Evie's 2nd Birthday

 

Evie turned one this week. She's doing so much these days. It's almost hard to believe that she is just one and not five. She started walking at 7 1/2 months and didn't look back. Right now, she's really in love with all things cats. She has a favorite stuffed animal of a kitten that she totes around with her and loves and so this year I decided to go with a kitty cake. I think she loved it...as much as a one-year old can love a cake. She'll appreciate it when she grows up and sees these pictures.

Her first birthday was bitter-sweet. First of all, my dad missed it. Just barely, too. It's a hard time at this point in my life. I can barely hold myself together, let alone keep a smile on my face. Dad not being here was harsh. Harsher than I ever thought possible. That being said, I did my best. I couldn't not make her a pretty cake, so that is what I threw all my attention to. It kept me busy, and busy is good these days. You can't cry when you're busy.

Lots of family showed up. I'm thinking it was mostly because they knew it would be a good distraction from the over-powering sadness. Evie, bless her heart, is young enough to not know the loss and sadness that others are feeling. In a way, I'm thankful. Alex and Abby are having a hard time dealing. As I write this, you should know, it's been two years since this day happened. I'm post-dating this blog so it's recorded. So anyone who happens on this post will understand that I can remember it well, though it felt as though life was a dream at this point.

Evie is so busy for a one-year old and I'm so happy  and blessed to be her mommy. I think, despite all the crazy, it was a good time. Or goodish, I suppose. Once again, there was an empty spot where Dad should be - an empty sound to 'Happy Birthday' with his baratone voice missing. It was a hard time. Oh...and also...thank you to my good friend Mandy for taking the time to record this in pictures for me as Evie managed to throw my camera across the house and destroy it just days before her birthday. Stinker.

Mmm...cake.

Present time for the big girl.

Look at that perfectly bald head.

Mandy told me that this picture perfectly captures this time in my life. I was barely hanging on, but had to be a mom too.

The cake looks like her special stuffed animal kitty.

Here comes the grumpy.