DJ's 1st Birthday Party

Yesterday, Steve and I threw DJ his first birthday party. We invited immediate family and very close friends to keep the size of the party down. If the invite list were any bigger, DJ would have been completely overwhelmed by it all.

The day started out with DJ and I driving to the grocery store and doing some last minute shopping, including picking up the deli tray I'd ordered a few days earlier. Got home in time to put DJ down for a nap, and finish the party prep. I had cleaned the house and done laundry on Friday, so that was done, at least.

Side note: It was Good Friday for the rest of Christianity and why the US Stock Exchange is closed on Good Friday but not any of the other minor federal holidays (like Veteran's Day) is beyond me, but I'm not complaining. It was a nice day off for me.

DJ napped until Damian, Jenn, and DJ's 2 year old buddy Leo arrived due to the dogs going bananas at the door. Then Mike (it was early for Mike, but not as early as we were making him get up in Charleston - see my earlier March 1st post) and Andy arrived, and slowly family started trickling in as well.

We served lunch, and DJ had his first taste of goat cheese, and both green and black olives. Then we sang Happy Birthday and DJ took a swipe at his cake (Yiayia's famous Marshmallow Cake). With marshmallow icing all over his hand, he ate some, and then promptly put his hand on Steve's shoulder. Steve went to go change while I washed DJ off. DJ ate nearly a whole piece of cake; he certainly wasn't going to stop opening up for such good stuff like that! He'd never had something that sweet before, and boy did he like it!


After cake, we opened presents. He wasn't much into helping me open the gifts, even though we thought he might enjoy ripping off the paper, but alas, that was not so. There was a gold wrapping paper that caught his attention after it was off the gift, but that was the extent of his playing with the wrapping paper. DJ received a nice assortment of clothes, books and toys from everyone.

By 2pm, DJ was ready for a nap, and Steve took him in to put him down. He went down without a protest and slept for at least an hour and a half. Andy stuck around for another couple hours after everyone else left, and Steve's dad stuck around until later in the evening.

All in all, it was a really nice day for DJ. He'll be celebrating his real birthday tomorrow with Eleanor after his 12 month doctor's appointment.