Golden Girl

Today we celebrated Mary's 1st birthday. Last week, Emily's daughter brought up the fact that it is Mary's Golden Birthday. With no other ideas, a "theme" was born!
Lot's of the people who love Mary came to help us celebrate - Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Darlene, and Uncle Dan. Jack, Madeline and Luke. Aunt Jessi and Jaiden and Julian. And Aunt Christina. Aunt Donna and Great Aunt Charlene. Our friends Emily and Desmond, the Humphrey's and the Merrick's were all here, too!

As party favors, I put together a compilation CD. The cover art was this photo and it was titled "Songs in the Key of Mary". It included the following songs:

Pretty Mary Sunlite ~ Jerry Reed

Along Comes Mary ~ The Association

Take a Message to Mary ~ The Everly Brothers

Mary Mary ~ The Monkees

The Wind Cries Mary ~ Jimi Hendrix

Proud Mary ~ Creedence Clearwater Revival

Mary Don't You Weep ~ Stonewall Jackson

Sweet Mary ~ Wadsworth Mansion

Miss Mary Mack ~ Ella Jenkins

Blind Mary ~ Gnarls Barkley

Mary's Little Lamb ~ Otis Redding

Pretty Mary ~ Peter, Paul and Mary

Tough Mary ~ Etta James

Little Mary ~ Fats Domino

There's Something About Mary ~ Jonathon Richman

Meet Me at Mary's Place ~ Sam Cooke

Mary Had A Little Lamb ~ Buddy Guy

Sweet Mary Blues ~ Leadbelly

Jolly Holiday ~ Mary Poppins

Mary's Prayer ~ Danny Wilson

Mary ~ Patty Griffin

Let It Be ~ The Beatles

Remember this photo of Desmond and Molly Jones? Here they are again, 10 months later~

We've been so blessed with a really long Indian Summer. Mary was able to go for a little swing after dinner (on the 2nd of November, in Chicago!)~

We had a visit from the vice presidential nominee (apparently Mary's a democrat)~

I decided to get a cake stand and plan to use it every year for Mary's birthday cake. Then when she leaves home, it will be hers to keep (thanks, Tracy!). I made a carrot cake, with whole wheat flour and cream cheese icing~

Mary's not sure what to think about the singing~

But she definitely likes the candle~

Waiting for her slice~

Yum~

And now for presents! Her first purse - from Great Aunt Charlene~

A tiny snowglobe ornament with her name on it, from Aunt Darlene and Uncle Dan~

She's getting really good at cruising around the furniture~

Everybody in the background is laughing at a breastfeeding calendar Emily made for me a few years ago~

Because I love the crown of her head~

She likes the big girl purse, too~

Happy Birthday, Mary-girl! There are so many people who love you~

Mary

"star of the sea", "wished-for child", "the perfect one", "rebelliousness", "beloved", "bitter herb"