Happy first Birthday Donivan

Mark and Tara's first child is turning one years old today. He is such a great joy in all of our lives. He was a big surprise to his parents but now I don't know if they could even begin to imagine life without him. I know that I couldn't. Van is all boy. He loves to be tossed about and especially bounced upon your knee. He loves music because his parents sing to him every day. He found Mark's guitars as soon as he could crawl. Even when I think that he is going to break the strings, he just loves the noise that he produces. I'm sure that before long Mark and Tara will be teaching him how to play both the guitar and piano. He isn't walking yet but he will be soon. He just needs to be more courageous and then he will be a hand full for his parents.

I was a little bit surprised when Tara said that she wanted a volcano cake for Van but I will do anything that they ask. I know that Van still loves to put things into his mouth. What better toy to go into the mouth than a dinosaur. So here is his cake.

I have the next two pictures switched so I will go to the end and then back. Paul was lucky enough to get this most marvelous picture of Van after eating his birthday cake. Mark tired several times afterwards to get him to smile again and it didn't happen. Oh, how we love this special little boy who looks so much like his daddy.

As we lite the candle and tried to get Van to blow it out, he instead reached out to touch the flame. I don't think that it burned him but with all of us yelling at him to not touch it, he was scared and began to cry. It took alot to get him even near the cake. Tara decided to get the dinosaur covered with frosting and the lava, which was very good, and have him try that first. After that first taste he was all over the cake. Hence the preceeding picture.

We all got a kick out of Tara. She really has a difficult time with Van getting dirty in any way. But she was the one to help him make a mess out of himself. But notice the apron. She didn't want to get anything on her.

Like I said even though he wasn't planned to come for another year I know that none of us would want to change anything. I don't get very many opportunites spent with this little boy but I'm praying that over the years it will change. He has such a cute personality coming out and I love every chance I get with him, like this upcoming weekend.

Happy Birthday again Van and we love you!!