This calls for a celebration!

As most of you know, Chad, Addison and I headed to Clermont last week to celebrate Addisons 1st Birthday! It was such an amazing and exciting milestone for us all. Not only were we celebrating her birthday, but we were also recognizing the fact that Chad and I survived our first year of parenthood! I knew we had it in us :) Although I have to admit it will probably be the easiest year, I think its pretty safe to say it only gets harder from here on out. Before we know it she will be talking (which we all know means back talking) and reaching the terrible two's...Oh My! So much to look forward too.

For Addisons Birthday I wanted to do something fun and exciting. Something we would enjoy as a family. I decided that I wanted to take Addison to Chef Mickeys (located on Disney property) for her "birthday brunch". For those who dont know what Chef Mickeys is about, it a casual breakfast/brunch area where the main Disney characters come around one at a time to every table and greet every guest. I figured I could incorporate Addison's two favorite things, her love of music and fun and Food! What could be more exciting than Mickey and Food?! (Ha, we all know Addison has a love for food!).

Shortly after we were seated and enjoying our food there was an announcment that Mickey would be soon having a special celebration. Within a few minutes Mickey brought Addison a little birthday cupcake while everyone was singing and dancing around us. Addison had no clue what was going on! But it was nice of them to acknowledge her special day. Later Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Minnie and Pluto all made rounds to our table (although we missed Pluto due to a bathroom break). From a far, Addison would get so excited to see one of the characters. She would wave and bounce up and down. But as soon as they got too close she got a bit scared, but who can blame her? I think I would be scared if a massive mouse came right up in my face too. As a matter of fact I recall being afraid of Goofy until I was 11. Our families took bets on whether she would cry, but I knew my daughter all too well, I knew she wouldnt cry. Here are a few pictures from our morning at Chef Mickeys:Addisons First picture with Mickey while he brought her a cupcake. At first I was surprised at how well she did, she even honked his nose!

However, the excitement soon faded when Mickey tried to touch her. This isnt a great picture of me, but Addison literally jumped across the table and almost out of my arms when he reached for her! I have never seen her jump so high. It is soo much funnier to watch on the video camera!

Like Mother, Like Daughter: See Im not the only one scared of Goofy!

After breakfast we went to Chads Moms work (who works at one of the Disney resorts) to show her off. Before we knew it we had a mob of people crowded over her cooing at her telling us how adorable she is. Thats when the proud Momma in me kicks in. I love showing off my little girl. I figure I might as well go ahead and throw this in. Since birth Everyone has always commented on how much she looks like Chad. That is great and dandy. I dont mind, I have a beautiful daughter. But since she was little I always seem to get the SAME comment "She is Sooo Beautiful! She looks just like her Daddy!" and my personnel favorite, "She is too cute! She looks nothing like you!" Umm...thanks...I think?? What are they trying to imply? Quite a self esteem booster if you ask me.

A family picture at Chads Moms Resort. Family pictures seem to be few and hard to come by these days.

Later that night we had a small party with both of our families combined. We grilled some hotdogs, had some nice watermelon and enjoyed the typical summer night. When we ordered Addisons Birthday cake we got a FREE "smash cake" for Addison. The first birthday tradition is to give the child their own little cake and let them eat as much as they like and make the biggest mess possible. I on the other hand only wanted to give Addison a small piece ( I am such a strict Momma arent I?). After being persuaded I finally gave in and decided to just let Addison "Dig in" so to speak. I pictured Addison going in with both hands and just shoving it into her face, after all that is what she usually does at dinner every night anyway, so I figured this wouldnt be much different.

But Addison surprised us all when she had more fun making a mess than eating it. She only had maybe 2 or 3 bites and she was done. I think by that point she was over it, after all she had had a busy day. Often times Addison likes to share her food feed me while she eats. After I picked her up, she proceeded to take the the chunk of cake she had in her hand and put it in my mouth. Thanks Hun! I soon became more of a mess than she was. We had such a great time while we were home, but we were more than ready to get back home and in the swing of things. Addison had her 12 months WBV on Monday and she is now 18lbs 6oz and 29" long. The Doctor said she looks great and seems to be ahead developmentally (but we have always known she was a genius baby!). We cant wait to see what the next year has in store for us. I can only hope it will be as great as our first!