The birthday after-party

After Westley's first birthday party in May 2011, family stuck around for a cookout dinner after the other guests had left. Grandma Buselt gave the sticky birthday boy a bath, and we all enjoyed the gorgeous weather.

Here's Westley in his after-the-messy-birthday-cake outfit. Love his "My mommy is blogging this. :)" onesie. I was so excited to order that online and now can appreciate the irony that it took me nine months to actually blog about it. (It was posted on Facebook almost immediately, however, which I consider to be micro-blogging of sorts.) Later is better than never, though, so here goes nothing:

Westley was a little chalk artist.

He was no doubt inspired by the work of his Daddy and uncle, who greeted party guests earlier in the day with their art:

A few other sights from the lovely evening:

Westley on his Rody, a birthday gift from Grandma and Papa Buselt.

Westley's first birthday party

Westley's first birthday party, on Saturday, May 21, 2011, was a glorious affair. There more grownups than kiddos, so I tailored the party to cater to both age groups. Taking a cue from the Classic Pooh that had been a theme throughout Westley's infancy and first year, family and friends joined us for a backyard honeybee-themed bash.

I was blessed and very thankful to have the party planning help and skills that morning of family, including Auntie M, who drove up from Stillwater, and Uncle E, who drove down from Lawrence.

I was quite proud of the spread, which included fruit and granola parfaits, fresh fruits and a variety of cakes. I whipped Kansas honey into several recipes, including the homemade cream topping. There was honey-infused cream for iced coffee, vanilla honey iced tea and a variety of honey-themed beers. (See? This was a baby party anyone would want to attend!)

The real treats, pictured from left in the above photo: assorted baby snacks (including Gerber Puffs, among Westley's Favorite Things Ever), a honey cake (baked my moi from scratch using a mold I bought online just for this occassion), Westley's banana cream-filled vanilla cake (again, baked my moi from scratch), honey sticks and chocolates from Wichita chocolatiers Cero's and Cocoa Dolce (honey truffles).

I was tickled to find sugar honeybees and the perfect yellow striped candle at a local cake supply store.

Brian and Eric decorated our backyard with pretty paper lanterns. It gave the space a festive and magical feel.

I had so much fun planning and decorating:

The gift station, before guests arrived.

The centerpieces on the picnic tables out back. (We begged and borrowed from both sets of grandparents for the shindig.)

The birthday boy, having a blast in his swing with Papa Dan before the guests arrived.

Present time!

Cake time!

My sweet one year old. Until this day, I never fully appreciate the saying, "The days are long but the years are short." Or "My cup runneth over." Happy birthday, little one.

Westley's first birthday

Westley James turned one on a May 18, 2011, a chilly Wednesday. Brian and I took the day off work and kept our birthday boy home from daycare. We had brunch at Panera (where West, per usual, was more interested in running around and playing than eating) and then went to interact with the animals at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in nearby Goddard. It was the first time any of us had visited.

Our Baby B. wore a Classic Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirt, a very fitting choice, I thought. He also sported a birthday T-shirt, which didn't show under several layers of clothing. So he wore his birthday bib over the whole lot so everyone knew about his special day.

We fed giraffes,

had lunch and fed lorikeets ...

... who did our hair (kind of).

I loved seeing a joey in a kangaroo pouch in person for the first time. It made me reflect on my first year of motherhood toting around my own little wiggle worm. The day had me full of gratitude and overwhelmed at what a joy life has been with our little gift.

We fed goats ...

... and saw a little adventurous one born earlier that day. (What a fantastic day to be born!)

The bunnies were hungry, too. Westley just wanted to play in the sand and was unhappy when we left that exhibit.

Brian was able to coax one of the meercats away from his snuggly resting spot with a Craisin.

There were lots of other animals to see, but Wesley was content pushing his stroller around and letting us carry him from one critter to another.

We went home with cold hands and warm hearts. It was Westley's birthday, but I celebrated the year anniversary of when my dreams came true.

Mommy's little athlete

Brian played for the Aldersgate United Methodist Screwballs in the spring, and Westley absolutely loved hanging out at the ball field. He'd carry around his red plastic bat, play in the dirt and (kind of) watch Daddy.

Side trip

A work conference took me to Missouri in May 2011. It was my first time away from Westley James, and it was simultaneously grueling and freeing. I called home often and enjoyed some time away. Funny how life changes, though. I declined the invitations for drinks and mingling with associates in the evenings to head back to my wonderfully quiet hotel room for bubble baths, magazines and, of course, sleep! I shared a pot of coffee and a morning of conversation with one of my favorite uncles before leaving town. And I also brought my camera and had some fun on a little side trip:

I also stopped by a quilt store on my way home and picked up a few things for me and a few things for some of my favorite quilters.

I made it back to Wichita in time for a dinner date with my two boys. It was good to be away, but better to be home.