Lyssa Lou Who Was No More Than Two... or At Least One!

That's right!  My sweet little Lyssa Lou turned one yesterday.  I know it sounds horribly cliche, but I can't believe my baby girl is growing up so fasts! Despite not feeling the best the day before (meaning she got to skip out on church) she seemed to have a great day, and by the time we had her family part that evening she was 100% back to her happy little self.  Alec was happy as pie that Lyssa was having a birthday.  In fact, I didn't have to stage this photo at all!  All day long he was singing happy birthday to her and giving her birthday hugs.  (This little man is already starting to catch on to the benefits of backwards birthdays and was excited to open the presents Lyssa was giving him.)
Everyone wanted to pose with Lyssa yesterday.  No really, this shot is just another great example of how much Lyssa adores her Daddy, and he loves her right back!  From the moment she woke up yesterday she was asking for her daddy.  She's no cheese girl.  Daddy is the word I ask her to say if I want her to smile.  :-)
Alec and Lyssa both had lots of fun helping me make Lyssa's birthday cupcakes.  We made Grandma Rowley's chocolate cake, and Alec loved helping to pour stuff in and taste test the batter.
Lyssa too had a great time helping out in the kitchen, and thought that frosting wasn't so bad!  She also thought Alec was extremely funny.  He can make her laugh like no one else.
Here are the completed projects, Grandma Rowley's Chocolate cup cakes with pink butter cream frosting, and blue sprinkles.  My little Lyssa may love her pink, but she's all blue too.
Lyssa actually really liked her fluffy birthday crown.  She just wanted to hold it instead of wear it.  Alec was a great help blowing out that single candle.
Lyssa didn't quite know how to respond to having a cupcake set on her tray, available to squash and crumble to pieces.
Alec had patiently waited all day long for this moment, and was VERY excited.
With Alec's great example it didn't take long for Lyssa to catch on to the cupcake eating.  Grandma Shannon and Grandpa Steve even got to tune in for the event via Skype on the laptop.  Man, I love technology!
Lyssa got to open her presents from Grandma Shannon and Grandpa Steve.  She was excited to get lots of yummy food to cook and share with her brother.  
Little Lyssa Lou was also kind enough to give her big brother a "Miss Sally" car to go along with his Lightening McQueen and a little plastic doctors kit.  She ever so wisely decided to give her parents new winter coats for these subzero temperatures.  Yes, she had help selecting these gifts.

So for those of you still wondering about our backwards birthdays, with two kids birthdays within days of Christmas it doesn't make sense giving them more presents when they're still excited about what they already received!  This way we spread out the fun gifts for the kiddos throughout the year. It also gets the kids excited about celebrating each others birthdays, knowing they'll be getting gifts.  

Backwards birthdays are also a great way for a birthday person to think about all the people that make each year of their lives so special.  Did you know that in some countries you're supposed to give your mother flowers on your birthday to thank her for giving you life and raising you?  I love that idea.  In Romania you give other people presents and serve all of your friends and family at your party, to honor those who make your life special.  

Doing backwards birthdays also gives the kids one on one time with parents around their birthday.  Mommy takes child on a one on one date to pick out gifts for Daddy and other siblings.  Then Daddy takes child out one on one to pick out gift for Mommy.  

So yes, these are reasons we do backwards birthdays.  I am in no way saying you should do this with your family.  It's just what we decided to do in ours.  You may think it's weird, but we like it.  

So back to Lyssa, who this was supposed to be all about... She's one year old! Wow!  Welcome to World, baby girl!  You've only just begun to live, and we can't imagine life without you!