Check out the birthday girl! It was so fun to watch the traditional Korean 1st birthday (Dol) traditions. You couldn’t tell here, but Story was actually fighting off a fever and ear infection. Poor thing!

Hanna & Mark did such a wonderful job planning her birthday party! I love the balloon decorations! So fun and cute!

Didn’t The Rococo Room at Cafe Santorini look great? Very fun, yet still elegant at the same time. The perfect location, centrally located in Old Town Pasadena.

Story’s aunt made these cute little mouse with watermelons & cantelopes.

Hanna & Story in matching traditional Korean outfits. That’s actually the same Hanbok Hanna wore for her wedding. Mark’s parents got Story a custom made one in Korea to match Hanna’s. Aren’t they cute?

I love this Korean tradition, Toljabee, so much that I want to do it for my own child… when I have one. They lay various items in front of the baby to see what attracts her first. Items include money, Erlenmeyer flask, golf ball, book, rice, yarn… The first thing she picks up will predict her future.

Story looked around a bit… mom was hoping she’d pick up the Erlenmeyer flask (Story was named after a scientist that Hanna met while at Wellesley), and dad was hoping she’d pick up the golf ball… but Story went straight for the book. Story will be a fine scholar!

Just look how happy a book makes her!

Story getting ready for her birthday meal… looks like peas? spinach?

Another game played was a Story trivia. Pat & Geny were the only ones who got all the answers correct. The prize? A picture with Story, 2 AMC tickets, and the title “Favorite Aunt/Uncle”… good for one year.

Turns out, the centerpieces also make wonderful hats!

Cute Auntie Suzy & Grandma.

The Park & Lim family. For any Dodger fans out there, yes, Park, as in Chan Ho Park. He has such a beautiful family and is such a good father. It’s so cute watching him play with his little girl.

The centerpieces also made great favors, toys, etc.

And little Audrey was so adorable! She loves purses! She has a big purse that she carries around, and when she got the gift bag, she wore it over her shoulder like a purse too.

Story loves little baby Joshua like a little brother. Isn’t he adorable?!

And you can’t have a birthday party without a cake. This super cute cake was from Cakery Bakery in La Canada.

I love this next photo. I love Story’s “where’d the fire go?” reaction. I love Hanna’s reaction to Story. And there’s just such a timeless feel to this photo.

It has been such joy watching Story grow up this past year. She has grown so fast! Congrats Hanna & Mark on a great first year, and I wish you two many many more, espeically with your next one on the way! I look forward to sharing the many more journeys together!