Time to Party!

With Riley having a birthday so close to Christmas it's always a struggle on when to celebrate. The weekend prior was busy for last minute shopping, the weekend after still had holiday parties. So we opted to hold off until January 5th. The theme being "Winter ONEderland". We invited close family for midday treats. Unfortunately "midday" is also nap time. As you can tell in pictures Riley was exhausted. But he did very well.

The invites:

The decorations:

The treats:

The birthday boy!

Blowing out the candle/eating the cupcake:

 

Presents!

It's hard to believe we have a 1 year old! It's hard not to answer the oh-so-common question of "how old is he?" with "twelve months". 

Even after the party the "celebrations" will continue. Riley has his one year "well visit" on Tuesday. Then we still have to get those pesky one year old photos done! Not to mention I have to catch up his baby book! :)

C is for Cake

For months now I've battled back and forth on whether or not to do the popular trend "Cake Smash". Usually seeing half naked babies with food smeared all over them is not my style but here I'll make the exception. I feel like the cake almost symbolizes they've graduated into "toddler-hood". Therefore, why shouldn't they get to enjoy it?

We won't have a traditional birthday party for Riley for another week. So having letting him have his cake on his actual birthday made it feel more special. And there's no way I want to pause the party to clean this sort of mess up. He'll just be receiving a small cupcake to celebrate at his party. 

We completely expected him to dive in....head first! However it was a challenge to get him to even get to the cake part. He was less than fond of the sticky blue frosting. Besides moving his legs (and sometimes putting them in the cake!) I've never seen him sit so still so long. The cake plate never moved. But the cake did get massacred! 

Happy Happy Birthday Baby....

Yesterday Riley turned the big 0-1. 

Chris took the day off and we enjoyed watching him eat his birthday cake (which I'll include pictures on my next post). After the blue frosting mess was cleaned up we headed to Bloomington-Normal to the Children's Discovery Museum. Riley had a blast (and so did we). He enjoyed a day full of fun inside on a freezing day outside. We played in mirrored tunnels, a slide, a bridge. We got to play with several different toys including and xylophone. 

 We got to wander three levels of childhood fun - train tables, cooking areas, doctor areas, a whole Ag department (including a red tractor and a green combine!), a music/theater area, a place to paint on walls, and so much more. Most of which was too advanced for Riley just yet. But we'll be sure to return!

Riley's present from us was the B. Toys B. Zany Zoo Activity Cube. So far it has been a huge hit! 

Baby's First Christmas

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Like most kids Riley made out like a bandit. Also, like a typical child he enjoyed the paper more than most gifts. Little bits of paper were the best!

Grandpa and Grandma R came Christmas Eve and bought a rocking horse and a push toy. 

I'm trying to do a "Christmas Eve Present" from Chris and I each year. My goal is to give something to do/use on Christmas Eve. This year Riley got Christmas pajamas (shown in Christmas morning pictures and Twas the Night Before Christmas to read...which we did). I threw in the box of his first ornament --shown above. I also threw in some blocks to entertain him through story time!

Even at 2 days shy of 1 year old Riley was excited to see what Santa brought him on Christmas morning. He was up early and ready to play!

Santa brought Riley the Fisher Price Little People Barn, Mini Farm, and Tractor. He also bought an awesome Green Toys Firetruck (made completely out of recycled milk jugs) and a Sit and Scoot Tractor.

In his stocking he found a new Banana Toothbrush, Clicking Farm Animals, Muddy Paws board book, and straps to hold his toys on the stroller. 

We got Riley his first farm toy. And yes, his father was extremely excited about it. This toy is far too advanced for a toddler. Riley loves pushing it around but it will probably be high up on a shelf for majority of it's life. 

(Chris with his first farm toy in 1984 / Riley with his first farm toy in 2012)

We hosted Christmas for my side Christmas night. Grandma and Grandpa A got Riley another 1st Christmas ornament, Must be Santa, and the Fisher Price Little People Santa's North Pole Cottage. Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Amanda, Kaitlyn, and Avery got an alligator toy and monster pajamas. 

(And yes, I might have played with the Little People long after Riley had gone to bed!)