Kamdyn is One!!!

Let me just begin by saying that this is by far the most extravagant birthday we have ever had.  And I will admit there were times that I looked around, and I felt a little crazy.  Then, I thought about where we have come in the last year, and it felt right.  It felt right to go over the top.  It felt right to want to celebrate with so many important people in our lives.

The theme of the party was butterflies, and I used turquoise and pink colors.  We put pink, turquoise, and butterfly balloons around the room.  The napkins on the tables were pink with butterflies on them.  The tables were lined with candy filled buckets that had the kid's names on them.  Next to each bucket, we put home made and decorated butterfly cookies.

A little bit of food prep in the kitchen.

Welcoming our guests.

Some face/arm painting.  And just a little advice for anyone who may want to do this.  Don't leave the face painting supplies sitting out, unless you want them to pretty much turn into finger paint later on.  It does not come out of clothes easily.

Craft table.  It was a great way to keep the kids busy and entertained.  The girls made butterfly antenna headbands, and the boys could make googly eyed bugs with poms and pipe cleaners.  There was another table loaded with foam stickers for them to make their own creation.  Never underestimate the fun a kid can have with a pile of foam stickers.

Of course there was food.  LOTS of food.

Our good friend, who prepared all of the food also made this amazing cake.  It tasted as good as it looked, and she stayed right in line with our butterfly theme.

The amazing KB, herself, lighting happy birthday candles. 

Waiting so patiently for some cake.

Just a couple of months ago, I worried that she would not be able to have this moment.  Really, it is enough to make me cry.  I thought that she wouldn't be able to dig into the cake and feed herself by her first birthday.  And look.  She dug right in and made a fantastic mess!  It just goes to show that when we believe in her and give her the opportunities, she will surprise us every time.

One year ago, I thought that our lives were forever changed.  I thought that my life would be consumed with Down syndrome and disabilities and delays.  I thought that I would never be truly happy again.  I can't say that I never thought about Down syndrome on that day.  I can't say that my mind was void of that reality.  But I can say that Down syndrome has become normal and welcome part of my life now.  I feel at home right in the place that I am.  My life has forever been changed, and I am fully and truly happy.  In Kamdyn's one year of life, she has opened my eyes to a beauty that I never would have seen.  After she was born, I feared that Kamdyn would not be beautiful.  Now, I can tell you that she is beautiful. 

If I could go back and talk to myself a year ago, I don't think it would have made a bit of difference.  Because I know me, and I know that I have to live it.  I have to feel it.  I have to be there, in that moment, and grab hold of it.   And that's exactly what we have done over this last year.  We have been scared, but we have had faith.  We have mourned, but we have celebrated.  We have cried, but we have also laughed.  Oh, have we laughed.  And that is the beauty of life.  That is what makes the journey good.  It makes the sweet moments sweeter, and the triumphs more joyous.  I look forward to so many more triumphs and innumerable moments of joy.