One

Zora turned one yesterday. We had some friends over Sunday afternoon for a small party since both Ken and I had to work on Monday. She loved the balloon and flowers that Owen picked out for her and did not hesitate at all to dive in to the cake. When Owen turned one I tried to make a healthy cake with little or no sugar since he hadn't had any yet. But Zora's cake, though it was a banana cake (she LOVES bananas), was covered with a yummy chocolate cream cheese frosting. I'm not sure how old Owen was before he had chocolate but it was quite some time after his first birthday I'm sure. And she really loved the chocolate (and who can blame her!). We did have another small cake last night after dinner with just the four of us and opened her presents. In typically one year old fashion she was more interested in the paper and the gift bags than the actually presents and I thought Owen would explode with excitement trying to get her to open the gifts.

Singing happy birthday.

Owen ready to burst from the excitement. Zora is not phased.

Yummy!

All done.

The cake is so good, Keaton needs 2 forks!

Mama with the birthday girl.

Balloons and flowers from Owen (and Daddy).

I remember one year ago when I was laying on the couch feeling a little under the weather on a Sunday morning when the phone rang with the news. We quickly packed a bag and headed to Chicago only to wait, very impatiently, for 2 days until we could see her and take her home. It is almost hard to remember Zora as that tiny little newborn - 2 days old the first time we saw her. She was so easy going and mellow and loved to be held. Just like with Owen I worried that she slept too much and wasn't eating enough and just like Owen she was fine. And just like Owen she quickly developed a preference for sleeping in our arms rather than anywhere else. And now she has gone from a newborn that mostly slept (she slept during the day, of course, and was up most of the night) and couldn't walk, talk or feed herself to a little girl who is funny and fiercely independent and who is walking and climbing and who not only can feed herself but insists on doing so most of the time. And while she is not talking yet she has definitely found ways to make her opinions and desires known - pointing at things and then pointing at herself when she wants something or yelling and squirming when she wants to be put down so she can climb up the stairs rather than be carried. She laughs with delight when she gets what she wants, whether it is her bottle, the pancake I am eating that she wants to share or Ken's cell phone that she wants to play with. And she loves trying to keep up with her older brother or sitting on the floor playing catch with him - though she can't really catch she can really throw a ball or anything else she gets her hands on. She will play peek-a-boo, behind a blanket, the furniture or around the corner - for as long as we are willing, laughing each time we or she reappears. Happy birthday sweet, fiery, silly, strong little girl!

Update: Just as we've done with Owen each year, we have selected a charity where family and friends can make a donation in honor of Zora's birthday if they choose. For Zora's first birthday we chose the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. Their mission is to improve adoption laws, policies and practices through research, education and advocacy. You can read about some of their current initiatives here.