One Year with Emelia Kate

My baby girl turned ONE and it was the sweetest day.  Time flies when you’re having fun … and when you’re busy!  I thought the first year with Chloe went by fast, but this time around was unreal.  I cannot believe we have already loved our little Emmy for twelve whole months.  She is our serious girl in big crowds or new places, but our belly-laugher and fearless explorer at home!  She adores her big sister and wants to copy everything she does.  She is a mama’s girl through and through, and she now crawls up to my feet and stands up against my legs, asking to be held.  I always oblige.  She is still a rockstar sleeper, though she decided to boycott her afternoon nap on her birthday … a real party girl!  This next year was my absolute favorite with Chloe so I am very much looking forward to getting to know one year old Emelia.

We decided to have a family party on her actual birthday since it fell on a Saturday.  We were a bit partied out after Chloe’s summer bash, and Emmy really prefers just being around her people rather than a large crowd.  It was just perfect, and she had such a fun day (remember, my little sleep-lover was NOT interested in napping!).  It was a learning day for Chloe as she watched her sister be the center of attention, but as long as she knew she was getting cake, all was right in the world!  Eric also took her out in the morning to go pick out a present and card for Emmy, and I loved knowing she had taken part in something so special for her sister.  In case you’re wondering, she chose a little rolling hippo and a Minnie Mouse card!

So even with a small family party at home, I wanted to create a sweet little birthday experience for my girl.  I had picked up a ton of Easter paperware and coordinating decorations at Target last season.  It was a really pretty floral pattern, and I based everything around it.  Nothing is sweeter than florals for a little girl’s birthday!  I got some small wooden initials to display, created a chalkboard sign and purchased coordinating crepe flowers for the wall.  As always, I purchased some fresh flowers because a party’s not a party without them!  That’s right, nothing fancy or expensive!

We had brunch because … well, because brunch is amazing, and I will make any excuse to eat brunch food.  Pumpkin french toast, apple cider scones (thank you to my sister from allattefood.com), fresh fruit, yogurt, homemade granola, bacon (of course bacon!), my mother in law’s amazing quiches and miiiiimoooosas (quick tip, if you can’t or don’t drink, add sparkling apple cider to your orange juice for a tasty “faux-mosa”)!

I deligated the making of Emmy’s sugar free smash cake to my hubby who rocked it (my dad who doesn’t eat sugar had some of her cake and said it was good!) and I made a vanilla apple cake with maple vanilla frosting (see recipe below!) … and you guys, thank goodness that naked cakes are trendy right now because I am NO good at frosting a cake so that kind’ve-sort’ve frosted look is spot on for me!

A cute, festive party does not have to be expensive or time-consuming to set up.  My advice is to choose one space or room in your home that you want to decorate (we chose the dining room), and create a decorated table space.  Even if the table is small like ours was, own it!  Put the food in the kitchen, and decorate the table with the musts – the cake (or cupcakes), the photos, the chalkboard, etc.  And again, I think some fresh flowers spruce up any theme – think cheap bouquets from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or your local farmer’s market.  Easy peasy!

365 days of loving our Emelia Kate.  We had such a fun day celebrating her and everything wonderful that she is!

*Scroll down to the bottom for my cake recipe ~ it’s just box cake and store-bought frosting with a few homemade touches!*

xoxo,

Heidi

Vanilla Apple Cake & Maple Frosting

Ingredients:

1 box of vanilla cake mix

1 large green apple

1 TBSP cinnamon

1 can of vanilla frosting

1 package of cream cheese (8 oz.)

1-2 tsps maple extract

Directions:

Pour the cake mix into a bowl.  Instead of water, use milk and add according to the box directions.  Peel and dice one apple and add chunks to the cake mix.  Add cinnamon and blend well.  If you are using white cake mix, add 1 tsp of vanilla.  Bake according to directions on cake mix box.  For the frosting, mix the can of vanilla frosting with your softened cream cheese.  Then add the maple extract.