Emma's First Birthday

We loved celebrating Emma's birthday on Saturday with many of our family and friends who love her!  Since we found out about Emma last Valentine's Day, I didn't think twice about picking a theme...a Valentine party was perfect!  

our little Valentine--we love this sweetheart!

Smiling with Daddy before the guests arrived!

I had so much fun planning Emma's party!

"a year of firsts"--I found this idea from here

I found the rosette cake idea for Emma's smash cake from this pin--my sister sent me several frosting tips in the mail and convinced me I could do this.  :)  Let's just say she answered a lot of (sometimes frantic) phone calls over the past week regarding cake decorating--she's the best! 

I got the conversation heart & wand idea from this pin.

Both my mom & my mother-in-law helped me prepare for the party.  My mom came over the day before the party and wrapped silverware, chopped vegetables, and washed all the serving dishes.  My mother-in-law and I spent most of Saturday in the kitchen together--she washed tons of dishes, assembled six pans of chicken spaghetti, and--most importantly--made her infamous cream puffs for the party.    I couldn't have done it all without either of them--or Dave, who stood on our island and hung poms and hearts for nearly an hour one night!  :)  

little friends enjoying their supper

I love how Emma crawled over to the picnic table to join the big kids!

After dinner, we asked our family & friends to pray with us.  We prayed for blessing and health upon Emma for the next year and for wisdom as we parent her.  I love how Isaac is holding Emma's arm as we prayed over her.  We are so thankful for our daughter and are learning every day how we need God's strength and grace in parenting our children.

And then, it was time for CAKE!

 "Happy Birthday to you..."

Isaac was so anxious to be right by Emma when we sang to her and brought out her cake.  (Actually, that is an understatement--my mom said he was starting to cry when we all started to sing "Happy Birthday" because he wanted to be right next to her.)  Of course, Isaac helped her blow out her candle....and then asked if he could lick the frosting off of it.  :)

Yum!  Emma loved it!

Dave's youngest brother--affectionately known to Isaac and Emma as "Uncle Mike"--is here visiting us in Texas!  We loved having him at Emma's party!

For such a little girl, she ate a lot of it...of course, we found plenty of frosting in her highchair & on her outfit, too.  :)

opening a few presents

Our friend Shamron made Emma this incredible handmade cross--it will look beautiful in her room!

Emma with her Great-Grandma Joan

Emma with her Mom-o, Papa Kal, Papa Rinn, & Nana! 

How special that they could all be at Emma's party to celebrate her!

Emma received this new slide from my parents!  She smiles this big every time she slides down it!  It's hard to believe that soon Emma will be able to climb up the stairs of it herself!!

For Isaac's first birthday, Papa & Nana gave him a Pottery Barn stuffed chair.  Lately, we noticed how small it was for him!  So, they purchased Emma a new pink cover to use on Isaac's chair for her first birthday and then bought Isaac a larger chair from Pottery Barn!  They're so cute in their chairs from Papa & Nana!

Another special gift was this bouquet of flowers that Emma's birth family sent to her on her birthday!  We think of Emma's birth family often and know that our great joy comes at their sacrifice.  We love them!

 

What a sweet year it has been with our Emma!

Happy Birthday, Emma Victoria!  We love you!