birthday – Home at Winshaw

We celebrated the 1st birthday of our littlest girl – how did that happen so fast?

(She had a peach topped cheesecake because one of her many nicknames has been the ‘Peach Cheescake’…)

She went from being the snuggliest, happiest and most content little pink newborn baby, to a spunky, opinionated little toddler who is walking (running?) here and there all day and interested in everything, and not afraid to demand what she wants – mostly kinds of food she’s not supposed to eat yet!

From the first she has been a definite Daddy’s girl, and it only keeps getting more obvious. She absolutely loves spending time with Jordan! I think the only time she sits still is when she is in his lap – then basically her favorite thing is a rocking chair with Dad.

We couldn’t imagine our family without our funny little Elsie!

Marian and Alan both love their sister so much, and its fun to see all three of them playing together now.

Happy Birthday, Elsie!!

In February and March, Marian and Alan each had their birthdays. Jordan and I have talked quite a bit about what traditions we want to begin in our family for birthday celebrations. We considered what would be special and memorable to the child on that day. So, starting this year we began a new tradition – the birthday child will get to spend a day out (or in) with just one parent. This could be anything from a wilderness hike to an afternoon scrapbooking – I’m sure it will look different with each child each year with their personality and preferences. But the underlying idea as they get older is to create an environment conductive to unhurried conversation, and truly finding out where the heart of the child is at this new beginning.

This year I suggested Jordan be the one to take the kids out on their birthdays, since Elsie is still so tiny, it would be hard for me to give the others undivided attention. He took Marian to a cute local lunch spot for a ‘daddy-daughter-date’ (as Marian delightedly told everyone she met) . She was thrilled to get to eat out at a restaurant (a rarity for us) and had a wonderful time! She hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

When Marian returned from lunch, we blew bubbles in the evening sun rays, and decorated her petti-fours. (pound cake I made previously and cut into circles with a cookie cutter)