Back in September

Cora turned one.

In Korea, a baby is considered a one-year old the day she is born. That makes Cora two years old, or beginning her second year.

It makes a good bit of sense.

And Cora turned one (or two, if you follow the Lunar calendar) in Texas.

This also makes sense.

Cora took her first steps the day before a typhoon back in August. Five clumsy steps right by the swings on the playground. The picture above is of her during the typhoon taking a couple of steps across the floor.

Oddly enough, these first steps back in August did not return until right before her birthday; then she just started walking across the room and into other rooms and out of sight.

But here is Cora on the night of the typhoon. It was a fun day, one confined to our apartment when the Pilot was ordered to stay home.

Cora loves her daddy more than anything in the world right now.

Then a few weeks later we traveled to Texas. There Cora celebrated her birthday with both parents, both sets of grandparents, and numerous other family members.

Because she looks so very charming in purple and yellow, I chose those colors for decoration.  I kept the theme simple though--Milk and Cookies. Thanks to Cora's GoGo who made those lovely pink cookies, the table kept from looking like a very feminine LSU party. I started planning the party back in July when I visited the Yangjae Flower Market in Seoul and bought some lovely tissue paper. Note the bouquet of tissue paper flowers on the table.

I have never professed to be a crafty sort, but I'm working on it. As a reluctant stay-at-homer in the age of Pinterest, I find it an odd requirement. Korean tissue paper is like no other. It is hardy and difficult to tear, almost like fabric. For someone as craft-addled as myself, this is a good thing.

I continued with the tissue paper and decorated the cake stand. My mom did a scrapbook paper collage. The size of the "baby cake" was puzzling. Sure, I should have made it myself, but I've never made a birthday cake for either one of my children, opting instead to hire a local baker, so why break tradition?

Cora with her GoGo checking out Gus's contribution to the party--Balloons!

I think that she knows there will be cake here. The girl is obsessed with high chairs. Mostly, she cries and hollers to sit in one, figuring there will be food there. Then, when she has shoveled half the food into her mouth and the other half into her lap, she cries and hollers to get out of the chair. Finally, she returns to the high chair to eat the food out of it and below it. Who needs a dog to clean the floor, when your toddler does it herself?

At long last, GoGo gets to give a granddaughter a doll.

Cora and her Aunt Cactus.

Gus picked out a toy for Cora, a boat for the bathtub. I think it's still in Texas. Anyway, Gus decorated the package with some help from his GiGi.

And cowboy boots. Cora and her cowboy boots. That would require a post on its own.

Finally, cake!

Don't nobody move!

Cora surprised everyone by taking to the cake in the most dainty way.

She picked at the icing.

And took small bites.

She really wasn't sure about this....

She contemplated the cake.

And smashed part of it.

Finally, we handed her a fork.

This seemed to do the trick. Even though she tried her best to eat her first birthday cake with dignity and aplomb, she still required a bath.

Happy Birthday, little bug.