Our Little Pumpkin's First Birthday Party

Invitation designed by Aunt Sarah, as usual. We used all his
monthly photos, just like we did for Emmy's first
birthday invitation. Sarah is the best! Too bad I was not much
better at taking photos of parties back then, since I can only
find a photo with like a fourth of the invite in view. 

On Saturday the 10th, we had a party to celebrate Matthew's first birthday. When we began to plan, we decided we would invite all the Americans because well, when there are so few where do you draw the line? It is the start of the school's fall break, so I thought a lot of people might be gone, but in fact most everyone said they were coming. And we'd invited a couple other families from school, so in all we would up with about 55 people here, not counting the four of us. Whew!  We had a sandwich/slider bar with pulled pork, meatballs, grilled chicken, salami and smoked ham from the market, and lots of toppings, sauces, and salads. I think people had a good time. Most of the food was gone and the last guests left 6 hours after the party started. The birthday boy only took a 30 minute nap in the morning (and usually it is about 2 hours), so I just knew that at some point he'd fall asleep. But no, he was raring to go all day! Finally when the last people left around 5:30, we put him in pjs and he was in bed by 6.We'd asked for no gifts, but Europeans and Americans in Europe don't listen, so he has a collection of new toys and we have 5 bottles of wine, chocolates, coffee, flowers and more. Apparently it is also customary in Poland (and perhaps other countries here, not sure) to bring the mother gifts on the baby's first birthday, so that was cool!

Really, we wanted the party to be about building community, and we are grateful that we have a community of people excited to come celebrate a one year old they are only getting to know. We desperately missed having our family and loved ones from the U.S. with us, but Matthew is well loved.

I took ridiculously few photos of the preparations or the day, but here's what I've got! Thanks to BG Tate's photography with my phone, I have photos of Matthew eating his cake!

Cupcakes in progress. since it was a "pumpkin" theme, I tried to make them look like little pumpkins on top with the icing tips I had. There are no Hobby Lobby's or Michel's to dash off to for supplies! (And yes, I'm sure there are places to get cake decorating supplies, but I have not found one yet, nor do I know any bakers.)

Handsome men ready for the guests. 

Birthday cake and smash cake. 

Family photo! 

The little monster bib seemed appropriate. 

He dug right into the cupcake on his birthday, but this cake he seemed a little more unsure of. 

Emmy and her friend Zöe were happy to help him along. 

Then he got into it. 

I do love this boy so much! 

This is the only picture I took of the food table. The gorgeous sunflowers came from the florist at the market near our house. I got a dozen of them for the equivalent of about $13.00. (I love Poland!)
The whole event was a lot of work, but lots of fun.

Matthew is one year old!

Matthew is one! Since his birthday was on a Wednesday, Emmy had school and Charles had work, of course. Not only that, Charles had an exercise at work, so he was at work longer than usual.

But we sang to him in the morning. A friend came over after lunch and hung out with us while I made cupcakes. I made chicken and potatoes and his favorite green beans for supper (he really loves green beans). The we opened presents that had arrived by mail and the present from us, and we Skyped with SuSu and Big Daddy while we sang happy birthday and had cupcakes. And they had a cake at their house. I think they just really wanted cake. Haha.

Trying to get photos this time was nutty. At least we had fun! Or he did...haha.

Emmy jumped in to try and help. 

Birthday supper! This is in our kitchen, by the way. 

Opening presents

Wearing his new hat and showing off his new book from Aunt Sarah

Holding on tight to his new ball (and monkeys - it's a monkey bowling set)

New clothes aren't as impressive, apparently. 

Ooo, stacking boxes! 

Happy Birthday to Matthew! 

Yummy cupcake! 

Skyping with SuSu and Big Daddy, and their cake and sign (SuSu's photo below). 

Birthday boy getting a lift from his Daddy - AKA Charles and his min-me.

Bedtime story: the new book from Aunt Sarah! 

I'd originally written this post to include his party a few days later, but it was very long so I split it into two, so you'll see that next!

We can't believe our sweet boy, our rainbow baby, is now one. He is really such a wonderful, delightful child. Everyone says he is such a happy guy, and he really is. What a blessing he has been to our whole family! Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Matthew is 11 months old!

That face.

I'm a little late with this one, but the photos are from the 7th. Y'all, I cannot believe that my baby is going to be one tomorrow. I actually started this post 3 weeks ago, I just continue to not come back to. I think I'm in denial!  I'm not usually very weepy about milestones, but I'm feeling extremely sentimental and weepy about this one. He's growing up so fast!

I just knew he was going to start walking this month. He's SO close. Heck, he's been close for awhile now, but he is taking his time and gaining confidence. He will let go for a moment and almost try to take a step, and then change his mind and sit down or find another way to where he wants to go. We've noticed in the last couple of days he's walking along the wall more and more, so he's getting closer. I'm pretty sure once he starts, he is just going to take off running!

He has started blowing kisses, giving high fives (sometimes, other time he shakes his head no, haha), fist bumps (also sometimes) and shaking his head no in the last couple of weeks. He waves hi and bye when he feels like it, and he pretty much charms everyone. He is still the calmest, happiest baby I could imagine. Lord help me when that changes!

He still adores his sister. He loves to play with balls. He loves to be outside. He loves Rags, and she is very patient with him. He loves food, especially yogurt, muffins, green beans, eggs, grits, blueberries, and applesauce pouches. But he really loves whatever you give him, I love this eating stage! He loves his mama and he loves his daddy!

He does not like to be buckled into his carseat, or to have his diaper changed. Sometimes it is like wrestling a greased pig. He does not like it when I take away whatever electronic item he is attempting to chew on or touch (the computer while we are Skyping, cell phones, the home phone, remotes, the mouse for the computer, you name it).

He played peak-a-boo with his sign this time.

Here are a few more Matthew photos from September. 

He thinks it is funny to splash milk on his face. He hates having a diaper change, especially when he is tired, so right before nap or bedtime, so often we'll hand him his bottle to keep him occupied so we don't have to wrestle him. He was feeling feisty on this day. 

Nope, I wasn't trying to climb onto the bottom shelf...

LOVES to play with the soccer ball. 

Also loves Mommy and Daddy's shakes. I did not post the photo of the face he made when it was all gone! 

Six teeth (and as of last week, we can see no. 7 below the gums) 

Lashes for days

I love the sleeping snuggles. I love all the snuggles. He gives really great baby hugs. 

He was hitting the bottle early this day. 

Lunch at work with Daddy. He did not recognize Charles when he was walking out of his office to us, and then we realized he had not seen Charles in uniform much, if at all, since June, and certainly not with his hat on! Ha! (Charles goes to and from work in civilian clothes.)

I adore this photo! You can see how much his hair has grown here. This was a couple of weeks ago, it has grown even more since then! 

He climbed up in with Emmy's babies and was checking them out. 

Always classy.

In about 12 hours this boy will be one year old, which means one year ago about right now I was hurting, people! Haha. What a joyous delight this sweet little boy has been. What healing and happiness he has brought to our family. He is indeed a blessing and we love the place he has in our family.