Today is November 25, 2011. To most people, it is known as Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. To us, it is the first anniversary of the birth of Brennan Clarke Hudson. That's right. It's Brennan's first birthday. I have had such mixed emotions today - so sad that Brennan is growing up so quickly and so happy that she has turned out so well (despite the innumerable mistakes we have undoubtedly made over the past year!). Although the past year has provided us with some of the highest highs and lowest lows, I don't think we would have traded it for anything (except maybe a few days of uninterrupted sleep!). I am thrilled to say that we survived and she thrived!
From her discovery of balloons to her hesitancy in smashing her cake to her buzzing around the kids cafe like a bumble bee on caffeine, the whole day was a trip! It was so cool that my mom was even able to join us via Skype to watch Brennan blow out her candle and smash her cake.
From her discovery of balloons to her hesitancy in smashing her cake to her buzzing around the kids cafe like a bumble bee on caffeine, the whole day was a trip! It was so cool that my mom was even able to join us via Skype to watch Brennan blow out her candle and smash her cake.
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| Discovering balloons. |
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| The cake. |
Brennan is not a huge fan of overly sweet things (must be all the veggies she eats daily!), so I decided to make her a cake with very little sugar added. Actually, the cake had no added sugar. The glaze I made only had powdered sugar in it. Here are the recipes:
Banana Cake
2/3 c. banana, mashed
1/2 c. butter, softened
3 lg. eggs
3/4 c. water
2 c. unbleached flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
Optional: 1 c. chopped walnuts OR 1/2 c. chopped walnuts & 1/2 c. raisinsGrease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. Beat together mashed banana and soft butter until creamy. Beat in water. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until very foamy. Beat into mixture. Blend in flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Beat until smooth. Stir in walnuts or walnuts and raisins, if desired. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool. Serves 8-10.
Banana Glaze
1/2 med. banana
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. chopped nuts optional
2 or more c. powdered sugar
Mash banana well add lemon juice and nuts. Gradually add powdered sugar until you obtain right spreading consistency. Ice cake after it is completely cool.
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| The decorations which kept falling down! |
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| Blowing out her candle with help from Daddy. It was very funny because Brennan would 'blow'' - just not at the candle! |
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| Let the 'smashdown' commence! Actually, Brennan was very hesitant about 'smashing' until Daddy tore off some and gave it to her! |
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| The 'smash' cake face. |
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| The 'smashed' leftovers. |
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| Brennan and her stackload of love! |
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| At the kids cafe in a new outfit from Tia Elly. |
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| Brennan and Daddy at the kids cafe. |
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| Waiting for traffic to ease up at the kids cafe. |
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| In the building block room at the kids cafe. |
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| Baby Knieval thought she was way too cool to hold on! |
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| So engrossed in the other kids that she she stood like this for quite a while! |
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| Brennan and Mommy. |
Aw looks like fun! Can't believe she is a year old already...I love the smash cake face :)
ReplyDeleteKayla, the time really does go by too quickly. Even when times aren't the best (sick baby, teething...), the time really zooms by even though in the moment it can feel like a lifetime! That's why it is so important to take photos and video like an obsessed person! Everything changes in a heartbeat!
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