In Tribute

. . . to the last birthday balloon. It remained on the ceiling for six weeks straight! Wow. This past week, it slowly fell and is now a static-charged-dust collecting-hair ball and will soon meet it’s demise at my hand. But wow. I am honoring this simple, inexpensive little luxury for giving my daughter so much pleasure.

The ironic thing is, when James went to pick the balloon bouquet up before the party, there was a mix up, and he was sent home with the balloons without paying for them (James made another small purchase and so didn’t notice the discrepancy). So, our little scrupulous family made sure to return to the store and pay for them (there wasn’t even an order slip hanging around, and I had to tell them how much we owed them!). Still, that was the best birthday present we could have gotten her, and like Abraham and David both said, “It isn’t much of a present if you didn’t pay for it” (my words, not theirs), so I’m glad we did. :)

Clara on Her Birthday

On February 8, Clara and I had a relaxed day at home. We snuggled, nursed, napped, read books, played on the floor wit her new toys, and showed lots of balloon love.

*Can you tell we are hungry in this picture? Clara, sweet girl, is signing her version of “Please.”*

When Daddy got home, we went out to eat at The Greek Corner. We ordered a sample platter of all the delicious Greek food and Clara was wonderful at trying, and enjoying, all of it: eggplant, feta cheese, humus, kalamata olives, lamb, stuffed grape leaves, and so on. We even took a video of her trying all the new foods. People, especially the wait staff, could not keep their hands off of her. It was cute to see them interact.

Just a plug here, we used Swagbucks to get a Euphoria Baby $5 gift card to get a sweet doll for Clara’s birthday. With our purchase, they sent us this Safe Sippy cup. I’m loving it! She figured out how to use the straw-like spout very quickly and now we can offer her water anytime without worries of spilling. It is stainless steel on the inside (no BPA!) and keeps her drinks cooler too (not that she’s crazy about that feature yet, but I think she will like it someday).

(As a disclaimer, I don’t know that the gift card is available anymore, they sold out of the doll we bought her :( , and I know you can get the Safe Sippy many places. However, Swagbucks are still awesome –Read about them Here—I have earned around $50 so far in Amazon gift cards since every time I earn 45 Swagbucks, I trade them in for $5 Amazon GC. If you would like to sign up, please use my referral link as it does benefit me. And DO refer your friends, it makes a difference! Just try it! )

Anyway, back to birthdays, Clara helped Daddy pay the bill.

Then we came home and enjoyed some final Birthday goof off time. Clara loves this mirror. She talks to it all the time. : )

(Yep, those are diaper shells hanging to try on the shower door!)

Then it was “Good Night, Birthday Girl!” and we stayed up and ate leftover cake and ice cream. It’s so weird being the grown-up.

Andrea bakes a Cake

This is my first true decorated cake (I bake pies for James every year for his birthday). Though I made a cake that looked like a stack of pancakes for Mom’s birthday once and a cake that looked like a Snicker’s bar for Melody’s birthday in Russia, this is the first time I wanted my icing to be smooth, my edges to be crisp and neatly bordered, and so on. It was a knee quaking attempt for me. But this is my first child and my first child’s birthday, I can’t imagine a better place to start! Thanks, James for not letting me wiggle out of this one. I would have regretted not doing this for my baby girl’s first birthday!

Titus’ favorite hangout in the kitchen--between Mama’s feet.

On Thursday, I made the butterflies and roses at my mother’s house. My mother also gave me a quick tutorial on the whole decorating process.

These butterflies were made with Colorflow icing (you can get the mix from Wilton’s) on wax paper over a coloring book printout we got off of the internet.

On Friday, I baked the cakes, layered them with raspberry jam between the layers (yum) and iced them as well as I could. I set them outside to harden before icing, but it was snowing and I had to dust off a few flakes before I could get started. Oops.

On Saturday, I decorated. The edging was a little challenging, and it really is a bunch of connected globs, but at least they are semi-consistent globs! The lettering was difficult too, but I followed a friend’s advice and wrote into the cake ahead of time with a toothpick. It doesn’t exactly flow gracefully, but at least it is neat!

Once the lettering and edging was done, the rest was a piece of cake (ha-ha)! Piping green vines and leaves was a lot of fun, and I got to add a little rosebud here and there. It was fun placing my roses and butterflies all over the place too.

I used extra cake batter and icing to make the little cake. I really am loving the rose and butterfly, pink-and-purple combination. It’s taking me back to my little girlhood!

The “Grandma” and the “5” were a surprise for my mother, who shares Clara’s special day.

So, is that enough pictures of my cake? I have more! Do I seem just a teensy bit happy with it? : ) Just wait. I already have plans for next year!

I think she liked it!

Happy Birthday, Clara Joy!

