Turning One

Monday was the day. It pulled on all my heart strings. From the moment I pulled her wet slippery body on to my chest, Klara amazed me. She has been a happy baby from the beginning. Crying only when she needs something. She's been happy to watch the other kids, hang out in the sling, play with her toys, munch on a cracker, cruise through the house, or sit at the window.She has learned to sign and understands that she is telling me something. She says, more, all done, and her own version of water. And on cue for her birthday, she began to sign milk! The other kids have all been trying to teach her, and I have been consistently showing her every time we nurse for a very long time. She was sitting my lap, squirming around, trying to get at me, and I asked her,

"Do you want milk?"

She stopped squirming, and paused for a second, and I saw her holding her hands in front of her thinking, and suddenly both hands her were signing milk. Yay Klara!

Its been a fantastic year.

And Monday was her day!

a present for her on her day!

figuring it out

a teething necklace for you!!

Goran and I spent the day getting ready for her party. Family and a few close friends. It was a busy morning, and I was feeling all sorts of things. Nostalgic, rushed, overwhelmed, but everything was falling into place. Food was out, lawn was mowed, and house was tidy. I grabbed my camera and slipped out of the house, while baby napped, and took pictures. I didn't know when I bought that camera, that taking pictures would become part of me. But it has. Going out there, picking subjects, focusing the camera, it does something to me. Something good.

grass has been cut, bushes trimmed

setting things up

her special chair, and balloons

a photo album made by mom, and cookies for all the guests to take home

I made sure to get  a few minutes with her. Hold her tight and kiss her soft blond hair. I cherished the moments we cuddled and nursed.

 My mom arrived, and helped me write out my last few recipe cards. I got the children dressed, and put bows in hair. The bell of the ball looked like a dream.

she knows to smile for the camera :)

The cake arrived, made by Gorans mom.

and it was good!!

Happy Birthday!

Presents just for her, that she luved to open, and has enjoyed playing with the last 2 days.

it was so much fun being with her and helping her open them

sweet birthday girl, with her mom and dad

And at the end of the day, after mostly everyone had gone home, she didn't want to sleep. She cried in her bed, and I got her up for extra cuddles, and milk, and some down time. She hung out with me for a bit...and played with new toys. Its almost like she knew it was her day, and didn't want it to end.

Finally I tucked her, and she was settled and drift off to sleep.

Happy Birthday sweet Klara! Prayers for many more years of luv and laughter and all the best thing life has to offer you.