Abigail's 1st Birthday Party

This weekend was one of the best ever. Abigail's 1st birthday is tomorrow, and there was no Razorback game this weekend, so we decided it would be the perfect time to have her party. Being that it is so close to Thanksgiving, I decided a "Fall" theme would be perfect and the party decorations could kind-of double as my Fall home decorations. The party started at 11:00 a.m. and we had 21 adults and 8 kids in attendance (counting ourselves and Abigail), so we had a great crowd. Guests included: my parents, David's parents, Tripp and Kara, John and Sarah (with Shepherd and Rebecca), Uncle Benson and Elise, Great-grandma Rainwater, our neighbors Kevin and Jana Edwards (with their kids Connley and Kellen), Scott and Laura Geurin, Jay and Katherine Thorpe (with Caroline), and Adele and Lee Jackson (with Ellen and William). It was such a sweet mixture of family and friends. Thank you everyone for coming.

The menu:
Italian Chili
Regular Chili
White Chicken Chili
Cornbread
Chili fixings
Fruit
Cupcakes
Pumpkin pie (from Grandma's fresh pumpkins)
Apple Cider
Cokes
Sweet Tea
Water

For party favors I did little personal bags of mulling spices. Here are some decorations pictures...

After David gave a short greeting and prayer, everyone began to eat and hang out!

Once everyone had kind-of finished eating, we decided to do Abigail's cake. I was really nervous that she would burst out in tears having everyone in there with her, looking at her, and singing, but she did ok! She definitely looked nervous, but didn't cry, so I was pumped. She wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake. She did take a couple bites, and even tried to just bite it with her mouth, but she didn't demolish it like you imagin some babies doing. David said, "Did we really think that Rachel's child would get all messy eating her cake?" So true.

After cake came presents and I was probably the most surprised by this aspect of the party. I for sure wanted Abigail to sit in mine or David's lap to open presents, but I never dreamed she would be as excited about it as she was. She truly looked at each present and got excited! The sweetest moments came when we opened her baby dolls. Mom gave her one and Adele gave her a smaller one. When we opened Mom's, Abigail just smiled and smiled at the box and then started hugging and kissing the box. Kathy told me later that when she did that, Grandma said, "She is doing what is done to her all day." Made my day to know that she said that and thinks so highly of me as a mother. Abigail really did love getting all those presents, and our friends and family were so so generous. She got toys, books, clothes, dolls and blocks...one lucky little girl. She has definitely enjoyed them since the party too.

For the present opening we had Shepherd there and excited to help us, as well as Ellen and William delivery presents and taking trash.

We got her a wagon and she is getting such a kick out of riding in it. She loves her cupholders and taking lots of stuff along with her. I think she feels like a big girl!

I couldn't have asked for a better party and I think Abigail truly had a great time. Thank you everyone for coming and for showering our girl with so much love. Special thanks to Mom for making chili and fruit and helping me with decor, Tripp and Kara for helping us get set up, Kathy for making the pies, and Katherine for taking pictures of the party for us. David and I feel blessed beyond measure and praise God from whom all these blessings flow. We have done a lot in one year, and we look forward to year two with this precious gift God has entrusted to us to raise. She is His and we love her to pieces.