The 1 year milestone approaches!!!

   Call me dramatic, but I always greet September with a "gulp!". Maybe its just habit from past school years, maybe its the fact that the sunny weather is on its way out, or maybe its my realization that more than half the year is gone and I still haven't touched half of my "to do this year" list. This year it was a little different...September brought with it the reminder that my baby girl was growing up way to fast and that soon I would have to think of her as my 1 year old toddler. Also, it brought reality back as I had to start seriously thinking about what I wanted to do with work as my Maternity Leave was ending. Two very big things happening in this one month! 
   Although the fact that PJ is growing up and turning one is kind of sad...its more exciting. I can't believe that at this time last year I was eagerly (and nervously) awaiting our Baby L's arrival. Now, just a short year later we are still getting to know our ever changing little bundle of fun. In one year she has changed so much and changed our lives so much! But, I will leave this sappy-blogging for a little later on this month when PJ actually hits that big Number One mark! 
   Since PJ has the very exciting fact of being born only a short 15 days after her cousin Kiera, her Aunt Danielle and I decided to throw them a joint "friend's" party. Danielle came up with the theme "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and I think it turned out quite well. The weather was supposed to be beautiful when we planned the party...but as soon as we sent out the invitations it changed to rainy and cold weather. Even with the dreary weather, we had a very fun time inside celebrating these two little munchkins!

PJ was a little wary of everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her (as was Kiera) and didn't crack a smile the entire time.

She also found the caterpillar sign attached to the front of her high chair to be VERY interesting and quickly destroyed it with her inquisitive fingers.

The cupcake was very new to PJ but after a little prodding she enjoyed it immensely (as you can see in the pictures!). 

What is this?!!?

Look Mom!

Face Plant!! :)

Yummy!

Watching Kiera to see how it is done...

:D Digging in!

The finished product! 

Here's a quick look at some of our very amateur decorations...I think it looked great though :) It was definitely fun to have a theme for the party! 

The cake and drink table. 

The chairs for our very hungry caterpillars!

The food table (each item is something that the very hungry caterpillar ate in Eric Carl's book)

Our attempt at being creative with a caterpillar cake (the drinking boxes turned out really well though!)

The favors (little "butterfly" goodie bags!)

Our balloon caterpillar!

Some of the party guests! We had quite a turn-out! So fun!

Finally...the two birthday girls! :) 

   What a fun day! It was a lot of work preparing (and cleaning up) but so worth it! PJ will only have one 1st birthday! On that note, not sure if we'll go "all out" for her next birthdays ;)!