It's PARTY time!

Happy 1st Birthday Kamden!

The BIRTHDAY Boy!

Kamden's GRAND ENTRANCE in his little red wagon!

Kamden is ONE YEAR old!!! We woke up bright and early to celebrate Kamden's big day today! We had a few last minute stops this morning to pick up the food, cake, and balloons. We arrived at Kate's Park in Fletcher, NC a little after 10am to set up. Kamden's Granny Terri, took him to her house so he could get ready for his birthday party! Meanwhile, I stayed behind to decorate and get everything ready. Keith was busy helping unload the car and picking up other last minute items like the rented tables and bags of ice. We set up the food, snack and cake tables-- along with the gifts, party favors and games tables. Everything was good to go... so we thought.

Kamden's "Cat In The Hat" Birthday Cake, Smash Cake and Cupcakes!

Ham, Turkey & Roast Beef Sub Trays, Assorted Chips, Apples,

Candies, Red and Teal Punch.... and of course, Green Eggs!

Wouldn't you know... not everything will go as planned. The rental store, sent the wrong size table, so one of the tables only came up to your knee caps! Not to fret, Keith quickly rushed back to the other side of town to make the exchange. With Hurricane Earl rolling in this week, I prayed for days that it wouldn't rain. Our prayers were answered, but I must have forgotten to mention the wind! haha. I chased around more decorations this morning, than I did hanging them! Two kids on the playground tried to sabotage our cupcakes and party decorations. Their parents let them throw hissy fits in the middle of my work space, so of course I was already about to pull my hair out, before the shindig got started. Our guests started arriving, right as another Mom approached me about also reserving the park today. WHAT!?! How could this happen!?! Of all days... City Hall had double booked the venue! Not only was I in the midst of running behind due to all of the other chain of unfortunate events this morning, but now we had one mad Momma on our hands! We truly felt bad for her, but there was nothing we could do. She was trying to force us to leave by 2pm, when our little man's party was scheduled from 1-4pm. So... she called the police. I grabbed Kamden and we went to have a talk to the Mr. Policeman. He must have saw how cute the birthday boy was and let us stay! Apparently, they mixed the reservations up and booked us at the bigger park across the street. So the other party went there instead. Even though things got started off on the wrong foot... the rest of the day was a success! Not only was today an unforgettable event, but now it really made for a great story! Nothing phased Kamden-- he was in his own little world ALL day and loved every minute of his celebration!

Mr. Cop... please let us stay!

So many family and friends came out to share this special day with baby Kamden. We partied ALL day long in Dr. Seuss style! In all, there were at least 50 people who came out to show Kamden some love. Those that couldn't make it sent messages, phone calls, and gifts. It meant so much to us for so many to share their love and kindness to our baby boy. It was also nice to see some people we haven't had a chance to visit with in a while. Kamden also got to meet some of his family members and young cousins today too! There was so much going on around us, I wish we would have all had more time together. Kamden was so laid back the whole time, and really enjoyed himself the entire day.

Family and Friends at Kamden's FIRST Birthday Party!

Mommy & Daddy celebrating with Kamden!

One of the best parts of the day was our SURPRISE GUEST (even to me) Mr. Cat In The Hat himself! Kamden's Daddy surprised him by dressing up in the Cat In The Hat costume! I had no idea he was going to do that. I had asked him weeks before, and he played it off and said, "no way!" I had given up when I called the costume shop and they told me it had already been rented out for that day. I was so amazed that someone else in our area was having a Dr. Seuss party, little did I know-- it was for Kamden's Birthday Bash! haha. I thought that was so thoughtful and special. Some of the kids were scared of him, haha-- but not Kamden! He loved it, especially his whiskers... he even tried to feed him Goldfish crackers! It was definitely the highlight of the party!

"A person's a person, no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss

Shortly after everyone ate lunch, it was finally cake time! We let Kamden dig into his SMASH cake! We first sang "Happy Birthday To You"-- with a group as big as ours, our little man didn't know what to think! All of a sudden, our social butterfly got really quiet and shy. haha. He actually tried to hide from everyone behind his little arms! He wasn't really into his cake as much at first, especially with everyone watching him. Kamden is a very particular baby, and does not like to get dirty much (his Mommy was the same way at his age). He had a little sample, but saved the rest for later.

Kamden's FIRST cake and birthday song!

As soon as Kamden was done with his cake, which wasn't very long, he was sure to let us know it was time to open gifts. Right when we got him out of his high chair, he made his way over to the gifts table. He stood up and reached over for his new presents! Kamden's Pappaw Lyda is not much of a gift wrapper, so Kam immediately spotted his new Fisher Price Bulldozer Toy that you can sit on and ride. When he set his eyes on that, nothing else existed! We tried to let him sit in our laps to finish opening the rest of his gifts, and he let us know to put him back on his bulldozer, real quick! So, we let him sit there while we helped him get through the rest of his presents. We were so appreciative of every one's nice gifts. Kamden was able to get most of what was on his wish list! We generated this list through Amazon, to help suggest items that we could use the most. When you reach the one year mark, it's almost like you have to start all over with baby supplies and toys, because they enter a whole new stage (from baby to toddler). With all of the excitement and eventful day, Kamden started to get sleepy. It was really time for a nap, so we saved half of his presents to open that night when we got home.

Kamden loved his gifts! They ranged from books to blocks, puzzles, shape sorters,

colorful stackers, diapers, cars, clothes, shoes, and more!

We were loaded down for the ride home!

Kamden was so exhausted from his big day, but he was still too excited to take a nap! He went the

whole day without a normal nap. He could not take his eyes off his toys and everything else that was going on. After we made it back home, he sat in the yard on his new riding dozer for almost two hours! Once he was rested, we dressed him in his own "Cat In The Hat" costume, and let him finish opening the rest of his presents. He was much more interested when he was by himself doing it. He had so much fun tearing into the wrapping and tissue paper. He would whine after opening each gift, because we would have to take it away to get it out of the box for him. He was so happy when he was finally able to play with it. Some of his favorites were all the ones that played music or had wheels! He has really gotten into cars lately, and things that he can roll around. He also loved his big gift from us... which was a musical table that included a piano, phone, lap top, and book with over 50 different songs!

Kamden in his "Cat In The Hat" Birthday Costume!

Round 2 of opening presents! We saved Mommy & Daddy's for last...

which was new big boy cups, spoons, and bowls.

As well as two sock monkeys, Fall clothes, 2 pairs of Stride Rite shoes,

8 board books including a giant "Goodnight Moon" and "Runaway Bunny"

and a learn and play musical table!

Since Kamden seemed to be shy with his first attempt at smashing his birthday cake... we let him finish it off! We lit his birthday candle and sang "Happy Birthday" to him one last time. We helped him blow out his first candle and make a wish! Since he was alone this time around, he tore that thing apart! He loved every minute of it! He actually preferred using his face, rather than his hands a few times-- digging his mouth right into the side. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen... and he couldn't have been happier! Overall, Kamden's FIRST Birthday was the second BEST DAY of our lives... the FIRST being the day he was BORN!