The gifts- In our house it seems that it doesn’t matter if it's girlie, it’s a new toy; therefore, it needs to be played with! Trying to get pictures of Makaela opening gifts was hard since big brothers had to help unwrap and check out the gifts.
Caleb trying to put a bow on
Eli trying to push her around 
Her horse made noises, but you had to hit a button on the side. She figured it out and kept slapping the side and missing most of the time.The cake- I decided not to make, but buy a cake. I really was curious how Makaela would act with her first piece of cake. With the boys’ birthdays this summer I would give her little pieces of just the cake and she seemed to like it. So, I thought she would tear into it. Also because even without any teeth she has given up baby food and is basically eating “real” food now. We got a free “smash cake” with our birthday cupcakes, which I thought was pretty cute. A little background info- I got it from Target, which I had not used before and thought the cake wasn’t the best myself, but they were very nice and helpful since I waited to the last minute and had to have it fresh. All was going well as we waited for everyone to sing and the candle to be lit, she looked like she was going to really get into it. Then she put her hands into the cake and it wasn't good. Noah did the same thing, he didn’t like the feeling. John tried to just put some of the icing in her mouth to let her see that it tasted good. That didn’t work either. Then he tried just giving her the cake part and she still didn't like it. So, the birthday girl didn’t want any cake. She didn’t get that from me!
“Nope not liking it”.
Her last thoughts were- “GET ME OUT OF THIS CHAIR!!”A Mother's Thoughts- I did a lot of thinking the days before and after her birthday. I still can’t believe we have a girl. I am still in shock some days, like on her birthday we had a princess tiara and banner. We had PINK cakes and baby dolls. This one little girl changed our life a year ago when she stepped into a very boy dominated house. I’m used to tripping over cars and now there are dolls.
Makaela is a ball of energy just like those big brothers. She loves to climb on everything, yell, or should I say screech when she doesn’t get her way. She does sing patty-cake very softly. She likes to dance and play peek-a-boo. She is slowly getting better at waving and saying bye-bye and giving kisses. At her birthday party we all made progress with her walking. She’s been walking between things and people for over a month now, but she doesn’t just walk across the room. That was until Aunt Bridgette got a hold of her at the birthday party. I think having all those brothers who just want to help her kept her from walking far on her own. John and I try to get her to walk, but the boys always seem to try and help. They, like John and I, can’t seem to let her fall. As parents we know she will fall, we’ve watch the boys fall and they are still falling. Explaining that to 4 protective and helpful brothers is very hard. Bridgette was able to get Makaela to let go of her hands and walked the longest I had seen. The boys were also distracted with everyone else that was here so that helped. Now, that the boys know Makaela can do it without help they are a little more willing to let her go on her own. When she does, they start yelling that Makaela just walked. (The excited news casting also has been going on for over a month.) They are really sweet brothers, who are so excited about their baby sister.
I just can’t believe she is walking, talking, and our little princess is officially 1! Time- you can slow down now.