Hazel's First Birthday

Here are some pictures from our dear Hazel's first birthday party. We are so proud of Hazel and how well she is growing up and learning. She has really led the way for us as parents with everything from eating, to sleeping, to playing. We love our sweet baby and all the joy she brings to our lives! Happy Birthday Hazel!!!

 Annie made this banner! 

Keefe made this gorgeous cake! The flags have "Happy Birthday Hazel" stamped on them, and the flower is a gum paste garden rose. The cake was vanilla with lavender and honey buttercream icing. Yum!

 

Such a sweet smile!

 

We practiced blowing out the candle, but Keefe had to help when it came down to it.

 Hazel made sure everyone was included in the party, even baby Joshua.

Cake ALL OVER!!!

 

Keefe cleaned her up real nice after she finished her cake! 

Hazel got a tamborine, maracas, pajamas, a new outfit with shoes, and books. The thing she loved best though, was having so many friends over to help celebrate!

The Happy Clapper

Hazel recently started clapping. Her friend Cecily helped her learn by setting a good example. Hazel claps when she is happy or when she wants us to be happy about something she did. Hazel has always loved it when people clapped for her, especially her old babysitter Brandy. This is for you Brandy!

Hazel's First Halloween

Hazel was a cockroach, and proud of it!

Keefe made the tutu. Annie made the wings and antenna.

We thought a minion would also be fun, but she did not really care for the goggles.

Hazel's Model Shots

Here are some more pictures of Hazel. Some are her serious face, while others show her more lively personality.

Hazel loves peas!

 "Want one?"

 So sweet!

 Toys!

 Looking serious!

 Hazel is just the right height to look above some boxes and under the top tray of 

Keefe's serving tray thing.

 First day walking in fall leaves!

 "Keefe, how did Hazel get a whole cookie?"...

 "It's ok Mom"

Keefe loves sharing with Hazel. Here he is letting her lick some candy cane.

Babies! Hazel did well when I babysat little Alex, but the look on her face says she isn't ready for another Fillerup baby quite yet. "Ok Hazel, whatever you want sweet girl."

Hazel LOVES apples!

Keefe was making apple sauce and Hazel kept "helping" by getting apples out of the box and testing them for quality. Finally, Keefe peeled her an apple, which she ate and was so happy to have!

Sugars Class

Keefe made amazing sculptures in his Sugars class! Here are some pictures!

Keefe Makes Beautiful Things

Keefe has so enjoyed his baking and pastry classes at Johnson and Wales University! His teachers have noticed his awesome baking abilities and, from what it sounds like, have higher expectations for his projects. He enjoys practicing and perfecting things he knew how to do already and learning things that are new and challenging. Here are some of Keefe's cakes from his advanced cake class along with comments from his teacher.  

Wedding Cake

"100%"

 Fondant present cake

"How did you get two toned ribbon?"

 Wedding cake with sculpting chocolate Ranunculus 

Annie's Favorite

Gum Paste Flowers on a dummy cake

 "Text book worthy." and "Awe, grandma colors!"

The following are Entremets. Basically super complex and awesomely flavorful. Each starts with cake, then other things are added in layers or other shapes throughout like: jellies, other flavors of cake, mousse, fruits, ice creams, basically they are crazy go nuts cakes. They are something that most people never have seen or eaten before. Keefe loves how versatile and challenging they are. He says they are also sooooo yummy! 

Hazel's Walking

We are very proud of Hazel and how well she has been walking lately. She grows more confident each day. She can even walk with something in each hand! She can bend down, pick something up, and start walking again. Her official first steps were taken on October 6th. Keefe is really handsome in this video too!

Hello Everyone!

It is so hard to get pictures of this little busy body! Here is Hazel showing off her teeth. She had four teeth in the first three pictures and 6 teeth in the latter two. We are well. Hazel is now 9 months old and is doing fantastic! We are so blessed to have her in our family! 

Walking

Hazel likes to walk by herself, so I let her push the flour bucket around the kitchen. She is getting pretty good! I also found the music in this video to be a little ironic, "Beeee Glaaa a addd." Should I be glad my baby wants to walk and she is only 8 months old? We'll find out.

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

Hazel has been working very hard the past three days to make a fart sound with her lips.

Looks like a Bert

This picture totally reminded me of my little sister Amber when she was a baby. We have quite a few pictures of Amber in small and unusual places, ie: the dryer. This was a really big box we unpacked, and seeing that Hazel needed to be contained entertained for a while, we put her in it. 

More Pictures of Hazel