Five First Birthdays - A Walk Down Memory Lane

There's a lot of inconsistencies in the way we've handled birthdays over the years, but the one thing that has been a common theme throughout it all is that our children are so very loved and celebrated.
For your viewing pleasure, and my nostalgic walk down memory lane....

Natalee, age 1 in 2009

My sister, Lauren, made smash cakes for Natalee and Xavier's first birthdays.  She made Natalee one for a photo session and another for her birthday party.

Xavier, age 1 in 2011

Xavier got a smash cake for his photo session, too.  He hated it - ha.

His first birthday party was a farm theme and Lauren made the sweetest cupcakes.  She attempted a barn but it was so hot that the barn just wilted.

Ameliya, age 1 in 2015
Ameliya got the least fancy first birthday of all.  Her first birthday fell on a Sunday so we had Mike's family out and just did cake and ice cream there.  I suspect her mother being pretty newly pregnant affected the amount of party planning that went into her day.  She was happy, she was loved, and that's what mattered.  I did make her a little smash cake, topped with strawberries.  Strawberries are still her favorite fruit.

I think she was the only baby who got chocolate ice cream on her first birthday!

Zayden, age 1 in 2016
Zayden Sam was our little allergy baby.  We were trying to find the root cause of his terrible skin troubles, so his cake was the healthiest.  I made him a little double layered 5" cake out of oats, bananas, and other healthy things.  I don't remember exactly, but I do remember it was gluten free.  It was frosted in greek yogurt and honey and topped with dye free sprinkles.

He got one for his birthday, and one for the birthday party that we had for him and Natalee.

Evalynn, age 1 in 2020
Evie's cake was "elegant."  I learned the basics about frosting and piping over the years, and the gift of the roses from our friend made it a simple, yet precious little cake.  I used the same pan I'd purchased for Zayden's cake four years prior, so it was also a 5" double layered cake.

This little picture memory walk was prompted by the other kids asking how we celebrated their first birthdays.