Luke's First Birthday Parties

Before moving was even on our horizon, I'd planned to have a wonderful, fun First Birthday party for Luke at our house with all our friends & family there, as well as Luke's Birth Family.  We would all be there happy to celebrate the cheery, smiley little guy who has captured so many hearts.  Fast forward to a month before his birthday & our decision to move, I realized this grand birthday party wouldn't happen.  But that's ok, because Luke was special enough to get THREE First Birthday parties instead!  :-)

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The first First Birthday party was held on Easter at DH's parent's house, as all DH's family could be there.  We also had DH's grandma there as well as two of her friends.  We went to the best party planning store in town (Wally World) and bought themed decor that we have used for every party (LOVE the ceiling twirlies!) and party hats (of course!).  Did you know that Wmart gives you a free smash cake for the cake that you purchase?  Our cake(s) were only $20 each.  I am not a baker.  I take the easy way out.  Maybe next year I'll get creative with making a cake ....

It was someone's nap time, hence the excited look on Luke's face.  I think all day he only had a 1/2 hour nap in the car on the drive down to DH's parents' house.

Mommy & the Birthday Boy!

Luke can't figure out what this thing is on his tray!  Mommy never lets him play with food, so he is confused that he IS supposed to now play with it.  

Luke was tired & rubbed his eyes with his cake-y hand.  Oops!  That was the messiest he got.

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Birthday Party #2 was at our new house (aka "the Rental") with my family.  We had it on Luke's actual Birth Date (April 2nd) & had everyone over for supper.  Luke wasn't any more excited for Smash Cake #2 than he was for #1.  

Here is a good picture of the Cake + Smash Cake we got.  It is a Cupcake Cake, which everyone thought was "such a great idea!"  "I've never seen that before."  "Did you guys make that?"

It was a hit!

Here's Luke opening his presents.  He loved pulling the tissue paper out of the bag!

One of his presents was a Nebraska Husker shirt!  Now we are in Husker Nation territory!

Party animal!

(I think he was tired here too.)

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Luke's 3rd First Birthday Party was back in Kansas (April 13th) to celebrate with his Birth Family & a few of my old co-workers.  We had to go back to clean out the little bit left in our house & remove the staging decorations, so we thought it worked out well to go to Pizza Hut & have a pizza party.

Here is a picture of Luke's Birth Mom, Luke & myself.  

She was so happy that we came down & celebrated with them.  Not pictured were her mom, her boyfriend & her son Eli (who is 2-1/2 & did not hold still long at all!).  

I am so VERY grateful to her for her decision to choose Adoption for Luke.

In lieu of cake, we did a COOKIE!  Cookie Monster is Luke's birth mom's favorite Sesame Street animal and he has a blue Cookie Monster stuffed animal from her he plays with.  

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HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY to my lil' Lukie!  

Mommy loves you to the moon & back!  You were the medicine for my broken, bitter heart & I thank God that he chose me to be your Mommy every. single. day!

I LOVE YOU, LUKE!

How did you get to be SO BIG??!!??  Please stop growing & stay little forever.  <3