And then she was One

Oh my heart. My baby girl is One. Such a mixture of happy and sad emotions all rolled into one. I’ll try not to reiterate anything I’ve already said in the lead-up to this birthday, but gosh, I just can’t post about it without getting a little emotional and yes, still shocked even after this many babies and time that they really do grow up this quickly.

The night prior, I kissed her goodnight and prayed over her while she lay dreaming in my arms, and then in the morning, just like that, Piper was One.

Daddy was at work all day and had to leave before Piper was really very awake, so the kids all greeted her good morning, Piper still slightly bleary-eyed,  with a birthday song and lots of cuddles and exclamations of how CUTE she looked in her birthday crown, and how much older she suddenly looked (“don’t you think Mama? Doesn’t she sooo much more grown up?”). The girls especially were giving Piper lots of attention, everyone so excited to share in her day and be the one to hold and kiss the birthday girl and put her crown on when she inevitably pulled it off.

I finished up her birthday crown a little after midnight and then fell into bed to cuddle her up on her last night of being 11 months. I adore the way she looks in it, and I think I’ll share some more photos and the sweet details of it in another post soon.

While Piper was napping, the kids and I made a bunch of rainbow coloured waldorf window stars for our decorations. We’ll leave them up until after her party on Sunday I think since they look so pretty. They look very effective when the sun is streaming through them, but the day wound up pretty overcast and grey come afternoon and evening when we were putting them up, not unlike the day she was born actually, so the full effect is kind of lost in the photo.

We waited until the evening when Matt was home to really celebrate with presents and candles. Everyone gathered around our big table and I tried not to get (too) emotional or cry (too much). The birthday ring was set up, the little figures we’d chosen placed in their positions. This year her figures are a seahorse, because she is such a water loving merbaby, the One goes without saying, and the little star/sun because we always sing her to sleep or to cheer her up with either twinkle twinkle little star or you are my sunshine.

We lit the center candle, then Daddy read her the birthday letter/story I had written for Piper and also a letter from Daddy too. I focused just on Piper and tried to only half-listen because while I knew every single word I’d written down almost by heart already, if I listened fully I know I’d have started to get all upset in that strange happy-sad way. When the birthday letter finished up with “and then she was one”, we lit the birthday candle and all clapped and cheered for her. Piper pretty much soaked up the attention from everyone, clapping and laughing herself before we helped her (ok, I) blew out the candle.

Madison knit this little kitten for Piper as her gift and wrapped it up beautiful in a little box tied with orange ribbon. I love that she was so proud of herself, and so pleased to be able to give Piper something made with her own hands. Most of the kids also drew cards for her, and made a big chalk drawing on our driveway but I’ve forgotten to take any photos of those.

My gift to her, a new bunny I knit for her from organic natural alpaca wool, stuffed with wool fleece. It is solid and warm and so lovely, and it makes me so happy that as soon as she’d managed to tear away the wrapping paper, she gave it a big squeezey hug and a kiss. My heart just about burst, let me tell you.

She absolutely did not ask for permission to go from crawling baby to standing just-about-ready-to-walk toddler overnight! Piper decided to stand up and take her very first step all at the same time. Matt and I both caught each others eye in shock and couldn’t even speak for a moment. She hasn’t taken too many steps since, but she is getting the hang of the standing thing. How is it possible that just two days ago, she still seemed to be a baby, and now this?

Piper and Isaiah enjoying our main gift to her, a set of Ostheimer polar bears (which is kind of hidden in this photo I know). I asked Matt which animals he thought should join the ones we already owned for her gift, and the polar’s are the ones he picked out. We have a funny little farm going on I suppose, but I love it.

We finished up her birthday with dinner out, Matt and I and our six kids in the gorgeous warm evening air, eating al fresco and listening to the live music from the buskers on the street. Then we wandered over to watch the free Kasey Chambers concert in the park. Piper was trying to escape my arms, and just crawling everywhere or standing up and waving her hands and clapping. All in all, a beautiful and lazy way to end up the day. Everyone piled into bed really late, and as I settled into bed beside my sweet One year old girl, I flipped open my instagram account to look at all of the photos I took in her first couple of days. Bad move, made me cry. Made me smile too though, and thank God for sending this precious girl into our lives.

I still can’t believe she is really One, but gosh I’m so excited for what this next year of her life will bring!

xox Amanda

Tags: babies first birthday, baby 1st birthday, first birthday, handknit presents for baby, piper, waldorf baby birthday, waldorf birthday

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