Party Girl!

My Uncle John said it best; I think Marin had more fun at her first birthday party than anyone else!

We had a music and dancing theme for the party, and Marin spent most of the day doing just that! When she wasn't dancing to the playlist of 114 dance songs (kids and adult alike) that Auntie Mika made and sent us just for her party, or dancing with her blow up guitars, blow up saxophones, or shaking the mini party maracas, she was walking around the party smiling and greeting guests at the door with hugs and kisses. This girl knows how to party!

We had about 60 friends and family members at our house. Even considering that Marin is very social, I kept thinking she might reach a point where she'd freak out, or maybe just want to hang with Jason or me. Nope and nope. She was happy as a clam to just bounce from room to room in her little Burberry dress (also a gift from Auntie Mika) as if she were waiting for her birthday party more than anyone there.

We brought an old TV into the living room and borrowed Dance, Dance, Revolution from Uncle Jake and Aunt Katy. Marin was a little confused by the mats, but played along all the same. She was very happy to see some of her favorite food was served, and that her little picture was posted everywhere (table confetti, on the sweet potato fry cups, and even as stickers people wore) thanks to Auntie Molly making it all for her.

She was absolutely delighted when the whole party stopped to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. This was my favorite part. She sat in her highchair looking out at all her friends, smiling.

And then came the cake. Boy, did she LOVE the cake! Her cake had hand made chocolate letters and music notes on them, that if played out, played "Happy Birthday". She had her own individual cake that she tore into very systematically, and with great pleasure. She started with the top, and swept off all the icing. Then she did the sides, with both hands. Then, she dug into the cake- with a little coaching from my Goddaughter, Skylar, yelling, "Dig into it! Dig! Dig! Dig!" I think Marin kept waiting for someone to tell her "no, no" and every once in a while she'd look around like, "this is really okay? no one's going to stop me?". When she was near done, she spotted me, and reached out for me. She had very, very messy goopy hands, but I wasn't about to turn away a hug and a kiss from the birthday girl. As a result, I had cake in my hair, on my top and all over my face for the remainder of the party. I loved it.

After the cake, we needed an outfit change. Marin changed into her tutu so she could dance some more. After face painting, presents, a great Illini victory, more dancing at 9pm, and snuggles from her family, she had a major sugar crash at 10pm and fell asleep before I could even get her up the stairs to her room. Turns out she's just like her mom, and never wants a party to end!

It was a great day! At the end of the night Jason and I took a few hours together with just the two of us to recap the party and the day. We feel very blessed to have such great family and friends and a sweet baby girl- all who love a good party.

On Monday, Marin's actual birthday, Miss Kathy had a party for Marin at her house, for Marin's friends from daycare. Aunt Lindsay drove all the way out from Chicago to be there, and Grandma came too! It was great fun. Marin had cake again, this time with ice cream, too! It came just in time, because after we arrived Hayden (2 yrs. old) said, "Kathy, my stomach is growling! Time to have cake!" We danced to the hokey pokey, the itsy bitsy spider, and then everyone got balloons and they threw them up in the air and danced around the room with them. Reiss declared that if it is your birthday (hers is next) you get the pink balloon. So, Marin got the apparently coveted pink balloon. She tried to throw it up in the air like the big kids, but she didn't quite grasp the concept of letting go. So, she just ran around the room with her arm up in the air, happy as could be.

After all the sugar was danced off at Miss Kathy's, we went home and Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Lindsay stayed for Marin's birthday dinner. In the middle of eating her chicken, brown rice and broccoli, Marin took my finger and put it in her mouth where I.... drum roll.... felt a tooth!!!!!!!!!!! Hooray! We don't have to go the pediatric dentist!! Sure enough, Missy Marin's bottom right tooth is coming in. We applauded this effort as if she had grown it herself, and then passed poor Marin around the table so everyone could peer inside and have a look for themselves.

Later that night, Marin uncharacteristically woke up crying. When we went in to check on her, she was burning up! She slept the whole next day, and last night at our one year well visit check up, it was confirmed that she has a double ear infection. Poor thing. She's doing better today, and is getting plenty of rest. Just goes to show you, all good things come to an end.

But what a weekend it was! Our little social butterfly partied and danced her little heart out. And boy oh boy... does that girl like sweets. Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Marin; Happy Birthday, to you!