today, but she seemed to have a pretty good time! Tuesday will be special too, but we wouldn't have had enough hours in the evening to squeeze all this in!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from today.

Isabelle sizing up her presents. Which one first?

The BIG one of course!!

The contents of the big box....sitting on it properly.

...and now NOT so properly. Note Mags had to check it out too, JUST to make sure it was ok for his little sister. After all, it makes funny noises!

Now onto one of the smaller packages. This one happens to be big, round toddler crayons. Judging from lunch today, these will have to wait awhile. Luckily they won't spoil! :D

Remind me again why we buy toys, and don't just buy oddly shaped boxes?

An overview of the gift aftermath...all in all, it was pretty tidy!

Isabelle presenting her birthday cupcake. This gesture covers how she waves, how she tells you what she wants you to talk about, and sometimes, like in this photo, what she would like to have. If oooonly her arms were longer.

Isabelle getting a closer look at her personal birthday cupcake. Thankfully you can't hear mom and dad singing Happy Birthday in the background.

What is this spongy stuff you call cake?

Mmmmm....cake is good!!Izzy in her new seat! She sure looks small in it....considering this seat can last up to 100 lbs, I guess she is small, relative to the seat. To me, however, she also looks like the beginnings of a big kid sitting in it, rather than a baby. Where did the time go?