November 18

Dear Julie,

Today, we celebrated your first birthday! The morning  started with a shopping trip to Food City, for breakfast, rolls, and an onion, then we stopped for cinnamon rolls at the Sugar Street Bakery, and headed to Nana and Papa'll's house. Nanny and Angel spent all day helping me prepare for the party, while you played with dada and poppy. Nanny started cooking food, while Angel and I worked on your birthday cake. It was all going great, until Nanny lost a bandaid inside the turkey. She and dada looked, and couldn't find it, so she went ahead and baked the turkey. Angel and Indecided the best option was to make sure we carved the turkey in hopes of finding the bandaid, before the party started.

We cooked so much food! There was a turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, glazed carrots, stuffing, con in the cob, broccoli salad, rolls, and Aunt Sara brought a big pot of green beans! The food was wonderful, and you inhaled your dinner. Your cake was the highlight of the food table! It turned out better than I could have ever expected!

We had a great turn out for your party. I didn't invite very many people - just family, and those we consider family. We asked that instead of gifts, everyone bring a donation for the food pantry. Unfortunately, only 1-2 people listed to my wishes. However, that meant you had presents to open. Lilly and Eliza helped open them and play with them! You got s new outfit from Nellie & Richard, a baby stella dolls from Nanny & Poppy, musical books from the Rainey family, and a tricycle from the Sheets family! You mad more fun opening the presents and playing with the bags and paper than the actual presents, and your favorite part was the birthday cards. You also managed to tear a page of our your book within minutes of opening it! Dada taped it back together, and we'll always remember when that page was torn.

After presents, we put you in your high chair, so you could try your cake! Papa'll made you a special birthday smash cake, and was so excited for everyone to see his work, and for you to try it. You did much better with his cake than you did with the cake from your birthday photos. You touched it, played with it, ate a few bites, and tried to share it with everyone. Once you were cleaned up, everyone enjoyed their own slice of the turkey cake, then the party was over.

It was a wonderful day, and I can't wait to celebrate more over the next week. I love you baby girl. Happy (almost) birthday!