Wow - Garett's first birthday was more than just a day of celebration, it was a fun-filled and friends and family-packed weekend! His MiMi and GooGoo arrived on Wednesday to help us get ready for the party. On the Thursday of his actual birthday, GooGoo treated us to a birthday breakfast at Cracker Barrel. That evening we had Garett's favorite homemade ziti for dinner, complete with safari party hats, and Garett opened a few surprise presents from Daddy. Grandma Linda and Grandpa Greg arrived on Friday evening and treated us to San Jose for fajitas, margaritas and a little birthday flan, which Garett smeared all over his face and the table. Garett went down for the night around 8:30pm, and he awoke ready to party at 11:00pm. He was simply too excited to sleep! Around 4:30am, we resorted to putting him in the car and driving him around until he passed out, which he eventually did around 5:30. We were all a bit weary from lack of sleep the next day, but it didn't keep us from having a great party. After the party, and a blessed, much-needed afternoon nap for the birthday boy, we opened presents and headed out for dinner at Red Robin. On Sunday, we had a big family breakfast with the grandparents, Uncle Joe, Aunt Natalie and cousins Zach and Leah, and spent the day at the zoo. I think we are still recovering from all the festivities, but we wouldn't have had it any other way. We are so thankful to everyone who made our Lil' Slugger's first birthday a GRAND SLAM!
Garett woke from his morning nap on the day of his party and Daddy dressed him in the cupcake John-John I bought for his first birthday when I was pregnant. When he came out of the nursery and saw the house all decorated with red, white and blue balloons, Garett smiled the biggest smile I've ever seen, puffed out his chest with pride and marched toward me with his arms out wide. I scooped him up and cried, cried, cried. All the work and planning for his big day paid off in that one tiny moment.
Sharing a piece of Kentucky history with our little guests ...
Louisville Slugger bats in miniature.
Garett's birthday present from Mommy and Daddy - a personalized Louisville Slugger.
Everyone signed a baseball so that Garett would have a reminder of the friends and family who came to share in his big day.
What would a baseball party be without cotton candy and Cracker Jacks? "Take me out to the ballgame ..."
Cousins Zach and Leah are so much fun for Garett to hang out with.
Uncle Joe and Grandma Linda are all smiles and ready to party.
Garett and his buddy Nolan dive right into playtime. Boys will be boys!
We had grilled hotdogs, homemade mac-n-cheese, homemade coleslaw, fruit, beer (for the adults, of course) and milk (for Garett, of course). Yum!
The baseball cupcakes and Garett's smash cake weren't homemade - I bake very poorly and would probably have had a stroke trying to make a decent cake. Thank goodness I found Vintage Bakery! Thanks to the owner Vicki for making such a special cake - it was even cooler than I had invisioned when we orginally discussed the design.
Garett stripped down to his diaper and donned a bib (I have no idea why we even bothered). He was so anxious - I think he knew something special was about to happen.
Garett claps along as we sing "Happy Birthday."
When Garett saw his cake, he started squealing with excitement and clapping his hands.
He even blew out his own candle, with a little instruction from Mommy and Daddy. 
Zach and Leah, the older and wiser of the three cousins, give Garett some pointers on cake-destruction.
Garett needed a little help from Daddy to break through the fondant, but it wasn't long before ...
he started digging in! He wasn't crazy about eating the actual cake, but he loved the green buttercream grass.
Mommy gets in on the fun and gets a little green on her face too. Silly Mommy!
"Can someone please pass the diaper wipes? I'm disgusting!"
"Hey! Who destroyed my cake? I want another cake, good as new, and I want it now!"
Garett, all smeared in green icing and straddling his cake, looks like a combination of the Incredible Hulk and King Kong.
Future all-star.
Have cupcake, will travel.
Grandpa Greg and Uncle Joe team up for a cornhole tournament.
MiMi and Garett snuggle and check out the snacks.
Swing away, big man, swing away.
"Ooo, did you see how far I hit that sucker?"
Running the bases with Mommy. My little Garett-bear, I will always be here to show you the way home.
GooGoo gathers the kids to set the party balloons free and make a few wishes as they float off into sky, just before twilight. It was a fitting end to a bittersweet occasion.
In the first year of a child's life: 122 hours spent reading stories; 10 inches of growth; 503 miles strolled; 156 baths given; 3120 diapers changed; 2460 bottles filled; 1440 hours of sleep lost; and 61,000 smiles flashed by your little one. As for the amount of joy a child will bring to your life: limitless. - Parents Magazine (August 2009)