I can hardly believe it, but my baby is ONE! This year has gone by sooo fast. I feel like I didn't savor Emmett's babyhood enough...but at the same time, this stage right now is so fun, I'm enjoying him immensely. He has been such a happy, content baby from the start. Always full of smiles, hugs, and loving cuddles. He plays independently really well, but he also loves interacting with other kids and adores his big brother. He's very active and brave, climbing up stairs and stepladders without hesitation, and getting onto the trampoline to "jump" (adorable--and a little scary). He loves to eat and is very unpicky. He's tackled every milestone with determination and has grown so fast. Honestly, he has been a very easy and joyful baby, and that's probably part of what made this year go by so fast! He even smiles through the things I expected to be rough, like teething, plane rides, and getting sick...such a sweet and sunny boy. We love you Emmett! Here's to another beautiful year with you!

These photos are from our very simple family birthday party yesterday. If you had asked me three years ago, I would've thought I'd be throwing elaborately decorated parties for my kids. I love all that in theory. But in actuality, I have other things I'd rather do with my time, and my kids don't really care anyways (at least, at this age). I've also gotten simpler and cheaper myself. So birthdays mean balloons from the grocery store, a candle in a homemade cake, some dollar store party horns from grandma, and of course lots of cuddles and hugs. It's an attainable standard that I think I can keep up with every kid, so I don't feel obligated to go "all out" in the name of fairness. Of course, if a Pinterest-perfect party brings you joy then have fun!!! But if it just adds stress and more items on your to-do list, then feel free to let that fancy party go. Trust me, your one year old will not notice and he'll still have a GREAT day. The point is that he feels special and loved, right?

Ben made an Italian cream cake (a family recipe that his dad also made for our wedding...it's sooo good). We all loved it, Emmett especially...although he was hesitant at first.

Here's the recipe in case you'd like it! Straight from my father-in-law, who is the master baker in Ben's family.

Italian Cream Cake

1 C buttermilk
2 C sugar
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 eggs separated
2 sticks of butter
2 C unbleached flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 C chopped pecans (roast in oven 10 mins at 350 deg prior to chopping)
1-1/2  C of coconut

Combine soda and buttermilk in bowl and set aside

Cream sugar and butter together well  and then add egg yolks one at a time.  Beat well after each egg yolk is added. Beat egg whites together in separate bowl and set aside.  Add buttermilk alternately with flour to creamed mixture.  Stir in vanilla.  Add pecans and coconut.  Fold in egg whites to cake batter.  Do not use beater.  Fold by hand til whites are combined.  Bake in three 9" round pans at 325 deg for 25-30 mins. If you use the large pan, it will need to bake longer, around 40 mins.

Cool on rack and wrap and freeze cake.  Make sure layers are flat when freezing.  Cake can stay frozen for several days prior to icing.  Be sure and ice frozen as this will trap in moisture and flavor in the cake while it thaws iced.  I usually ice the night before serving.

Cream cheese frosting recipe:

1 8-oz cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 one pound carton of powdered sugar.
1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese.  Cream well.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.  Ice cake frozen.  You can make extra frosting if you like to have extra.  Most people like this with lots of frosting.

Happy first birthday, Emmett!!!

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