Happy Birthday Dear Athena

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Today was my daughter’s first birthday. We didn’t plan a huge party with tons of guests or
IMG_2663_1go out to a fancy restaurant or some play place. Instead, we spend most of the day at home playing in the loft, going for walks, chatting on skype with family, and enjoying dinner together. The happiness exuded from Athena and therefore us as well. We may not have spent the day skydiving or rafting down class five rapids, but my adrenaline is still pumping from my bucket list day… or maybe it’s from all the cake 😉

This morning, when we woke up, the first round of gifts began. We walked into the loft to Athena’s new Joovy Pink Tricycoo Tricycle. She was so excited that I couldn’t even capture it on camera. She was quickly flying by with the biggest grin on her face. She was even so bold as to stand up on the pegs as her father pushed her around the room; like mother like daughter I guess.

Joovy TricycooThen, this might not have been my brightest move, we put on her new birthday dress. I bought her a special, peach dress that was prefect for the Spring day. When I say special I mean I actually paid full price; a whole $14.99 at TJ Maxx. It lasted a full 12 minutes.

Athena's birthday

At first, she liked it although she couldn’t quite figure out how to stand up without stepping on it. Using my leg helped.

Athena's Birthday

Then she found others things that interested her like my camera, my phone, and a hanger. Athena's BirthdayBefore the hour was over she ripped the dress with the hanger and spilled breakfast all down the front, despite the bib. I guess she’s just that good at getting back into “regular” clothes.

Athena's BirthdayBy the time we went for our morning walk, she was exhausted.

Athena's BirthdayRound two for gifts began when Grandma called on skype. Low and behold… another dress appeared. (Take note that this is the third outfit for the day and we didn’t even have lunch yet.)

Athena's BirthdayShe loved the gifts from Grandma and uncle Marshall. Her favorites included a new dress, a tent, and books, but at the top of the list was the box that the gifts came in. She paraded around the room most of the day caring the box and using it like a cane. She’d push it in front of her and take two steps, then just repeat that for about two hours.

By the time the cake came out, I’d already learned my lesson with dresses for the day and off it came.

Athena's BirthdayTo say that she was excited about the cake would be a gross understatement.

Athena's BirthdayAthena's BirthdayBy the end of her piece of cake I said, “Let’s just toss the onsie!”

Lessons learned from Athena’s first birthday:
1. Don’t put the birthday clothes on too early.
2. Any time of day other than pictures is too early for birthday clothes.
3. The best birthday gift of all… boxes.
4. Take all clothes off of the baby before giving her cake.
5. Don’t buy a birthday cake with hot pink icing.
6. Bathing a baby doesn’t get hot pink icing dye off her skin… or Mom’s clothes.
7. A first birthday only happens once; enjoy every minute of it.

Athena's BirthdayHappy birthday my beautiful princess. You’ve made every day a bucket list day and given every second of my life purpose.

187 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Dear Athena”

  1. Just adorable. What a precious day and what great memories. I have always loved her name since the first time you mentioned her in the blog. Happy Birthday, beautiful Athena and happiness to you all, always!

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  6. Happy Birthday for Athena! She is so cute! 🙂

    Hope she had a fantastic day. I was pretty bummed out that you weren’t in the top 5 in voting for BBB, but I now I think about it, you have something much more special right at home 🙂

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  12. TJ Maxx!! You scared me there for a second, I was convinced you had gone all out at some designer baby store. She can enjoy the pretty expensive threads when she gets older! Congrats on your baby turning one. My birthday was just last week and my mom couldn’t believe I was already turning 25. I’m the first born, therefore as my mom likes to remind me, my birthday is also the anniversary of the day she became a mother. Something you should pass along to Athena when she gets older. It makes me appreciate my birthday more. 🙂

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  13. Beautiful, adorable pictures! How sweet to see the enjoyment and sheer fun you and your family had with this milestone birthday! You are so right when you said, “A first birthday only happens once; enjoy every minute of it.”

    The GREAT news is that they’re ALL like that, and they just keep getting better and better and better!

    Please keep these updates coming. I have an 18-year old and a 12-year old, and this brought me right back to that very sweet time. Very, very fun!

    — x

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  22. Pingback: A Beautiful, Heartwarming Blog Post | Praetori

  28. Happy Birthday Athena!!! I’m so glad we got to share in your happy celebrations 🙂 you have an awesome Mom, but you know that already!!! Here’s wishing Mon and you a happy year filled with bucket list moments!! God Bless 🙂

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  40. Awesome post. My son’s just turned 22 and your post took me back to his first and quite a few of the ones in between. Memories like that are truly priceless. Enjoy it, soak in it. Although it’s hard to believe when they’re so young, the time does fly and one day you’ll be standing next to a 20 something young woman.

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  45. What a stunning little girl 🙂 I love that you shared what you learned from the “1st Birthday”, beginning with “don’t put the clothes on too early”…..I learned the SAME thing at my Claire’s 1st birthday….she turned 3 in January! Time flies and it looks like you have lots of fun. Treasure every moment and take care!

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