Megan's 30th Birthday

Oh, my goodness... what a wonderful Birthday. Patrick and I planned to spend my 30th birthday with Clara at Epcot. We checked into the All Star Music Resort and waited for the bus to Epcot. It took a while to get a bus but once we got to Epcot I reported to the Will Call window to get my birthday present from Disney - a $75 gift card for Disney merchandise. Yeah!

But that was just the beginning. Once we got inside the park we were walking toward Spaceship Earth when I saw a little girl in a Snow White outfit that looked just like Marian Hess. I was staring at her and the closer she got the more she looked like Marian. I was about to point her out to Patrick and have Patrick get the camera so I could take a picture to show Kelly, when I finally glanced up to see that she was there with Kelly, Erik, and Aidan. It was Marian! It was the whole Hess Family. They drove in from Georgia to surprise me for my birthday... and they SUCCEEDED! I was shocked.

Patrick was in on the whole plan and had been coordinating with Kelly all morning... well actually for months. Patrick and I had dinner reservations at the Garden Grill, but Kelly hadn't been able to get her family in there too. She was able to get reservations for all of us at Germany's Biergarten, though. Also they booked a pontoon boat ride for the Illuminations fireworks with birthday decorations and a cake.

We played around Epcot (Nemo, Test Track, Soarin') until lunch. We ate counter service at Seasons in the Land pavilion. Very yummy! Then we went back to Erik and Kelly's hotel, The Caribbean Beach Resort, for an afternoon of swimming and poolside bar service.

We returned to Epcot for our dinner reservations then after dinner headed to the Yacht Club to board our evening cruise. It was a beautiful night and we cruise our way to Epcot where we parked under a bridge near France for the fireworks show. Before the show the captain of our boat got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to me and we cut the cake... a very tasty vanilla one with a white chocolate banner that said 'Happy Birthday Megan'.

The Illuminations show was wonderful. Then we cruised back to the Yacht Club and headed to our resorts for the night.

The next morning we all met up at the Magic Kingdom for another day of fun until the Hess family had to leave to drive back to Georgia. It was the best birthday ever!

Potty Training.... er.... Bidet Training

Well, Clara may not be ready to potty train, but she has started to 'use' the bidet in our Master bath. She likes to come in the bathroom with me and has decided that the bidet is where she should sit while I sit on the toilet. Does this make me a bad Mom??? Well, at least my child is sitting in a clean bidet ;)


This one I caught of her yesterday and I feel it really captures the enthusiasm that Clara has for the world.

Clara has started to play pretend with her dolls. She will hug them, and put them in her stroller or her highchair. The other day I asked "Does Baby need a diaper change?" and she walked to her changing table and threw one of her dolls up on it.

And finally, Clara has perfected going down stairs on her bottom. She has been going up with ease for quite a while, but would cry at the top because she couldn't get down (unless you held her hand). Now she gets quite please with herself when she scoots down on her bottom without any adult help.

Easter

Clara first Easter was a lot of fun for everyone. Grandma Dayna brought down an Easter dress that had been Mom's back in the day. Clara wore it to an Easter Egg hunt at St. Lucie Medical Center. She did great with the egg hunting... got 15 eggs.




The Easter bunny also left Clara a basket full of goodies - board books, sidewalk chalk, a kite, a hoody towel, 2 new sippies, fruit chewy sticks, gold fish crackers, and of course a stuffed bunny!

Nap Time

Today Clara was fussing around in the living room while I was loading the dishwasher. It was getting close to nap time and I planned on putting her down after I had finished with the dishes. Just as I finished up I realized that she wasn't fussing anymore. Ut-Oh... no noise usually means she has gotten into something she shouldn't have. So I hurry into the living room to see what's up. I was relieved when I found that she had climbed into her rocking chair and rocked herself to sleep. I wish I had taken a picture, but I was so happy to find her sleeping that I just scooped her up and took her to her crib before she could wake up. It was too cute.

Then and Now

Oh what a year....
Clara at One Week Old:

And now at One Year Old:

To my baby

Dear Clara,
I can't believe that you are already a year old. I have had such a wonderful time watching you grow and learn, but I must admit that it is going by too fast. You are so curious and practice each new skill with bravery not fear. I hope that you never loose this since of exploration and determination. When I see you today, you look so much more like a little girl than a baby. I love you so much, but someday I hope you can understand when I tell you that watching you grow is the hardest but most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. Continue to grow up healthy and strong no matter how I might plead with you to stay my little baby. I am so very proud of you already, Clara, but I know this is just the beginning.
Love always,
Mom

One Year Photos