Birthday girl

The birthday girl!

This is an overdue post. But I kind of wanted to wait until both birthday parties were over to write about it. We had two parties--one in our home with our local friends (most kids around RaeRae's age) and another in Sacramento with our family and friends there. 

So my darling RaeRae turned ONE on February 6, 2012! I can't believe a year has passed since she was in my tummy and I was getting ready to give birth to such a miracle. I love her soooo much! I had so much fun planning her first birthday party(ies). 


February 4, 2012:


The first birthday party (in our home) was sooo much fun! It was nice to have an all signing environment. Nearly everyone was Deaf or an interpreter or involved with Deaf Education, or a CODA (Child of Deaf Adult). I never had that type of party growing up, so in a way, it felt like the party was for me too. 


DH and I decorated our condo the day/night before since I knew we would not have any time in the morning. The party was to begin about 11am, and it ended up going until almost 2pm. I was finally excited to put up all the decorations I spent months planning: 

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar wall decals we bought from Target
2. Handmade butterflies that hung from the ceiling (all supplies bought at Dollar Tree store; cheap and easy)
3. About 25 floor balloons
4. Table decor for the fruits from the story
5. Very Hungry Caterpillar cake-pops we made the night before the party (and sooo delicious!)
6. And more...

The birthday girl woke up about 7:30 in the morning, instead of her usual 6ish. So that meant no morning nap.  Guests arrived at various times between 11 and 12. Kids played, mamas chatted, and we ate fruit and lumpia. 
When it was time for cupcakes, we gave RaeRae one of the green cupcakes because I did not want to give her red food dye (and had failed at making natural red food dye the day before) from the cupcake-cake our wonderful friend Jane made. The cupcake-cake turned out fabulous! RaeRae was intrigued with the candles but not so much with the cake. She took her time and then eventually took a bit of liking to the frosting and cake. 

Now here are all the pictures from Party #1!

Party favors

Action shot of party: you can see the hanging butterflies and sort of see the caterpillar balloons and wall decals

Table set-up (missing cake-pops and butterfly snacks)

Close-up of butterfly snack for kids

Close-up of cake-pops

Close-up of hanging butterflies

Waiting for her cupcake!

Proud parents...let's get ready to sing "Happy Birthday!"

Is that for me?

It's for me!

Hm...

A bit unsure...

She sort of started liking it...

Collage pic

Tried to get a pic of ALL 12 kids! Impossible but fun.

Another collage pic my friend put together.

Sweet pic of RaeRae with friends

Cute pic of birthday girl with her daddy

Gifts time!

Totally cheesing it up for the camera. She had a fun party!

Then she took a 2.5 hour nap!! Party was a definite success and everyone enjoyed themselves!

February 11, 2012 (Party #2)


This party began at 3pm and lasted until about 5pm. I brought all the decor from last week's party for this party so it was nearly a breeze setting up. It was more fast-paced because RaeRae was tired and some of our family had to leave early. 
She opened gifts about 3:30pm and boy, was she spoiled! Lots of clothes, some toys, and a princess Coupe! She would not have anything to do with the red cupcake cake that my sister made using red beet powder for natural food coloring. She did an awesome job making those cupcakes. But RaeRae wanted to eat some of my cupcake when I held it so I gave it to her. She mostly just liked the frosting off her fingers. 


RaeRae was awake from 12pm to 8pm on this day and she slept so hard that night. It was a nice, sweet party. Nice to know she is loved. Here are pictures!

The food! And awesome cupcake cake my sister made.

Having fun opening gifts

Clapping after we sang "Happy Birthday!"

Here mama, have a taste!

Gave her my cupcake since she didn't want the red one.

Was sooo tired!

She got really into it!

The neat Princess Coupe she got! She LOVES it! From Nana and Papa