Helen's Birthday, In Pictures

Good Morning, Sunshine! I'm ONE today!

The first present of the day was a big, white, stuffed valentine's dog, from Grandpa Tom. Helen found it on the floor and helped herself to it. She did love the dog, but the "happy birthday" paper was nothing to sneeze at, either. She loved that she could carry paper around with her, and rip it, and no one came to stop her. Until she ate it, of course.

Feeling mellow.

Feeling like big stuff today, so she thought she should sit in a "big" chair like the big people do.

Helen with Mom and Grandma Di

Opening the ABC Dinosaur from Great Aunt Sue and Great Grandma Helen. Again, the paper was a big hit, but she liked the toy, too. Especially when she learned that it could play music. She really, really likes music - she always dances, as if under a compulsion, when music plays in her hearing.

I hadn't planned to get her a gift - after all, she is only one. But James and Maggie were at the store with me this week and wanted her to have this book. It is another "peek-a-boo" style book from the same series as the "Baby Baa Baa" book that she got for Christmas from Grandma Di and loves so much. And Helen, more than any 12-month-old I have yet known of, really does appreciate a book. If for no other reason, than because they are so tasty.

Helen looked mostly scared when we all sang Happy Birthday to her. Given her aforementioned love of all things musical, could this be her commentary on the family singing abilities? This grin might be due to her relief that we were all done singing. Blowing out the candle was not even remotely on her radar, but the rest of us helped. And she did looked startled when it suddenly went out!

Happy baby.
I am ot sure if that grin is from the banana cake, or because she got her own spoon and fork and we turned her loose. Because I hate the mess, I really don't let her feed herself. So, that was her birthday treat.