Rachel's Birthday Extravaganza: Part 1

You all know from Pinterest and current culture that your child's first birthday is really important. The second birthday or the first birthday for the third child, not so much.

None of those Pinterest Moms love their first child as much as I do. Rachel is having three birthday celebrations. Pin it and compete with me.

My parents and sister were in town a weekish ago so we, of course, celebrated Rachel's birthday. And Andrew's too a little.


Not so sure about this presents thing.


Opening a present with Grandma.


She opened this dress and held it up and it was so funny.


What could it be?!?!


Hmmm...


A wagon! "Quick, some assembly is required, Dad!"


Andrew assembling the wagon handle.


Nigel wondering why he doesn't get a present.


Cousins. This trip was fun because they actually interacted with each other, unlike two months ago.


The birthday pigs.


"I WANT MY CUPCAKE!"


A delicious red velvet cupcake made with beets and topped with classily spread cream cheese frosting.


They were delicious. Rachel isn't much of a cake smasher/smearer. She is very dainty and wants the food in her belly.


"Dad, you have got to try this."


And in the morning, Nigel pushed Rachel around in her wagon. So cute.

Happy first birthday party to my sweet little Rachel!

Being Fabulous

Rachel is learning to be fabulous and I am not even teaching her. She just inherently knows how to do it.


Rachel enjoys watching the Food Network.


Too cool for the swing.


Standing without hands! She is leaning up against the LoveSac.


Rocking the redneck raincover. This one is my doing, but I think it is rather ingenious.


So glamorous in these sunglasses!


Blowing raspberries because she can, therefore she will.


Extremely pleased with herself to be sitting in a highchair at the restaurant. She was very noisy.


Rachel was crying until I gave her these fabulous shorts. Then she was inexplicably happy.


She's so vain, she knows that this blog post is about her. She was very happy checking herself out in the mirror.

I tell you, I did not teach her about being fabulous. Even though I rock at it.

The Cuteness of My Child

I seriously cannot get over how cute Rachel is. You will just have to look at these cute pictures of her.


Hello there little girl!


Rachel's first foray in the grass. She liked it.


So beautiful. And smart. And delightful.


There's my happy girl!


The funniest picture ever. What is up with the light? It makes Rachel look crazy.


Happy happy happy!


My sweethearts putting the carseat back together after someone pooped all over it. I know you are thinking it was Andrew, but it was not. Nor was it I.


So cute from behind! They are such buds!


Blowing raspberries on the walker tray.


Even freaking adorable when she whines. (She is still cute when she whines. She is just obnoxious.)


"On a magic carpet ride... A whole new world!"


Going down the slide for the first time with Dad!


Mama helping her go down the slide.

She is cute and is having an exciting life so far. I cannot believe she is 6 months old. But at the same time, I can.

Progenitors

I figured I better finish up our Utah trip today since I am going back to Utah with Rachel in about three days. I really wanted to get this done sooner, but oh well. Let me tell you, getting a smart phone and an iPad has completely killed my motivation to turn on the computer and therefore killed my ability to blog.

Great Grandparents


Rachel meeting Great Grandma. My Grandma had a stroke a few years ago and can't really talk, except for things like, "I... llloove... you..." and "Con... grat... u... la... tions." It is pretty difficult to string the words together and some words she just can't get out. Grandma loved holding Rachel. Grandma kept cooing and saying, "Oh... oh..." It was so so sweet. I am really glad that they got to meet.


Rachel with Great Grandpa.


Four generations of baby girls. :) I love this picture. (I finally see it---I do look like my mom!)


Hanging out with Inge Oma and Inge Opa. "Inge" is actually Oma's name, but all the other great-grandchildren call them that. Rachel's middle name, Eleonore, is Oma's first name. She also just loved to hold the baby. Let me tell you, Rachel got smothered in German love.




Opa has Alzheimer's or something, and the first time they met Rachel, Oma did not let him hold her. I could tell he wanted to. So when we visited them again, I asked him if he would like to hold the baby. He did. And he kept saying, "It is good for us to hold the baby." I thought it was so sweet that even though he has no idea what is going on or who anyone is, he felt that holding a sweet infant was an important thing.


Opa's young pictures look just like Andrew, so that is what he will look like when he is old.

Aunts and Uncles

Everyone likes holding Rachel because she is so dang cute. But here are some pictures of her being especially cute with her aunts and uncles.


Vegging with Uncle Daniel.


Laughing at Tante Hannah.


Skyping with Uncle Matt.

And so on and so forth.

Grandparents

These people adore Rachel.


Grandpa and Rachel on Christmas morning. The red-eye makes her look like Rudolf the Possessed Reindeer.


Merry Christmas Rachel and Grandma!


I guess my Dad really likes to hold Rachel in this position.


Talking with Grandma.


Oma and Rachel.


Laughing at her silly Opa.


Reading Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? with Oma.


Relaxing with Opa.


The cutest picture EVER! Rachel smiling and talking to Oma during Relief Society.

Conclusion

Rachel was well-loved by her progenitors.