Clara's 1st Birthday

 

Who knew 1 year could pass so swiftly? Clara has been such a joy in our lives. Though Mackenzie can be rough with her, she loves and protects her unconditionally. She is usually the first to bring a smile to my face every morning when she wakes up and says in her sweet voice, "hi" and she has successfully wrapped Keith around her little finger.

I attempted this 3 year layer cake I saw on pinterest. When I saw it a few months ago, I knew it was the cake I wanted to make for Clara because it was so soft and pretty. Her Birthday was a Sunday so I couldn't run to the store for powdered sugar when I needed more frosting so I just tried to make do with what I had. It wasn't quite what I had pictured, but it was fun to make and I think Clara would have enjoyed anything.

 Here she is cheering for herself. She wasn't shy at all, just excited for the attention from her family and a couple of her friends.

 Here's the doll we got her. My mom also sent some cute outfits which I don't have pictures of, just video. She wasn't really into opening gifts, I'm sure she'll have more fun at Christmas.

 Right before bedtime, I told Keith I wanted a photo with Clara and Kenzie photobombed it. Their faces and Kenzie's bday suit cracked me up when I went back through the pictures.

A little about Clara at one year:

• She loves bananas- she eats one every morning. When I get her in her high chair I ask if she wants a banana and she'll chant "nana!" over and over. When I give it to her, she gives me the best smile.
• She can say nana, mama, dada, uh-oh, hi. 
• She loves to take baths
• She is really gentle with books. I often find her flipping through them slowly, never tearing them.
• She doesn't really like milk but otherwise isn't picky with her food. She quit nursing just a few days shy of her birthday. She pretty much self-weaned which was really nice for me as she was never a gentle nurser.
• She has 7 teeth with 3 more (molars) breaking through. 
• Kenzie is her favorite person in the world
• She loves her binky, especially to go to sleep
• She likes soft things and sleeps with her stuffed lamb and cuddles her blankets
• Starting to hate her carseat, if she wasn't so small I would probably forward face her
• She is about 19 lbs and 29 1/2 inches
• She likes to snuggle:)
• She gives smiles to just about everybody
• She loves to be outside and is quite the climber! She's so much more adventurous than Mackenzie. She's mastered the little playground outside and will even climb the stairs and send herself down the tunnel slide either on her bum or belly while I wait to catch her at the bottom.
• We love her!