First Birthday

Dear Jack,

We had your first birthday party this weekend. I had so much fun planning that for you.

The theme of the party was, of course, you, Jack. I spent the better part of a year coming up with fun Jack-phrases and ideas and all of the party favors were Jack things... Cracker Jacks and Apple Jacks, actual Jacks, playing cards with your face on one side and a Jack on the other, and even seeds for Jack o' Lantern sized pumpkins.

The party game was also the primary decoration: a Jack mural. I put 30 of my favorite Jack phrases on the wall and then during the party had folks guess what they all were.

I had so much fun watching folks trying to suss out all of the phrases. Dave and Suzanne and Kara teamed up, your Grandma was at a disadvantage since she came in as the game was starting, Aunt Dani and Uncle Jon may have used their iphones at least once, and Gram was having a blast with a little brain teaser -- one of her favorite kinds of puzzles.

After the Jack game, I orchestrated what everyone else was calling the second party game: the group picture using a ten second timer on the camera.

After the party games, you opened presents. Lately, you have been in a button-pushing stage and your grandmas both bought you button pushing toys.

Your Grandma got you a pop-up toy that she says is all the rage at the church nursery.

Your Gram got you a push mower that Libby says is all the rage at your daycare.

Then it was time for the cake. I really had wanted a Jack-in-the-Box cake, but in the end I settled for this one and was so glad that I did. It was simple and beautiful, and you loved it.

You see, your smash cake had the same polka dots as the top tier of the birthday cake. In other words, your smash cake was covered in little buttons.

You went through and systematically pushed every

single
button you could find on that cake.

Everyone was amazed by your perseverance in finding all of the "buttons" and the systematic way in which you went about it. You may be a future engineer, or as your Aunt Dani and Uncle Jon said, a future operator or Navy nuke.

I know you won't remember any of this party and in a lot of ways, a first birthday is more about the parents than the child anyway, but I want you to know that I put a lot of thought into your first birthday and that I am trying so very hard to get all of the Jack puns out of my system before you get sick of them.

I also want you to know that I am moving on today. I was so sad when you actually had your first birthday and I had to acknowledge that you aren't my little baby boy anymore. But after your party, celebrating you coming into our lives with our family and friends, many of whom drove all the way from Houston to see you, I am just so happy. I am happy to have such a sweet little boy, and so happy to be watching you grow up.

Love,
Mom