What a looker!

It's time for Phriday Photo Phinish with Candid Carrie again! This week, I've got the cutest picture of Buttercup from her first birthday party last week.




Isn't she cute? This is her first official birthday cupcake, which my sister made especially for Buttercup, since the batter needed to be glute-free. (Sweeter has Celiac disease and Buttercup is on a gluten-free diet until she is tested later.)

It worked out perfectly and was just the right size for Buttercup to handle. I was loving the "Why the hell is everyone staring at me?" looks she was shooting at her audience while she enjoyed her first sweet treat.

Anyway, this is honestly as messy as it got, folks. Do I have a little lady, or what?

Ode to Buttercup

Little girl, I cannot believe that you have been in my life for a whole year!
I know it sounds like a cliche, but time has never flown so fast. Can you please slow it down a bit?
Your poor Mommy is getting whiplash from trying to keep up with you.

See, you came faster than I expected. Your due date was June 21, and I was banking on you coming around then so we could finish your nursery. But that didn't happen because Mommy's blood pressure meant lots of trips to the hospital and the last time they sent me on June 11, they told me I was coming home with a baby. OMG!



So I had, like 24 hours!!, to get ready for you. Okay, okay...I had nine months. But becoming a Mommy is a big deal. And becoming your Mommy? Well, that's altogether the biggest deal of all.



You came into the world with a scream that could break glass and Mommy told everybody you were going to be a singer when you grow up. Look at you, so tiny! And with a set of lungs most opera singers would kill for.



Your first picture with Daddy. It's love. Which little finger did you wrap him around again?



In our defense, we HAD to get you a life jacket so you could get on the boat to go to Uncle Bob and Aunt Mel's wedding when you were three weeks old. In your defense, the fact that we allowed you to scream your little head off while we took this picture could be the basis for future therapy sessions.



Three months have gone by already? Time flies when Mommy doesn't get to sleep. See how you always loved to be right by my heart? I love it, too.



And I'm glad the mega-expensive stroller we bought is being enjoyed by your canine siblings.



Announcing Princess Buttercup, A.K.A Sleeping Beauty, for her first Halloween. (And don't you dare ever tell me that you were not spoiled.)



It's not the best picture. You are looking down and your Guelo (grandfather) isn't facing the camera, either. But this is the last picture of you with your Guelo before he died just a few weeks later. Because of that, this is a keeper.



I don't know what was so funny, but something sure cracked you up. I love this look on your face at six months old!



Is there any more in this thing? Avocado has always been one of your favorite foods. My sweet little Mexican baby.



Nine months old and already a diva. I am in soooooooooooo much trouble. Can you just stay a cute, manageable baby? For, like, ever?



Look at the litthe princess posing for her birthday party invites!



Oops! I must have blinked. How did a whole year pass in the span of one blog post? Happy Birthday, gorgeous. Mommy loves you.

Parties, balloons, and Mommy's going to commit herself, oh MY!

I just finished the initial guest list for Buttercup's first birthday bash.
It's quite disgusting.
The grand total? 108 adults and 33 kids.
And yep-the majority is family. How sad is that?
We'll be scaling down a bit after I go over the list with Mr. L tomorrow. And I know that not everyone invited is going to show. But as is expected in my family, even if an aunt or cousin lives five states away, an invitation is expected, even if it is just a sign of respect and an update of sorts of what is going on in our lives.
And right now, a quick note explaining that after stamps, invites, and springing for pop, pizza, and salad at $5 a person, we will be too broke to pay for her second birthday party might be right on target.
(Is it too early for me to be cringing inside at the mere thought of Buttercup's wedding? *Deep breath!* I may hyperventilate.)

Getting to the bottom if it...

DIAPERS:
...of the pile of the crap on the floor, I mean.
So far, we have:
* put up shelves in Buttercups's room that have been taking up floor space
* cleaned the bathroom
* actually made the basement look decent
We still have to:
* Do everything else.

And our little Easter shindig? Yeah, well it went from 15 people (which is just a portion of my side of the family and the in-laws) to more like 30.
And people wonder why Buttercup's first birthday is going to have a guest list about 100 names long...