Birthday Bash

Just a few random thoughts and pictures from Libby Doodle Doo's birthday:

#####Libby Doodle Doo first woke up a little after 5AM in the morning. It's not unusual for the Doodle to wake up a few times every night. I hear her on the baby monitor cooing or babbling and then she goes back to sleep.

What was unusual about this awakening is that she was crying. As I waited to see if she would put herself back to sleep (she did after a few minutes), I couldn't help but wonder if this time was significant to her soul -- was this the moment that she was born a year ago in China, was her birth mother trying to make a cosmic link to her from China at that precise time -- so many unknowns in the very short past of this little girl.

#####Typically, Miss Doodle is all smiles and giggles when I come to get her out of the crib first thing in the morning. Yesterday was not a typical morning. Fortunately, her mood improved once I put the camera down and picked her up.




#####Little Zo Peep and I got a ???GREAT???? idea yesterday -- instead of talking to Libby Doodle Doo, we would sing all of our conversations using the tune "Happy Birthday to You." This way -- Miss Zo Peep surmised -- the Doodle would become acquainted with the tune.

Libby Doodle Doo must have thought we were daft. She looked at us as if we had 3 heads. Here's a sampling from our morning (Of course, sung to the tune of Happy Birthday):

Did you poop your pants?
Did you poop your pants?
Mommy needs to change your diaper.
If you pooped your pants.

#####At about 1PM my sister visited to wish Miss Doodle a happy birthday. We put a candle in a cupcake (place out of arms reach) and sang Happy birthday:

And then the chaos began. Egged on by her big sister, Libby Doodle Doo dove into the cupcake.

And then after taking a short break to suck her thumb (made especially thumb-licious with all that icing), She decided that her hair needed a cupcake conditioning treatment:

First, let's rub it into the back. And let's not forget this side:

#####After her 2nd bath, I dressed Libby Doodle Doo (only for a few minutes) in this gorgeous silk dress with velvet bolero. This dress was supposed to arrive to allow her to wear it for the Dance reception last night. Instead, it arrrived at noontime today. I couldn't get the Doodle to sit still on the chair. Although not a great photo, this shot shows off the dress best:

#####During Libby Doodle Doo's morning nap, Zo Peep made party hats out of gift wrapping paper for her sister (who wouldn't keep it on her head long enough to take a picture):


And for herself. She presented those to Miss Libby after her bath (I tried-- unsuccessfully -- to get photos with both girls wearing them):

But I did get both of my girls together for this special day (another shot of the dress)

#####At dinner time my friend Andrea and her family came for a visit. I ordered pizza and soup and salads from a local delivery joint (Andrea insisted on picking up the tab -- thank you) and Andrea brought a homemade chocolate cake for the Doodle.

We had a great visit. Little Zo Peep played with Andrea's 3 boys and the Doodle got to know some knew friends. We all sat together during dinner (done on paper plates -- so no clean up for me) and had a nice visit. The cake was very yummy.

When they left, I changed Libby Doodle and put her to bed. A very nice day.

One more thing -- when we went shopping for Libby Doodle Doo's gift, Miss Zo Peep selected a reproduction of a vintage Fisher Price toy from the 50's.

I think my oldest brother had this toy when he was a baby. Libby Doodle Doo loves it --- clearly her favorite gift of the day. Maybe they don't make toys like they used to.

Signing off.