Marie's FIRST Birthday!!

This time last year, I had just delivered my precious little Marie. And by little, I mean, HUGE. At 9 pounds 9 ounces I was pretty sure I had birthed the biggest baby ever. It felt like it, at least. A good pound heavier than her sister was at birth a year and a half earlier. People will forever ask me how I create such large babies when I am, myself, rather thin. Beats me. I'm a moose-baby maker.
 

So yesterday we celebrated her 1st birthday. Parties are like my Superbowl. I live for this. I plan the menu out weeks in advance, trying new things with each party, decorating sooner than I probably need to. And of course, design a cake!

Marie is my "Hippie" baby. She's so relaxed and chill. Nothing upsets her. She rarely cries. She sleeps 15 hours at night, straight, and takes a long 3 hour nap on top of that! She loves to snuggle and laugh and suck her thumb. She's pretty adorable, I have to say. So, when I came across an Owl/Butterfly Hippie theme party package, I nearly fainted. It was PERFECT for her personality. And her nursery was done in Owls and Lovebirds. I had to get it. And to keep with the Hippie theme, a subtle Tye-Dye Butterfly cake!

The other food included: Rainbow Fruit, Melon Balls, Smore's on a Stick, Veggie Plate, Creole-Injected Chicken, Spinach, and Avocado Puff-Pastry sandwiches with a Garlic-Cayenne Aioli, Fiesta Pinwheels with homemade salsa, and Crab-Cake stuffed mushrooms. Punch was a Cherry-Rainbow ice-cream float.

Tropical Storm Lee made landfall the morning of her party so it made getting to the party rather impossible for some guests. Leave it to me to plan a party during a tropical storm...

Those that did manage to get here seemed to enjoy everything! I had a pinata stuffed with candy and toys and little butterfly favors that my 2.5 year old helped me make.

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Marie. Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy love you as big as the sky!