Today, one year ago, at 7:33 AM, our baby girl was born. I think I have to keep saying it over and over to get it into my head. : )

I can’t believe that this sweet, 8 lb. 10 oz. 20 in. long, bundle of joy came into this world . . .

and now we have this adorable, 23.5 lb. 29 in. long, little girl who responds to her world in an entirely different way.

She doesn’t know what all the fuss is about: why all the people she loves came together in one place, why she gets balloons, why we are letting her tear paper, why we sang a song with her name in it. All she knows is her happy little world that she loves to explore and play in. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy Birthday, Clara Joy! You are ONE year old!

Clara’s 1st Birthday Party!

When Clara got up from her crib this afternoon, Daddy had come home with a surprise. Clara was SO happy about her balloons that she didn’t let them go without me prying them from her fist!

She held them while she ate . . .

She held them while Mama tried to nurse her . . .

She held them while tasting her first birthday cake . . .

She even held them while opening presents.

She loooves her balloons.

* * *

We had a wonderful birthday party this evening. I feel so blessed to have a family so loving and flexible that not one of my four men-relatives uttered a peep of protest for me scheduling Clara’s party during the biggest football game of the season. Oops. It was so nice to have a party in our own home. Even though 15 people in our apartment was a little tight, it was Clara’s home and I felt so blessed to be able to welcome everyone to my house.

We had a dinner of taco salads/straw hats, whatever you call them. They were easy, flexible, and a good food for Clara (and the other kids, of course). I had fun setting the table all pretty with pink and lace, glass jars of juice and water, purple and pink plates, and butterfly napkins, but I don’t have a picture of that on my camera.

We enjoyed a cake made from scratch (Wilton’s recipes online are so helpful!) and my first attempt at decorating. I am SO glad I did. With mom’s help on the colorflow butterflies and roses, the rest of the cake came together really fast . . . and was actually a lot of fun!

Then Clara opened presents by tearing pieces of paper off bit by bit and giving them to Daddy (a few ended up in her mouth).

I was so glad that all of our local family was there. Here is James’ brother Jeremy’s beautiful family (and Clara):

The kids got to have some play time too—uncles and cousins.

Granddaddy Kuenning played with Clara and some of her wonderful new toys.

Grandpa Smith is already teaching Clara how to work a camera.

We finished off the evening with a goofy rendition of clay-Pictionary (courtesy of James) where everybody won!

(Here Granddaddy is doing a sculpting of a gorilla on snowshoes. Who thought of that? And who guessed it? : )

Everyone went home happy (I hope!) and braved the icy roads to the Valley while we cherished our little not-yet-one-year-old for a little longer.

Mama nursed while Clara showed her moves.

Then we cuddled and snuggled and kissed.

How I love my Clara-girl!

But Daddy rocked her to sleep. Our little princess was tired!

What a wonderful end to a special year. What an unbelievable gift and blessing God has placed in our arms.

We love you, Clara Joy!

Merry Christmas, Dear Friends!

Thank you for following with us through a wonderful year. Our fourth year of marriage has been the best one yet! We have been so blessed in 2009: James has a good job, we have a comfy home, we are in good health, our cars are still running, we have loving friends and family all over Alaska and the world, and God gave us a precious little girl to join our family this year.

Clara Joy has been a joy this year. Each step of her development has brought new delights and blessings into our family. Our 10-and-a-half-month-old is crawling, pulling up on things, “cruising” along furniture, saying “Hi”, “Bye-bye” (and waving), “Uh-oh”, “Hey”, and “Mama.” She laughs, giggles, and smiles all day long. She loves to snuggle, dance (she determines what music is dance-worthy), and play with Daddy. I never imagined that a child of ours could be so beautiful, sweet, and smart, and we find ourselves challenged to be the parents she needs at each new step of her life .

We are excited about the year to come. Next year our parents will celebrate their 40th (Smiths) and 30th (Kuennings) anniversaries. My grandparents will celebrate their 60th (Kings), and we will celebrate our 5th. Someone in our family will have their 80th birthday, someone their 30th, and someone in our family will have their 1st! We have hopes and dreams of going to so many places and doing so many things, but we place them in God’s hands.

God bless you all. You have been good friends to us this year. We have been blessed by your wisdom, kindness, love, and support. It has been such a blessing to be a part of an online community this year when bringing a new little one into our lives. We appreciate you! And of course, hugs to all our “real life” friends as well.

Merry Christmas, All!

Love,

James, Andrea, Clara and Titus Smith

Happy Birthday, James!

James celebrated his 29th birthday on October 3. I made him a cherry pie. Here are a few photos we took to remember his first birthday with our sweet daughter.

Our family. Aw!

Here Clara realized that those things look like fun for grabbing! Yikes! (Today she upended a bowl of hot soup on my lap, splashing herself as well! I’ve got to watch that girl!)

She was really enjoying the dinner.

Especially since she got to sample lots of things from Mama’s plate!

We love you, James. Thank you for being such a special husband and daddy. May God bless you with many, many more special years to come.