Happy 1st Birthday

Dear Cooper,



Congrats on a year of life. How was it? In my opinion, it was stupendous.

Each day I look at you and think to myself, "How did I get so lucky?" I must have done something good somewhere in my wacky life to get a kid as sweet and smart as you.

Many of the folks who met you the day you were born came to your first birthday. You're loved by many people, Coop!



The celebration was a Muppet-themed event. I made ordinary white tablecloths into Muppet tablecloths with some Crayola magic. We wore Muppet t-shirts. You had Rowlf on your shirt. You like his songs. This one seems to be your favorite:

"It's not where you start, it's where you finish,
It's not how you go, it's how you land.
A hundred to one shot, they call him a klutz,
Can outrun the fav'rite, all he needs is the guts.
Your final return will not diminish,
And you can be cream of the crop.
It's not where you start, it's where you finish,
And I'm gonna finish on top!"



Speaking of favorites, Aunt Karen and I made a Cookie Monster cake that came out pretty darn AWESOME if I do say so myself.



You got your own little cake to destroy.




And DESTROY is an understatement. You gleefully wrecked that whole cake until there was nothing but a few stubborn, mushy crumbs and stray frosting. Here's the bib following the aftermath:



You had so much cake smeared on you, that a bath was essential. But why take you away from the party? That's no fun. We brought the bath to you. We lacked a hose, so we filled your inflatable duckie with bottled water.



Yes, my little prince, you bathed in the finest H20 that Arrowhead Spring has to offer. You were naked in a duck full of sugary cake water in a park surrounded by friends. That probably won't happen again until college.



The day was made even better with the arrival of Violet, a lady just 3 weeks younger than you. You were smitten. It was love at first gaa gaa goo. Fear not. I'm sure you two will meet again.



You made out like a wee toddler pirate! Oh, the massive amounts of Fisher Price treasures and Sesame Street goodies. Daddy bought you a little piano and you haven't stopped pounding on it. You even use your feet on the keys! GOODNESS, GRACIOUS, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!



Look at you! You're such a tiny hipster with your old man hat and your 'Rushmore Bee Keeper' shirt.

After you finally came down off your sugar high and went to bed, your father and I stayed up talking about the day your were born and how far you've come. We laughed and we cried. You take our breath away. You are an incredible boy. We can't believe how cool you are. We love you so much. So, so much.

Happy Birthday, Cooper Kingsley White. Bravo on all your growing and learning. You done good.

-Mom

For more photos of Cooper's First Birthday, click here to visit Flickr.