8/22/08

There Will Be Balloons (or) A Fistful of Balloons (I couldn't decide which title to go with)

Some of you already know this (and thank you for all the sweet birthday messages!) but Flynn QiuQiu turned one year old today!

We started out the day at the playground for a little swinging.

Yup, she's still lovin' it!

Oh, by the way, she also started laughing out loud for the first time today. It's a wonderful sound and we can't get enough of it! Her daddy was the first one to get her to laugh aloud, by mercilessly tickling her ribs. She must have enjoyed the sensation, because she's been doing it a lot!


She also really likes it if there's someone there to kiss her face at the end of each arc of the swing...she really likes that.

Mmmmwah! Isn't it cute the way she puts her hand out to reach for my face?

Here she is on the bouncy-thing. Only trouble is, she likes to push off with her legs...and like everything else on her body, her legs are really strong. She almost pushed mommy over backward a couple of times (of course, mommy's a featherweight these days).

Balloons were, of course, inevitable.

We had them make a bouquet of them for us at the Sunflower market. As you can see, QQ can hardly wait to get her sticky paws on them!

Happiness is a fistful of balloons

After daddy went to work, we went over to LaoLao's house for icecream cake. And what a cake it was!

NaiNai trying to convince QQ to try the cake...mmmmmmmmm....good! Dripping with cream and peanut butter cups!

But QQ was still a little distracted by her balloons (which we brought down with us in the back of the car). Sadly, QQ likes neither solid food nor cold food, and QQ's mommy is temporarily lactose intolerant, so only NaiNai and LaoLao got to enjoy the cake!

QQ was not too proud, however, to indulge in the 1st birthday tradition of putting her hand in the cake and then wiping it all over her face. Hah! At least we accomplished that much!

The center of attention.

NaiNai Susan introduces QQ to the joys of a new entertainment center, which QQ proceeded to decipher at lightening speed!

Accomplishments: In two weeks at home, QiuQiu has learned to laugh, crawl (in her own unconventional way), stand up with only a minimum of propping, roll a ball back and forth with a partner (when she's in a good mood), play a shell game where she finds blocks or balls underneath hollow cups, sleep through the night (usually!), swing herself without assistance, reel things in on a string, and, occasionally, imitate. Pretty good for someone who's never seen the outside of an orphanage before, huh? Yeah, we're proud.
She's also put on some pretty good weight...apparently almost all of it in her cheeks! Her legs have gotten a little less skinny and a little more baby-chubby, but her tummy is still flat (must be all those crunches she does) and her waist and hips are TINY. If only we could all gain weight that way! Hah!

17 comments:

M said...

Happy happy birthday Qiu Qiu!!!!!

lisa said...

Ah yes-I tried to say hb this morning, but jb's computer froze up on your blog. Glad it was such a great day-s loves those sunflower balloons too.
Happy fabulous birthday QQ!!!

A Beautiful Mess said...

Happy birthday baby Flynn!!

I always leave you blog with a smile....

tracy said...

Happy belated birthday, Ms. Flynn! What a wonderful excuse to have balloons and cake!

kitchu said...

Oh dang it I'd forgotten! Happy Birthday sweet Flynn!! Looks like it was a fantastic day :O)

Missy said...

Happy Birthday Flynn!!! She shares a birthday with my mother in law :)

tiffany said...

Oh so cute! Happy Birthday QQ!

Carrie said...

As I sit here looking at QQ Miss M keeps saying our baby. I have to laugh-I said no that is Maia baby Flynn. But we wanted to stop bye and say Happy Birthday to the little one you look better I am glad to see it! Have a fun time!!!

mommy24treasures said...

those are some great accomplishments in 2 weeks! She is absolutely beautiful and I wish her many more happy birthdays with her new family.:)

Yoli said...

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY PRETTY BABY!!!!! What a joy to have had those beautiful balloons and such sweet parents and grandparents to share all of it with.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday kiddo.

Cavatica said...

Happy Birthday QQ! You're rocking and I hope you got lots of birthday balloons.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Happy Birthday Miss Flynn... hugs to you...

Heather said...

Happy belated birthday! Our internet has been down courtesy of Tropical Storm Fay so I missed the actual day! Damn! Give her a kiss and a balloon from us!

Duchess of Lanier said...

Love all of her smiles. Picked a swinging photo for her update. Adorable! Glad you are feeling better, too.
Hugs,
Trena

RamblingMother said...

Happy Bday QiuQiu!!

Vivian M said...

Happy birthday Flynn!!!!