Happy 1st Birthday to Claire!

Happy birthday to my baby! My little one turned one yesterday...ushering her into official toddler-hood, much to my (and Chris') dismay. Wherever did the last year go? Perhaps it's a bit ironic that the first few months of her life, I was wondering how we'd make it to her first birthday...after all, infants require a LOT of energy...yet, now I'm wishing the last year wasn't over.

But enough of the tears and on to more exciting things. This little one certainly enjoyed her first cupcake -- vanilla cake with vanilla icing and purple sprinkles on top -- from our neighbor, Bakeshop (http://www.bakeshopva.com). Yum!

Claire, being a true Oliver, first touched the icing on the cupcake and quickly pulled her hand away because she hasn't really gotten to touch gooey things and didn't seem to enjoy that sensation. But she recovered and eventually dove right in, battering the cupcake back and forth and smashing cake and icing all over her tray. She couldn't eat it until I broke off some pieces for her and, as I expected, she definitely liked it as she demonstrated with big one-tooth grins and shouts of joy. She also eventually realized that when she sucked on her cake-and-icing-coated fingers, they tasted really good! What a great surprise that was!

It's been a great first year having a child -- I cannot wait to see what the next year brings! I'm sure I'll need even more energy than this past year. And I have a feeling that I'll be right back at this computer next year wondering where her second year of life went. See you then.