Cake!

As promised, birthday cake:

One Year

Dear Daniel,

One year ago, on October 28, you came into this world. You were surprisingly quiet and calm, considering how much you kicked to get out in the first place. Your Daddy fell in love on the spot, and your Mommy was a little in shock that you were actually here.

We didn't know what to expect, and we were honestly pretty afraid of you before we got to meet you. But once you were in our arms, we knew that we had been given a gift. At first, you didn't do much, but you wouldn't know that listening to your parents. "Look, he blinked!" Look, he's breathing!" "Look how well he moves his arms and legs!" We called it "Baby TV" and we watched for hours on end.

At each stage, we thought you were perfect and couldn't get any better, but then you would learn something new, and we would go crazy. Very early on we found that you are serious about learning new things. Ever object you encounter is studied very carefully by you, using your eyes, hands and mouth.

As you have grown so quickly this year, we have continued to be amazed at every accomplishment. Your smile and laughter delight us, and your tears break our hearts. Your Dad and I feel a little bad for you that you have to break us in as first time parents, but we know that our love for you will make everything OK.

Domestic Goddes

Well, another week of being a homemaker.  I have had hand cramps fun clipping coupons and going to multiple stores to get the best deals and figuring out what meals go best with what we have.  Actually, I lucked out this week and had most ingredients on hand for a couple of meals.

Dinner on Monday was a new recipe, Egg Pie.  I used the eggs from a buy on get one sale last week, and a leftover partial package of frozen hash browns.  It turned out really good and made enough for lunch the next day!

Last nights Creamy Potato Leek Soup dinner was actually made for my lunch while baby Daniel was napping.  I had the cream and bacon from previous meals, and the chicken stock was homemade and in my freezer.  The Yukon gold potatoes and leeks were from my CSA produce box.  I followed the recipe exactly and I also mashed half of the potatoes after they cooked to thicken the soup.  With only 5 ingredients it was simple but really flavorful.

I have also been planning out our Christmas cards for this year, and I am excited for stamping club on Saturday.  Hopefully I will have some good pictures of my projects.

Tooth!

Our little toothless wonder is no longer toothless!  We were shopping today and I found a small stuffed toy for him that he was holding in the shopping cart.  When I noticed that the tag was being rapidly eaten, I fished out what remained from his mouth.  Low and behold, I found a tooth, on the lower right side.  So far, I have not been bitten, but that initiation will be happening soon I am sure.  We took pictures of this momentous event. 

Is there a tooth in there?????

"No mommy, no tooth"

How about a tooth in here?????

 "No mommy, still no tooth to be found"

Baby escapes the camera for now, but mommy will try again another day.

Water park

For Dan's 31st birthday celebration, I surprised him with a day at the local indoor water park.  Our friend Kate and her two children, Evie (almost 4) and Logan (10 months) spent several days with us so we all went together.  The Splasher's water park has enough for the kids and the adults, so we all had fun.

This was a first for Baby Daniel, and I was nervous that he would be scared of all the noise in there.  But he had a blast!  He went down a slide with us and kept trying to grab the water spouts.  He even went on the Lazy River in my lap.  We played until the babies turned blue, then went and blew some money in the arcade.

We wrapped up the day with a feast of Chinese take-out.  Needless to say, we all slept well that night!