Elise Turns One

I can't believe this little one is already one. Parents always like to say things like "time flies", but really: it does. 

We started off Elise's birthday a day early. I misplaced some of Catherine's birthday presents and finally found them. She opened one gift and was very confused: why did she get a pack of Nerf gun darts? I quickly realized that I had slipped one of Elise's gifts from Grandma Cathy into the mix. Elise was thrilled with her darts:

Feb. 19: Dropping them off the tray...

...and onto the floor for later snacking.

We started off her birthday with some delicious sugary cereal:

She was a big fan of her "Kookies."

Because of her big blue eyes, my dad called Catherine "Luna" or "Luna Bug." So it was only natural that Elise would be "Lady Bug."  We also call her "Lise-a-Bug", so her cake was perfect for her!

Because it was yet another freakishly warm February day, we headed up to Rocks State Park with our friends to celebrate (benefit of having your birthday on a federal holiday--no school or work!).  Elise had no idea what was going on. Which is pretty much a constant state for a baby. But she good-naturedly cooperated for singing and let Aaron blow out her candle, to his everlasting joy (all birthday candles are Aaron's domain, including his friends' birthday candles). 

This picture cracks me up.

This was taken immediately after Aaron blew out the candle:

Elise reaching for the candle.

Brie reaching for Elise.

Seth snatching a ladybug off the cake.

All within two seconds of the end of the singing. 

Family picture.

This is version 2. Seth refused to join for the first one:

Had to be documented:

Jon cutting the cake with a (sanitized) zip tie from Anna's car because some genius forgot a knife. 

Oops. 

Elise enjoyed lounging in Bente's arms while being fed her cake:

It's hard to tell from the picture, but she had put her legs up on the table and was quite content. 

She seems to prefer eating with elevated legs if given the option. 

That evening we opened gifts!

A fitting crown for the birthday girl:

It lasted all of ten seconds.

Which was long enough for Aaron to fill it full of stickers:

That kid...

It turns out that opening presents is lots of fun:

Very interested in the Boogie Board from Grandma Cathy:

Elise doesn't really draw on it yet, but she likes putting the pens into and out of the the bag.

Our boring presents for Elise:

New sippy cups (since Aaron chomped the straws off all our old ones):

She thoroughly enjoyed putting the cups into the bag and pulling them back out.

That's one way to make the presents last longer, I suppose.

Happy first birthday, Itty Bit!