An Amazing Year

A year ago yesterday we were at this stage of our lives:


Now we're at this stage of our lives:

Let's just say a lot can happen in a year. The little prince celebrated his first birthday yesterday and I can hardly believe it. From now on I'll tell people how many years old he is, not how many months old he is. It's been an amazing year filled with moments that are super challenging which end in results that are super rewarding.

Because our lives are so hectic right now we took Saturday like a normal day, no party or anything intense like that. Instead we filled Ethan's day with family time and made sure to tell him how much we love him and how terrific he is about ten times more than usual. In other words, it was a perfect day.

Here are some pictures of the last month, followed by pictures of the big birthday!

E ready to go for a walk. Look at what a little stud he is.

My superhero: Turtleboy

Baby Mozart what?
Check out the precision with the one little finger
hitting the perfect note. I love it!

A previously mentioned phenomenon entitled:
Baby in the Dishwasher.

My men.

And now the birthday pictures!

Mommy and Ethan enjoying the sunshine.

Ethan at Costco. Have I mentioned that he's a rather vocal child?

Ethan and Daddy at Harvest Fresh.

Putting the finishing touches (fresh raspberries) on Ethan's birthday cake.
P.S. Should anyone want the recipe, I'll find time to send it to you.
It's loaded with zucchini, carrots, raisins, walnuts, whole wheat
flour and has no refined sugar. The frosting is tofutti (which is
surprising good) sweetened with apple juice concentrate and honey.

E starting to dig into the cake. I had no guilt about him eating
as much as he wanted since it was practically one huge healthy muffin.

Evidence of the beginning of the mess. Sadly, it was right after
this picture that our camera battery died.
Suffice it to say, E earned his bath that night.

Well, there's just a few highlights, but we wanted to share the wonderful day with all of you.