Alexa's [First] 1st Birthday Party (in Perry)

I had been planning and anticipating Alexa's 1st Birthday Party for quite some time. I ordered matching invitations, plates, napkins, balloons, table clothes, centerpiece, hats, candle, cake pan, etc. I was so excited for the big day! Then, on Thursday Alexa woke up SCREAMING from nap. She never is like that so I ran up the stairs to find my baby on fire. I took her temperature - 103.6* YIKES! I called the nursing triage hot-line for our pediatrician's office, and she suggested bringing Alexa in that evening to be examined by a doctor. Come to find out, Alexa had an ear infection (right ear only) and a cold/sore throat :( I was so worried that this was going to put her in a bad mood for her party and prevent Regan & Rylee from attending (since they are under 1-year, I didn't want to expose them if Alexa was contagious). We started her on amoxicillian that night, and by Friday morning her fever was gone! She was still a bit cranky on Friday, but by Saturday morning she was back to her normal self :) Fortunately, Rylee was able to come celebrate A's b-day with her. Unfortunately, Regan did not come because she had been exposed to the swine flu on Friday.

On Friday night, A had a little trouble falling asleep (I think because of drainage issues with her runny nose) so I laid with her in my bed until she finally passed out. I had to take a picture of her before I moved her (the one on the left), and then we let her have the pillow for a little while when we moved her to the Pack n Play (the one on the right). Doesn't she look so cute???











Alexa with Gram before the party started. She LOVED the balloons (but called them balls, haha).











Just some pics of A playing with her balloons... the weight actually.














Daddy ready to party in his party hat! Alexa giving Rylee a kiss... her kisses are ALWAYS open-mouthed. Papa said we need to teach her to kiss with her mouth closed, lol.











Present time!
Fisher Price Animalville Schoolhouse & Animalville people from Auntie ~ A bunch of adorable clothes (including the gray sweater dress) from Kristin & Phil (Kir has been one of my besties since elementary school)











Present time!
If You Give A Pig A Party book & stuffed pig from Aunt Kathy ~ Savings bond, pink boots, & lil crunchies from Merle, Erin, & Rylee











Present time!
Walking shoes, socks, outfits, & maracas from Noni & Papa ~ Disney books & cute outfits from Aunt Denise & Uncle Lee











Present time!
Opal earrings from JaJa ~ Not pictured: Books from Aunt Chris & Uncle Gary, Popper & cash from Gram, Money from Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken, and Fisher Price Little People Noah's Ark from Mommy & Daddy.
Alexa made out like a bandit at her first 1st Birthday Party!! Here is Daddy & Mommy with the Birthday Girl :)











We actually got Alexa to wear the hat for a few moments :)~











Singing "Happy Birthday" to our princess :) Mommy blew out the candles for Alexa.











Alexa eating cake & ice cream... she liked the ice cream more then the cake. In fact, she was eating the ice cream so fast that we were worried she might get a "brain freeze." LOL











The picture on the right is our favorite!











A happy BIRTHDAY GIRL on a sugar high :)











A video of Alexa eating cake and ice cream.


Alexa sharing some cake with Mommy & Daddy











Phil & Kristin with Alexa. Alexa with Auntie.











Alexa with Aunt Denise. Erin let Rylee have some cake and ice cream :)











Noni & Papa with the Birthday Girl. Alexa playing with her new schoolhouse.











Riding in the car to go get new walking shoes from Stride Rite (part of her bday gift from Noni & Papa).











Opening another gift, Mega Blocks with Dumping Wagon from Kelly & Charlie (our friends). Alexa loves hanging out with her JaJa, which is one of the words she now says :)











As you can see, we had a WONDERFUL first 1st Birthday Party for Alexa in Perry!! Now we're looking forward to our visits from Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken (who will be arriving tomorrow afternoon ~ yay! ~ and staying until Saturday) and Noni & Papa (who will be arriving Friday night with our dining room set ~ again, yay! ~ and staying until Sunday)!!! We also have a costume-required Halloween Party at our friends, Nick & Angie's house on Friday night (Aunt Janine & Uncle Ken offered to babysit, so nice of them). And if the weather cooperates on Saturday, Daddy, Mommy, Alexa, Noni, & Papa are going to go down to campus to tailgate and watch the game. So yeah, an exciting and busy weekend ahead of us :)

Two side notes:
**We are finishing up some of the decor and organizing in the Playroom, which means I should be writing a post about that soon.
**I'll post the pics from our photo shoot at Portrait Innovations yesterday either tonight or tomorrow.

Ciao.