Happy First Birthday Nate

Momma, dadda and Nate

Daddy and the birthday boy

He wanted to tear it apart rather than sit on it and play like it was made to do. He likes to "fix" things. He is such a boy!

He was not shy at all-he dug right into his cake

He was so excited to put a hat on-he loves to play with hats

I LOVE this picture of Nate. I think it captures the way he felt on the inside about that cake! Look at those lips!

To the left is my hand holding a "1" up. Nate will hold his hand up in the 1 position and then proceed to clap and jump up and down.

Jim and Mendi Carlson

Pete, Gabby, Jess and Olivia Garcia

Colin and Nate

Heather, Avery and Sadie Berry. The 16th is also their dad's birthday.

PaPa and Nate

Braden, Jodie and Olivia

Jodie did this mural for Nate. We have a chalkboard wall in our kitchen for kids to draw on.

Nate's cake Mendi made

Mendi made this cake especially for Nate to dig in to-and he sure loved it!

Saturday we celebrated Nate's first birthday! That morning, it was pouring rain so my friend Jodie called me and said" hey why don't we have it at your house since it is raining". Being the stubborn person I am, I said "no, we are going to have it at the park. I paid for it, so I am gonna use it". Well, Dean and I decide to go to the park and check things out. I started walking-in the rain no less-on the sidewalk and as I got closer to the pavilion-oops I slipped and thankfully caught myself. So I kept walking thinking I would get more traction under my feet. Well, no this is not going to end up with me on the sidewalk face down. I did not fall-to your dismay-but I did humble myself and decide to have the party at my house.

My house was a wreck, but I have a wonderful friend-Jodie-who came over and helped me pick the house up! Thanks Schmode!! The party turned out wonderfully. My friend Mendi made the Elmo cake-which was really yummy too! Nate had a great time playing with his friends, tearing into his gifts, and making a mess with his first taste of cake-which he loved BTW. Thanks to all the family and friends who made it. It was such a special day for Nathaniel and Dean and I and we are so happy you helped us celebrate.

It is amazing. Now that Nate is one he loves to throw fits?! Have the terrible two's started early? I am not liking this fit thing. What happened to my sweet adorable little baby? Maybe it is one of the four teeth breaking through on the top? Maybe it is Nate not getting what he wants? Maybe it is me at my wit's end sometimes? But I do love that little man with almost all my heart.

Here are some of Nate's favorite things and words he is saying. We did a short video of Nathaniel where we asked him on his birthday some of his favorite things. We will do this every year to see how he has changed. Here's a list:

Favorite food: milk of course

Favorite toy: Jack-Jack and his baby(puppy he sleeps with)

Friends: Jack-Jack, Braden, Colin, Corbin, Caden, Dylan, Sadie, Olivia, Gabby(most of these are mommy's friends kids)

words he is saying: mamma, dadda, jack-jack, hey, hello(sounds more like whoa), boo, ball, bubba(universal name for my nephews), look(sounds like woo)