Lily's first birthday party!

We had a fantastic time celebrating Lily's first birthday! We actually celebrated her birthday on her birthday. I feel like this rarely happens in our family. This year, her birthday fell on the day before Easter, which meant that we celebrated all weekend! Plus, Nana, Poppy, and Bo were all able to fly in for the weekend, which was buckets of fun.

Lily's party was super laidback and involved some great friends and family. We had breakfast-y food and cupcakes (what? This is a great combo!) and just hung out and visited. She got lots of generous and thoughtful birthday gifts and thoroughly enjoyed her first time eating sugar (yes, we are mean parents who hold off on gratuitous sugar until they turn one. And yes, we regulate their sugar intake quite a bit even after they turn one. Trust me, if you saw the evil gleam in Claire's eyes when she gets sugar, you would, too.).

Birthday baby!

So skeptical of the paparazzi.

And Mommy?

Guys. I promise she likes me.

Fun with Bo!

Apparently, Bo gives better kisses.

She really does love playing with the wrapping supplies.

And occasionally the toys within. (Just kidding...she really enjoys playing with this. Thanks, Gran and Grandpa!)

Nana and Poppy gave her a Bitty Baby for her birthday, and this was her reaction. 

Lily's baby friend, Lydia (and her mom/my adult friend, Deb), came and brought the sweetest personalized plate. 

We served her cupcake on it.

Also, I didn't actually make Lily's cupcake. Brad wanted to get her a fancy one from a bakery, like we had done for Claire. I COMPLETELY FORGOT to have any sort of smash cake for Claire's 1st birthday, and the day before her birthday, we were in Mike's Pastry (Boston) when Brad said, "Hey, should we get Claire a cupcake or something?" I nearly died. Mom fail. But, she had a delicious fancy cupcake, and so did Lily.

Lily takes eating very seriously. Always.

The family that cupcakes together...sugar crashes together?

Lydia, Deb, me, and Lily...everyone coming together for a great picture!

But the other 20 pictures we took to get the one above were more like this. #reallife

Patrick and Rachel are our fantastic neighbors who are SO SWEET to hang with us and our kids and all that entails, even though they don't have kids yet. And also- this picture is so cute. Look how happy Lily is!

We have this fantastic one of Nana and Lily, but somehow I ended up without one of Lily and Poppy. Such a picture-taking fail. Sorry, Daddy!

And more posing with Bo. I'm not sure why Lily looks so glazed in so many of these pictures, but I'm guessing it's because birthday parties are magical and exhausting.

 We're so thankful for the family and friends who helped us celebrate Lily! It was a very sweet time. We're also so thankful for those who weren't with us but sent love and gifts and birthday wishes. Lily is working on her thank you notes, but she keeps getting distracted by diaper changes.