Happy 1st Birthday P! and reasons not to make a big birthday cake

Trip #3- the last week of Aug we flew up to Seattle. This was our first real "payed by us" vacation since we got married. We planned a year ago to visit family and see the sites, because Evan had never been. I missed it, and Aug is the perfect time to go.. or was it.

See, here's where my summer gets crazy. I had planned, long before P was born that I wanted to make a cool cake for his 1st birthday. I could do it right? Having no experience won't hinder my puny artistic ability (or ability to copy a picture) right? Wrong. Here's where having no experience wasted a lot of time during Aug. I was so freaked out that I wouldn't be able to do it, that I did a practice run, including all the cupcakes, and thoughts of just how I would create such a perfect cake was constantly on my mind. In fact it was freaking me out. I was nervous for a whole month about this day. Planning, making runs to the store for the piping bags and tips, and food coloring, which by the way was the most nerve racking of all, was all it seemed I had time for. My house fell apart, my calling was lacking, my dinners-non existant, and my poor little boy was neglected. Nap times were all about cake and frosting. My freezer's bottom shelf was left bare for the cake.

Since we were to get back just days before P's birthday, I wanted to have the cake all done so my mind could be on other things-like cupcakes and oh, presents. In all the rush of last-minute packing it's no wonder I left the camera home, so we don't have any pictures of our trip. I'll give you some highlights: We went to the Ballard Locks, stayed a night with Travis and Erin, went to the "animal park" AKA animal farm, Hiked Snoqualmie Falls, went to the Museum of Flight, jogged in the rain, went to Pikes Place and bought yummy Salmon, shopped a little- mostly for thing we forgot- like makeup, and saw way too much Halo from my younger cousins still on Summer break. The weather was perfect, the company fantastic, and overall P did great.

When we got home, I had 1 day to put the finishing touches on the cake and make all the cupcakes and get them decorated. My sweet neighbor took P for awhile while I whipped frosting, colored it, and washed and rewashed all the tips. They were perfect. A friend came by later that night and helped me put P to bed and finish up the cake. It was all ready. Sigh. I proved to myself I could do it.

In hind sight I didn't need to be so worried about this that it consumed my life for weeks. I could have been just as calm with the same result. There is a first time for everything, and I learned a lot- especially about what I'm capable of. The best part?... The red turned out PERFECT! It took several tries and lots and lots and lots of red coloring. I still have a tub of it in the fridge.

We had a great turn out, and P enjoyed himself. I got him a free cake from Macey's so he wouldn't stain his skin with the red frosting. Thanks everyone for coming. I love your support and having you there meant a lot to me. Thanks Evan for being so understanding. I love, love, love you. No cakes for awhile. Promise.

D.C.

We were home just long enough to recover from South Africa, when we packed up, and headed for Washington D.C. (again). Our second trip there in less than a year. This time Evan's boss fly in all of the "guys" and their wives/girlfriends/kids. We stayed at the Marriott close to the National Zoo, so just a few blocks away were the animals to entertain P. One of the girls, Kristal, hooked us up with an exec. suite so P could have ample room to romp around. That was so nice! We 3 girls, the only ones that made it to D.C., palled around together. It was so fun to take a vacation with girls! We ate on the company's dime, swam when we wanted, and went where we liked. We also got to meet all the "guys" at the company we've heard so much about- since they're in NY and we're the only two families in Utah.

Riding the Metro. It seems that's all we did!

At the National Zoo- behind the Pandas

P did so well on the plane rides. We went out to dinner every night, and that was really tiresome to him. He only made it through the apetizers before cranking out his bedtime charm. We took turns alking with him outside, and standing up with him. To our surprise, he had no problem falling asleep in the umbrella stroller (which we chanced to bring-ignoring this little detail). I had decided that vacation was vacation, and though I'd kick myself everyday for doing it, naptime and all routine fell to the wayside. I didn't want to spend my humid summer in D.C. cooped up in a hotel room, waiting for naps to end before meeting up with friends to see the sights. P took it well, and even slept decent enough for us. He charmed everyone we met. It's fun to go to Metropolitan cities like that and realized what a novelty babies are. People stared at him ALL THE TIME! It was quite sad to think of what many people miss out on in life. Families are just too important to me. I love them. P with Kristal
Our week was over way too soon, and back we were to work, study, unpacking, and cleaning. Then on to trip #3...

Sept 3rd, 2009
I can’t believe a year has past since I felt you squirming in my belly. That night before you were born you were restless, rolling and rolling, and it seemed scratching, just itching to get out. It was the next day I got to hold you in my arms and look at your sweet face for the first time. I had only seen that face once before, in a dream. It was an older face, but yours just the same. I couldn’t believe I was holding my boy. My BOY! I wanted you to be a boy SO BADLY, and you made me so happy. You wanted to come into this world so much - even early- and you’ve enjoyed it ever since.
Tomorrow we’ll sing to you, watch you rip into a cake, and have you open your presents. But your birthday is not about those things to me. For me this is about your rite of passage, a landmark of days that will never be back again. I realize that my baby boy is no longer my baby. I feel I have to give up part of me as I watch you tomorrow. I will be happy and love it all, but I will also mourn the last day I have you as mine. It seems I now have to give you up to the world. To toddlerhood. As you explore you get further away from me, and from needing me for everything. I thought I wouldn’t miss it, but I will. I do. Happy Birthday sweet boy!