The Birthday Celebrations



I am finally getting around to posting about the birthday parties we had for Julia in the 10 days or so surrounding her monumental first birthday. We celebrated first with our family who were visiting at Thanksgiving. We decorated with balloons, streamers, and signs and a beautiful wreath Julia was given as a gift. The wreath was made by my sister and her kids and it is fabulous! Julia was dressed in her custom first birthday onesie (made by my talented cousin Kim) and a birthday hat. We enjoyed singing to her and eating some tasty cupcakes from Cupcakes Actually in Fairfax. She was given some great gifts which all of the kids were very willing to help open!

On Julia's actual birthday, she slept the day away after being awake all night. She apparently wanted to celebrate for the first 12 hours of her big day! We were able to wake her up for a chocolate birthday cake and a round of presents from our little family. She then went back to sleep!



A few days later we gathered with 75 of our closest friends at our home to celebrate Julia's big milestone. My brother and sister-in-law came down for the party, too, which was a great help. A very gifted neighbor made Julia's exquisite owl-themed birthday cake. Fortunately it was a beautiful day and the dozens of kids who came could run around the yard. Julia was wide awake for the entire party. We loved celebrating with the friends and neighbors who provided us so much support over the last year. They have been our family here in Virginia (and Maryland), and have helped with groceries and meals, provided child care for Julia and our older kids, kept up the yard work, given baby showers, and celebrated each step of Julia's first year with us. It was only right that we celebrate with these amazing friends. Thank you to everyone who made this birthday so special. We appreciate all of you! And we love you to pieces, Birthday Girl!