Wow, I am sooooo behind on here! I decided my long over due post would have to be nothing other than my sweet little girl's first birthday! We planned this day for months and it was beyond a success! Being that Gabby was almost 6 months old when we moved to St. Louis, it was only appropriate that we have a party in Florida and Missouri. I'll start with the Florida party since it was the big tadoo! We woke up at Grandmas and opened presents with Aunt Brooke and Uncle Luke. We spent the day getting ready for her big party. With a reservation in the clubhouse at the wonderful Tortoise Island of Satellite Beach, we had the second floor over looking the water with almost 70 people. The room was decortaed top to bottom with Minnie Mouse and pink, light pink and black decorations. It was a beautiful set up with lots of food and drinks, not to mention the "cake table". AAAhhhh, the cake table! Something I put so much thought into! Nothing other than a 4 tier fondant Minnie Mouse cake would do! In the center of the table surrounded by pink and black candies, candles, balloons, and a ceramic Minnie figurine, it was quite the set up. Next to the much elaborate cake table was the gift table, which was full including presents on the floor. I realized then Gabby was quite the popular baby! All dressed up in her custom made Minnie onsie with her name on it and matching black tutu with a pink ribbon and Minnie ears on her head, she was the cutest little birthday girl I had ever seen! Walking up the gorgeous staircase into the all done up room, was a table with Gabby's one year photo with a sign in sheet for everyone to wish the special girl a very happy birthday! Once everyone ate and had time to chat, we moved on to have everyone around the dance floor while we sat Gabby in the center and surrounded her with career related items in a circle all around her. We all watched to see which item she would go to, inevitably predetermining her future career. Making her Mommy proud, she went to the dog, which tells me she will be following in her Momma's foot steps in the veterinary field. (#proudmamma) After this fun activity, we decided it was CAKE time! Gabby sat in the high chair while we handed her the 4th tier of the cake, Minnie's ears with a pink bow on top. She was very systematic about the procedure. She took the fondant ears off piece by piece, then the bow, then thought carefully before diving into the delicous cake. We kind of had to coax her fingers into the cake since she doesn't like getting dirty. Once those little fingers were in, she was sold! Cake was everywhere! This was the moment I had waited for. Seeing my 1 year old dive into her smash cake was so bittersweet! My baby is growing up, but how cute is she with her smash cake all over her face!? After several hours of the best one year old birthday, we wrapped things up and headed home to get all nestled in bed. It was such an exhausting day for the little princess! I sat next to her as she slept, staring at her in disbelief that it was the day of her 1 year birthday! It was so surreal I had tears in my eyes. This was one of the best days of my life!
