Birthday boy festivities!

Dave and I started out the day by going into CJ's room together this morning and singing Happy Birthday to him. We could tell he had no idea what was going on-its usually one or the other of us.

We opened packages from his grandparents before Dave went to work. From the Cronins, camo boots and basketball outfit.

His birthday getup. Shirt borrowed from a cousin, so it already has blue icing on it. :o)

From the Kellys, a noisy lawnmower toy.

On to more fun things: We had a gathering of a few friends to celebrate CJ's birthday. I think it is so funny to watch how differently kiddos react to their first birthday cake. Here's what CJ did:

After he played with the icing a bit (and got it in his hair, of course) he dove into the cake.

The end result was a very tired boy with a new appreciation of chocolate cake. He turned into a very tired, ungracious host who went to bed before everyone was gone.

Lost Loves

In getting things out in preparation for the new baby, CJ has rediscovered an old favorite toy. He just doesn't remember how we used to rock him to sleep in this. Anyhow, he thinks its the coolest thing ever.

He thought it was so cool when I put him in it.

And then he figured out how to dump it over. Somehow its cooler that way, isn't it?

But really the neatest thing was being able to climb in and out of it by himself.

(Sorry my voice is kind of loud in it.)

Mealtimes

Sometimes after a long day CJ just seems dissatisfied by everything. In desperation one night, I played clips of Veggietales for CJ as he sat in his high chair just grumpy. At first he at them, not knowing what to think, but then he laughed hysterically at them. I only caught a glimpse of the great reaction.