Sunday, August 19, 2012

One Year Old!

Well, it's official.  Our little girl is one year old!  How can that even be?  The past year has easily been the best of our lives.  I'd say that it's also been the hardest, and it ways it has been hard, but it's also been wonderful.  I don't really even remember much about the hard times because the amazing times completely outweigh them.  This month has been great and our little girl is really changing from baby into toddler.  It's amazing to watch.  Let's get started, shall we?

  • Walking- Emily has officially begun taking steps.  She still isn't all over the place walking, but she can walk.  Mostly, she just takes three or four steps and then sits down.  Her crazy height makes it a bit harder for her to balance.  It's so much faster and easier for her to crawl that she isn't very interested in walking on her own.  If we hold her hand, though, she loves to walk.  It won't be long and she'll be running, so I'm not pushing the walking!
  • Clapping- Emily also began clapping on her own this month.  It is so cute!  When we clap for her, she also starts clapping for herself.  You can see how proud she is.
  • Eating- This month Emily has discovered green beans and she LOVES them.  She could eat a whole can at once.  She also finally decided that she likes mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese.  Both of these she has balked at on multiple occasions in the past, but now she is a big fan.
  • Sick again-  Just a little cold this time, but she gave it to mommy and daddy.  Thanks, sweetie!
  • Jazzercise friends- Emily goes to babysitting at Jazzercise every day and she is making some sweet little friends.  Most of them are older and they all just love her.  They all crowd around her when we get there and call her by name as we leave.  So super sweet.
  • Peek-a-boo- She loves to play Peek-a-boo and Where's Emily?  We've been doing it for awhile, but she has finally started initiating the game herself this month.
  • Words- Her main words are still Mama, Dada, ball, and hi.  She says Hi ALL THE TIME.  She loves it!  She says ba and da as well to mean alot of different things. 
  • Kisses- Emily has started giving kisses this week and it is the sweetest thing ever.  Right smack on the lips.  
At her one year appointment, Emily was 21 lbs (50%,) 31.5 inches (98%,) and her head is 90%.  Dr. Copeland said she is perfectly proportional and the size of an 18 month old.  So glad she's long and thin!  Her Daddy and I are working hard on our own health to make sure that she grows up to be a healthy adult.  She wears a size three diaper and twelve month clothes.


And of course...Emily's many faces.


Emily Elizabeth,
Every day you amaze us with your sweetness, your brightness, and your precious personality.  You are independent, strong willed, loving, beautiful, and you were made especially for us by God!  We have loved every single moment of our first year together.  You will never know how much we love you...until you have your own little girl!  We pray for you every day that you will grow up to be healthy and strong and that you will live a long, happy life at the center of God's will for your life.  We pray that the Lord will use you to do great and mighty things for him.  Selfishly, I pray that God will give you the amazing gift of music and that you will lead people in worship to him, but I know that whatever gifting the Lord gives you will be amazing and we will always be so proud of you.  We love you so much, baby girl.  Happy Birthday!

We somehow didn't manage to take any good pictures this past month, so these are all from my phone.  Oh well!

Trying to squeeze around the changing table barricade to get to the stairs.  I have since purchased more gates. :)

Playing in the laundry basket

Getting an early start on AdvoCare

Green beans!

She loves her daddy!

About to get in trouble

And again...sitting on the fireplace.

Little puppy girl

Birthday invitation photoshoot

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Emily's Berry First Birthday Party

Today marked the culmination of roughly nine months of dreaming and a solid two months of planning a very important event...Emily's Berry First Birthday Party!  While I'm sure it sounds ridiculous to put that much planning into a birthday party for a one year-old, it was worth every single moment.  This little party was such a labor of love, down to every little detail.  I spent hours of time planning decorations, handmaking the majority of them.  Each part of the party was thought about probably too much, and while I budgeted myself pretty well, choosing to do much myself rather than purchasing ready made, too much money was probably spent.  Regardless, I am so glad I did it and would (and will) do it again in a heartbeat.  Emily had a FABULOUS time and so did all of our sweet friends and family who came to celebrate.  I will never forget what a wonderful time we had together celebrating our sweet, perfect little one year-old princess, Emily Elizabeth.

Emily's Berry Sweet Invitation
Back of Invitation- Month by Month
Pictures from Invitation Photoshoot
Birthday Girl
The Front Porch
Some inside decor and party favors (picture taken after party was over and most favors were gone...oops!)
The Food Table
More Food- A simple, but yummy menu
Party Guests
Opening Gifts
Dessert table
The CAKE!
Can't wait for birthday number two!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Swimming Lessons

This summer, Emily and I took Mom and Tot swimming lessons together with S&A Swimming.  It was very special not only because it was a fun time together, but also because I took lessons from the same people when I was a little girl.  Such fun memories!  Emily did great, especially to be the youngest in the class, and we are excited to take lessons again next summer!