James Turns 1

First birthdays are so bittersweet for me. On one hand, there's a feeling of accomplishment. I got through it! Then there's this ache in my heart that it's over. He'll never be a baby again. 

I love the kid but that was one of the longest years of my life.

We started out the day by busting out the table tunnel. This is his first turn in it ever. He liked it until he toppled out of it. He was okay but didn't want to go back in.

During that time I worked on his cake. It is a moose mousse cake. Between the layers of cake I made a chocolate mousse. The antlers are chocolate covered rice crispy treats and chocolate chips for his eyes and nose.

It was all inspired by this little guy that James loves.

He loved it!

Oh these two. James has turned into quite the wrestler because of his dad. He'll wrestle you whether you want to or not.

He's batting at his happy birthday sign.

After dinner my parents and Justin's parents came over for presents and cake. It was a lot of "James, look what you got!" because he didn't care or get what we were doing. He got birthday money from Grandma and a train and shoes and fruit cup from Nana.

He was so excited to see his puppy again after picking it out in the store. I also got him some vanilla wafers and a box of raisins.

And then it was time for cake!

He was really mad when he ran out.

James at One Year

He cruises around and stands on his own but is not interested in taking any steps. Fine with me.

Things we call him: Jamers, James the baby, Mr. Blue Eyes, big baby, big guy, Whiny McWahWah

He has four teeth on top and three teeth on bottom which seems like a lot to me for this age. People will comment on how many teeth he has and I always reply "They're so big, huh?"

His big blue eyes and long eyelashes get me.

He stopped nursing a few days before his birthday. I'm surprised he lasted that long with how little he cared for it for the last few months. I'm still claiming that I nursed all four of my babies for a whole year. No bottles, no binkies, thankyouverymuch. (I didn't plan on the no binkies/no bottle thing but Sarah and Henry never took one so I never even tried with the last two since that's how I knew how to roll.)

Unless I change my mind (and this year did nothing to change my mind) James will forever be the baby. He is goofy, expressive, particular, snuggly, vocal, and loves to play. He's also a little chubby which is new for a baby of mine. I love him.

What 1-Year-Olds Really Want for their Birthday: A Guide to Making it Their Special Day

As I tried to decide just what to get James for his birthday, I watched him play to get some ideas of what he would like as a gift. I've put together this little gift and activity guide for those one-year-olds in your life. You're welcome.

What 1-Year-Olds Really Want for their Birthday

1. Full access to all kitchen cupboards. I've never seen a baby turn down the chance to see what's behind those doors.

2. Let them have full reign in the bathroom. First stop, the toilet paper roll. They've always wanted to see what is at the end of that roll.

 They may even tire themselves out with all that pulling.

3. Pushing things off surfaces. The loud noise is a bonus.

 4. If your baby is like mine, they love to close doors and then be sad and mad that they're closed. And then they get even more mad when you open it for them. But they won't want to stop.

5. Don't forget to stop by every one of these in the house. If your baby is like mine, he lunges out of your arms when he sees them.

6. Just let them pull every last book off the shelf. They won't be content until they do.

7. Finally let them climb those refrigerator shelves.

8. And don't forget to make their birthday cake while holding them on your hip.  Do everything with a baby on your hip this day, even if it takes twice as long and seems physically impossible like opening a can or sweeping the floor. Give them an up-close look at everything you're doing because that's all they want anyway.

You've done it! You've created the perfect day for a one-year-old!

If you feel you need to do something a little more traditional and get them an actual object, here is my best idea.

Canning rings and plastic Halloween bucket. Put the rings in, take the rings out.

Or take them to the store and hand them things until they do this.

Then you'll know you have a winner of a gift. Then hide it as soon as you get home and hope that it seems exciting and new when they unwrap it two days later.

Halloween 2017

My niece Jaana, aka the beloved cousin of my children, came to visit us on Saturday. I'm so glad she came to carve pumpkins with us because she fully convinced Sarah that scooping out the guts was cool, not gross and partially convinced Henry.

After I carved the face Henry drew on his pumpkin, he decided it needed a few finishing touches (stabbings).

 This is the best I could do cutting out the scribble face Erica drew on hers.

 And then she followed Henry's lead of adding more detail.

 Sarah, ever the traditionalist.

 Jaana didn't intend to make a Mickey pumpkin but I love that it turned out that way.

Since I don't own many Halloween decorations, I print off several Halloween coloring pages during General Conference. These keep my kids more quiet than those conference quiet books anyway.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Henry: Mom, what's a pilgrim?
Me: The people that came on the Mayflower. Think of Thanksgiving.
Henry: Oh, well then what's a cauldron?
Me: The big pots witch's use for their spells.
Henry: Oh yeah. (funny kid got the 2 words confused)

 Not sure what Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has to do with Halloween but I think Henry did a great job.

Erica started out the morning by scaring me in James's costume.

I was a nice mom and made pumpkin pancakes. These are the pumpkins.

And these are the ghosts.

They turned out scary but maybe not in the way I intended.

They all loved them. Erica just dug the chocolate chips out of hers.

Here's my crew. Erica was planning on being Minnie all month but at 9 am that morning, she put on her Anna dress and would not be talked into wearing anything else.

Mary Poppins. She used her carpet bag to collect her candy in. I found the bag and her jacket at DI. I had to cut out the sleeves of the jacket, trim them and the jacket down then sew the sleeves back in so that it would fit her plus add a couple more buttons. Her skirt is from last year's Hermoine costume and her hat I bought online and added flowers and red pompoms. Oh, and made the bowtie. I've never made a bowtie before.

 "I'm going to wear my necklace I made so people will think I'm a necklace seller. But I'm not going to carry a balloon because I don't want people to think I'm a balloon seller."

 And Henry as Tom Brady.

 He was so excited to wear his costume to school that day. He's been telling his buddies about it for weeks.

 And my little lion cub. My girls also wore this when they were babies (Henry was too small his first year and then too big the next.)

Then we went to my sister's house to go trick or treating. James was a such a good sport wearing the hood. He didn't freak out at all.

Justin was a such a good sport pushing James around the neighborhood.

I noticed that this year was much easier than last year (aside from not being 9 months pregnant) because Erica was bigger and could manage the porch steps without adult help.

I love trick or treating. It's so cute.