The First Birthday Party

Saturday we had Sarah's first birthday party. My mom and stepdad were there, and John's mom (his dad wasn't able to make it.)

She had a lot of fun, although at some points I think she may have been a little overwhelmed by the attention and presents. It had to be a little confusing for her - normally we're saying "no, don't tear the paper" and "let's not make a huge mess please."

In the spirit of being a Type A+ mom trying to be a B+, I did not sweat the decorations too much, however I did make everything by scratch that day - the cupcakes (banana with vanilla pastry custard "frosting"), the fried chicken fingers, the spinach dip... I was exhausted by the end of the day, but it really was worth it.

I hope to get some more pictures of her up tomorrow, on her actual birthday, but here's a couple I just love - the expression on her face while she started her cupcake was precious.

Digging into her cupcake

Playing on the couch with Papaw (aka, Zane, my step-dad)

Hanging out with Grandma (aka Elaine, John's mom)

My dirty little secrets

Hi, my name is Kelly and I have two dirty little secrets. They both involve the television.

I watch Sister Wives.

I watch the Kardashians.

Still reading? Good. I promise, I am not anti-women's rights. I personally do not want to be either a sister wife or a Kardashian, even though technically I might fit in a little bit with the whole K thing. (But then there is the pasty pale, no rear end thing, so I think they'd suss me out rather quickly.)

I watch Sister Wives, mainly because I think I'm secretly hoping one day Kody (geez, what is it with the Ks? Is that the theme here?) puts a toe out too far with one of his wives and they have a real Come to Jesus with him. I watch it because I adore Janelle's daughter Madison because she pretty much says what she thinks, and makes it clear her mother's choices won't be hers. I hope one day someone slaps Robin and gives, in full Lafayette from True Blood mode, a "bitch, please" to end all "bitch, please"es. I watch because as much as Douchey McBaggerson tries to act like he's the head of this household, he is totally at the mercy of four wives, whether he or they believe it or not. (And because I'm hoping someone points out the folly of a two-seater sports car when you have four wives and going-on-seventeen kids. I mean, at least Jim Bob Duggar drives a big Suburban type thing. Granted, he only has the one wife... okay, okay, so I watch that show too.)

I watch the Kardashians for reasons that are complicated. No, really. Part of me watches because I feel like I automatically look smarter in comparison. I watch because I want to find out when Lamar Odom finally has enough and tells them all they're crazy. I watch because... I mean have you SEEN Bruce Jenner lately? (Take a look at him in the Olympic footage, then look now. To borrow the phrase from Pajiba, he looks like Bruce Jenner's aunt whose sexuality may or may not be in question.) I watch because my family looks nice and normal by comparison.

There, two (or three) of my dirty little secrets. I kind of have a thing for train wrecks.

The good kind of busy

So I could post again about how busy life is, and how I wished I were blogging more, and it would be sort of true.

However, we are in what can be called the good kind of busy. Sarah's trying to walk, she's eating table food and wanting to try whatever John and I are eating (more incentive to eat healthier foods so she's used to eating them, right?) work is crazy, home is awesome, and things are going just about as well as they could overall.

I had an infection last week and went to the doctor, who told me I probably need to lose some weight. I knew I'd gained some, but had no idea how much. When I saw the number on the scale, I kind of had a moment because it was higher than that highest number... but that can be fixed too. Yesterday we found a new bike for me, and we ordered a pull-behind trailer for Sarah, so soon we can do those family bike rides we've been talking about for so long.

Sarah's grandparents (mostly) all roll into town on Friday evening. Her party is Saturday, her baptism is Sunday, her official birthday is Tuesday, and her doctor's appointment is Tuesday. Her Grandma is leaving Monday morning to head back to El Paso, and her Nina and Papaw (my mom and Zane) will be here through Thursday, doing all sorts of fun stuff with her.

Briana's birthday is the 15th, and we've got her birthday box ready to put in the mail, probably tomorrow. It's hard to believe she's 15, in high school, and we're talking about cars and drivers licenses. 

AND... we have a new baby in the family. KD is CB's new little brother and although they had a brief stay in the NICU, everyone is home safe and sound. We've seen some pictures and video, and he's a doll. (Although what is it with these boys having all this hair, and Sarah being bald? Genetics are weird sometimes.)