In answering someone’s question yesterday as to how old Kensie was, I replied, “She just turned one year.” A few hours later, my heart skipped a beat realizing that the last thirty days slipped through my fingers and she’s already 13 months old. Some day I’ll stop writing about how time is a tricky thing. Today isn’t that day.

On July 29th, our baby girl turned one year. She still scoots and has in the last week just started pulling up more and climbing up the stairs. She hesitatingly practices walking, holding a tight grip on both of our hands, not so much even willing to have one hand placed on a table and the other in ours.

Birthdays in our family are an extended celebration, usually a week long. Brennan picked out these flowers for his sister, and we started off the weekend with a bang dancing to Oldies music and playing with the camera.

It was the night of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games. Since we don’t have a television, we went through the rig amoral of purchasing cable for a month to have access to the online streaming. We were an enigma to the sales and service team, who couldn’t understand how we wanted the cable service but didn’t have a T.V. Amusing to us, astonishing to them.

Come Friday evening at dinner, however, the party immediately took a plummet when we realized NBC wasn’t airing the ceremonies online. I can’t tell you the number of times the last few weeks when my maturity level was even less than my one and three year olds. Truly, our attitudes make or break a situation. And I broke Kensie’s opening night to her birthday weekend. We ate the rest of our pizza in dismal silence.

Thankful for the new day, we had a scrumptious breakfast on Saturday before making the trek to Sea World. We decided that instead of a party or having people over, we’d head to Aquatica in San Antonio the four of us and spend the day there. We splurged and asked if they had any cabanas available that would offer us all day shade and a fan. It was a luxury and then-some, but a perfect retreat for our day at the waterpark.

We grabbed dinner at Longhorn Café where we saw some beach volleyball action. The kids picked up right away how to cheer for the U.S.A. and our favorite volleyball stars: Misty May and Kerri Walsh.

On Kensington Jane’s actual birthday, we went to church and excitedly took her up for the birthday prayer. Each Sunday, those who have either a birthday or an anniversary go up for a special liturgical prayer the congregation recites over them (see below). Even after a late night driving home from San Antonio, we were very motivated to get up early the next morning and make it to church to take our little girl up front. Mees made her a bow to go with her birthday dress, and she played the part well of birthday girl, soaking up the attention.

These two are inseparable (most of the time).

We had lunch at B.J.’s and after naps we opened presents. I made dinner, which was nothing to boast about, but the part of the evening we all remember the best was dessert: The Pioneer Woman’s Strawberry Shortcake Cake.

Her hair was already a mess from rubbing chicken curry salad in it. She still hasn’t quite learned that not everything goes on her head.

This wasn’t the first dessert Kensie’s eaten. But it was the first time she licked the plate. And if that wasn’t enough, she started to eat the plate. Like mother, like daughter.

That night was the biggest we’ve ever seen that girl’s tummy! She was about to bust. However, at 19 lbs., 11 ounces, Kensie is one petite girl (the 30th percentile), but at 31 inches long, she’s one lanky gal (the 95th percentile). She is all gangly legs as pictured here with Aunt Melissa who was a part of Kensie Jane’s extended birthday celebration visiting us the following week!

My Sweet Pea during her first year:

Father, watch over your daughter, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and guide her wherever she may be. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her up if she falls, and in her heart may Your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy First Birthday, Kensie Jane!