The Ninth First Birthday

Ada turned one a couple of weeks ago. Traditionally, for our children's first birthdays, we try to guess how much of their actual party they will be awake for. One-year olds can only take so much excitement, and typically that's the dessert and the candle and one present. And then naptime beckons.

Naptime beckoned early for her, helped immensely by the fact that we traveled four hours the day before (and late into the night) to party with extended family.

We sang our Family Birthday Song: "It's my party; I can cry if I want to..."

But pie helped some with that. (We are overwhelmingly pie people. Occasionally a child will request an ice-cream cake, but we always have leftovers that get thrown out weeks later. There is never any pie left.)

Ada requested rhubarb pie. Her elocution is quite advanced.

Then came time for the presents. There were two on her actual birthday: one from Grandma Allison and one from us.

But first, manners dictate that she open Grandma's card...

... and take the time to truly read it.

But what's this? Is that gift for moi?

A pot! A singing, talking pot!!! How did you know, Grandma? How did you know that this is what my mother needed to be constantly played with in her kitchen? You always find the BEST presents!!!

Oh, Mama. Do I have to open another? I am overwhelmed by the first! I just really want to finish your pie.

WAIT!!!! That looks like a BABY!!!! I need that BABY!!!!

Oh, BABY BABY BABY BABY BABY!!!!!!

Gimmee that Baby. Hurry. Hurry.

And then we cleaned them both up and sent them straight to bed.

Ada is a wonderful baby. We're quite sure that she may possibly be the silliest one we've had yet. She can walk, although it's a highly guarded secret that she will not willingly share. She loves to do these baby hyperventilations where she coos, "Oooh, ooh, ooooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" in a desperate, frantic way whenever a baby or puppy (or Mama's coffee) is around. She greets Ethan every morning and every evening with a cheerful, happy "Hi! HI! HI!!!"

We're so glad she's here. And now she's one, and now she's a toddler (only don't tell her I said so), and our family is better and happier because of her.