Double the Blessing & Double the Fun + One: Happy 1st Birthday, Jennifer!

One year old….wow, time flies with three little blessings. It seems like just yesterday we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jennifer. Now we are celebrating her one year birthday! What a year full of blessings and changes. It’s amazing how much a baby changes in a year. From those first moments when their head must be fully supported, they can’t tell you anything they want, all they do is sleep, eat and need a diaper change….to now….a big girl with two teeth, almost ready to walk (she’s taken one step on her own), saying mama, dada, and yeeah (yes), walking along furniture and behind push toys and learning to hold her own with her brothers! Although we think she is so big I still chuckle that she is just now fitting into 6-9 month clothes. She’s a peanut in size but is tough and hardy (thanks to a little knocking around from her brothers!). Thank you for all the blessings you have brought into our lives Jennifer Tigist! We Love You! Love ~ Mom, Dad, David and Thomas

Thanks Nama and Pa Driver for the special birthday shirt!

It was fun to "tell" the world it was my birthday!!

I'm my own present!

A first birthday bash was in order to celebrate Jennifer!! The theme of her bedroom is “The Hungry Caterpillar” based on a book by Eric Carle. We love that book and it has special meaning based on a gift I gave to our Tigist in Ethiopia. Now our Jennifer celebrates her one year birthday with a Hungry Caterpillar birthday party. A special thanks to an amazing friend, Ashley, who made this party a success and encouraged mom to go all out to celebrate this milestone! Without Ashley the decorations would have been half finished and we wouldn’t have had such a beautiful cake for Jennifer to dive into! God has blessed us with Ashley and her family. They are the best friends a family could ask for! (And maybe one day her son Blake will get to be the first to date Jennifer!)

A special caterpillar sign made by Ashley!

A balloon caterpillar.

A caterpillar bean bag game with fruit bean bags made by Lyndsey.

We had special crafts for the day (a butterfly and a book mark)!

Caterpillar cake

Caterpillars made by your brothers adorned the banister.

Everything was done in caterpillar style!!

Thank you gifts for the party guests.

Nama and Pa Harmelink bough you a special Hungry Caterpillar book that all the party guests signed.

We "ate" though the same fruit as in the book.

A special birthday kiss from Blake!

David, Blake, Thomas and Carson enjoying the yummy food!

A smiling birthday girl!

She loves her caterpillar!

The Thompson's sent a special caterpillar for Jennifer's birthday.

When it was time for cake the special cake made my Ashley and beautifully frosted by her hubby Josh (I told you they were an amazing family!) was put on the tray. Ashley’s motto is “go big or go home!” So out came a double batch 8” cake. It barely fit on the high chair tray and Jennifer’s eyes about came out of her head when she saw it (not to mention the drooling that ensued from the busters when they saw what Jennifer got). A quick rendition of “Happy Birthday” as Jennifer reached for the cake and lit candle and she was off to try out her cake. At first she wasn’t sure but once she realized that I would let her tear into the cake it was all over! She started with just the frosting and then realized there was cake below. She ate a good chunk of her cake and wouldn’t even share with mom (but when Miss Ashley asked she offered her some!)!!

Hey...I want that cake!! It's mine, isn't it??

This frosting is smooth.

Can I pick up my cake and eat it?

What do I do?

Yummy frosting!!

The boys thought it was hilarious that I was going to let her eat the big cake!

This is good frosting!

Check out how I can paint my face with this frosting.

This is the best day ever!

Jennifer and Ashely

Sure I will share with you - after all you made this cake for me.

Mommy and daddy love you!

Don't touch my cake!

Birthday kisses from Blake

Thomas thought you were hilarious as you ate the cake.

You offered to share with Carson and Thomas.

A beautiful face of a happy girl.

After a “pink” bath Jennifer was ready for presents. She was overwhelmed with all the helpers she had but loved ripping some of the paper. When she really didn’t want to share she sat on top of the present so none of her friends or brothers could play with it. The smile on her face was priceless! Our little princess had the best first birthday a girl could ask for! Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate and has supported us in the last year. We love you all!