Cavan enjoyed her first birthday party today. No, it is not her first birthday, nor was it her party. Today she went to a birthday party at a local bowling alley for her neighbor friend—the first kids' party she has been to outside of family engagements.
Cavan was a bit in shock upon arrival. About 10 kids (all about 4 or 5 years old) running around the bowling alley, with dance music and laser lights blaring. Cavan has never bowled before, and for the first four frames, Mommy and Daddy rolled the ball for her. Whether it was the atmosphere or the kids she didn't know, she clung to Mommy in shy mode. But she slowly warmed up and started bouncing to the tunes, and after watching the big kids throw the balls down the lane, she decided it was her turn. It was too cute watching her scoop up the neon-green, six-pound ball, waddle to the front of the lane and drop the ball on the floor. Who knew that a bowling ball with almost no momentum, landing with a thud one foot in front of the foul line can actually travel the length of the lane (bumpers up, of course). Needless to say, we had to wait a while to find out how many pins she actually knocked down, but the grin on her face was absolutely priceless.
Then it was time for cake. I don't know which was more precious, Cavan's bowling ball maneuvers or her genuine happiness singing Happy Birthday to her friend, sitting at a table with all the other kids, looking back at Mommy occassionally to share her joy. The whole afternoon she was eyes-wide-open, smiling. It is so fulfilling as a mom, watching your daughter reveling in a new experience and becoming an independent little person, with interests and friends of her own. Every day just gets better and better.
Sounds adorable!
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