Our baby girl is 1

This last Tuesday, we celebrated little Jayne's 1st b-day. Just a small party with our family and my parents, but I still wanted to do a little decorating.

This fun garland my sis-in-law let me borrow. She made it out of coffee filters! Love it.



Here are closeups of the month-by-month frame if you want.




I decided we needed a happy birthday sign for our family, so I looked through my files and found the template for these light covers and punched out happy birthday. It took some doing, but I am so excited to have it now.





I thought it was high time Jayne had a doll, so that's what she got. I made the rag doll when she was born, but it has been sitting on a shelf in her room, so I let it down for a little while so it could introduce the new doll to the family.

This little doll may look old and ragged, but that's why I think she is all the more charming. Being the sentimental fool that I am, I wanted to give Jayne my favorite doll that I grew up with. I was never into dolls all that much as a child (being somewhat of a tom-boy you see), but this one always had a special place in my heart and I think she was the first one I ever received. I hope Jayne loves her as much as I did...she seems to already.

Gertrude and Ruthie, together at last. Gertrude because when I was little, I felt horribly bad that I didn't have a middle name, so my brother Nate gave me one...Gertrude. For a while I would introduce myself as Elise Gertrude Wilding. And as for Ruthie, I just thought it fit. Jayne can rename them later if she wants.

We bundled her up in a little doll blanket my mom made (when I was little), her original little nightgown and some other dresses I had. This one in particular is special because not only is it adorable and sweet, but it was a doll dress my mom had when she was a little girl. (I told you I was a sentimental fool) :)



On to the cake! Jayne didn't quite know what to do. She went from "Seriously Grandma, quit holding out on me!"

to, "What is that thing?"

to, "Hmm, not bad"

to, "I'm goin' in!"




Want some? (Trust me, you do!! We all went nuts over them! Go here for the recipe. Warning, if you are opposed to butter, not the cupcakes for you. Also, I only added 1 stick of butter and 1 8 oz. cream cheese to the frosting and added sugar as needed. I also ommited the almond extract from the frosting because I thought the cupcakes had plenty.)

And ever the model of a proper lady, she made sure that when she was done, she wiped...

...and cleaned her hands


Happy Birthday!