Maren turns 1

"Ewww, it tastes like...red!"

This past weekend was Maren's First Birthday Extravaganza. My parents and grandparents came into town to help us celebrate the wee one's big milestone. Friday was her actual birthday, but Saturday night was when we had her party and her cake. I decided on a ladybug theme, and my mom made Maren this little chocolate cake and frosted it to look like a ladybug. I think we had to use almost the entire pot of red paste food coloring to get the frosting to be that shocking shade of red! When we put the cake in front of Maren, she was a little unsure and mostly just poked and patted it, rather than stuff handfuls in her mouth like most little kiddos do.

Here she looks like she has tasted it a little. She did grab a few big chunks and then proceeded to squish them in her hands. This picture makes her look kind of like a little Vampire Baby.

Maren got some fun toys for her birthday. Of of them is this little mechanical puppy that yips and moves. Maren took to it immediately, toting it around and patting it. I was so surprised to see this, as she's never done that with any other toys or blankies before. If only I had known, and I'd have gotten her a fluffy white doggie sooner!