You are ONE!

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY-

I can't believe I am writing your birthday post! You have given me the absolute best year of my life. Even though you're a baby, you have taught me so much. You have taught me what it's like to be selfless, sacrificial, and to love with more intensity than I thought was ever possible. 

The bond we have is so strong. You love to pat me when you give hugs, lay your head on my shoulder and you're the best at making my heart melt. You are the happiest baby and that makes my mama heart happy.

The shiniest highlight of this month is tough to choose because so many exciting things happened.  

Your birthday party was on Saturday, May 2. 2015 at our house! The theme for your party was "Lemonade Stand". We had a huge turn out. People came from all over to help you celebrate your big day. You are so loved. 

Your birthday party invitation

Here are some photos of the decor for your big day! I had the best time planning and crafting for your big day. We were exhausted once it was finished, but you deserve the very best! 

I made this sign for you and a photo book from Shutterfly.

Seating area for lunch in the backyard. I even hung parasols in the trees!

Tables were decorated with fresh flowers, pretty white tablecloths and lemonade themed signs.

Daddy built a lemonade stand just for you!

Cake for your guests & matching "smash cake".

Lemonade dispensers.

Because we had kids of all ages attending your party, I tried to think of fun activities for all of them. For lunch, we ate chicken tacos, pinto beans, queso, spanish rice and cheese quesadillas for the kids. 

Sandbox, complete with pink sand.

Sensory station of dyed pasta and bubbles!

Homemade, non-toxic play dough and cookie cutters!

For your birthday, we got you a beautiful cedar playhouse complete with a kitchen, chevron printed curtains, a mailbox, doorbell and window flower boxes. You love it! 

Your outfit was adorable. You were dressed to match your theme and your smile was the best accessory. 

My favorite part of the day was when we presented you with your birthday cake and sang to you! You acted shy while we sang, but your little smile peeked through eventually. You touched your cake gently at first, but then you dug in and polished off one side! 

 I hope you had as much fun as we did. We love you so much! 

Your actual first birthday happened on a Wednesday. I got up early and made you birthday pancakes and milk and we sang to you. Because you love pancakes, I think this will be your birthday tradition. 

As if your birthday month wasn't already full of amazing surprises, guess what? You started walking this month too. You were one year and three days old when you started taking laps around the living room. 

So many things have changed this month, but some things remain the same. You still love your family, friends and playing outside. Oh, and your disdain for the word "no" still remains. 

Love you more...

Your Eleventh Month

Brier, 

This month was full of fun - as usual! I am really not sure I've ever met a happier, sweeter baby. You smile ALL of the time and give hugs, kisses and love pats constantly. 

Speaking of smiling all of the time, you have four big girl teeth now. You have the bottom two and the top two. Your top two teeth have a big gap in between them, just like I used to have when I was little. I think your smile is the most beautiful one I have ever seen. 

Mommy on the left. You on the right.

You have some favorite words that you like to repeat over and over again. Your repertoire of words consists of "Dad-DEEEE" (Daddy), "Up", "Huh", "Arf!" (dog bark) and "HI!" The exclamation point on the "HI!" is very important and relevant because you say it often and with gusto. You also won't accept someone simply replying with a reciprocal "hi", you demand their eye contact. If someone's "hi" is lacking eye contact, you'll continue to greet them. You are also known to grab someone's face and gently point it towards yours so that they'll look at you. If I leave a room and return two seconds later - I get another "hi". So cute!

You have always been sweet, but not always the most affectionate baby. My favorite thing you've started this month is showing affection! You give the BEST hugs - they are strong for a baby. You give kisses when we ask for them, not just randomly. And you do what I call "sweet baby". Anytime we say "sweet baby", you lay your head down and rest on whatever is closest to you. 

You love being a sweet baby with mommy and daddy and even Larissa's dog, Molly! 

You adore dogs - I have a feeling you'll be asking for one for Christmas someday. You gently pet them and enjoy feeling their fur. You have been known to bark at them, too. 

You are so close to walking! You pull up on everything. You will walk when we hold both of your hands. You even walk when we hold only one hand. But, you aren't ready to go on your own just yet. While you're standing and practicing walking, you love to use your walker. You also love to pull up on your bookshelf and pull books down one by one. 

 

 We went back to the zoo this month! I think you had a great time!

You love carrying a purse, eating mac and cheese and peas (ALWAYS) and cookies.

You had your first Easter this month. It was so much fun. I made homemade sugar cookies for us to decorate, Neena made eggs to dye and you had two really cool Easter baskets and one more on the way from Gigi and Grandpa. You wore bunny ears and enjoyed an Easter egg hunt. You hunted four whole eggs! 

 

We are busy prepping for your first birthday party! It's going to be amazing! I can't wait to celebrate you and the best year of our lives! Thank you for lighting up my world with your beauty, smiles, giggles and love.

Love you more...

Your Tenth Month

Just when I think you can't possibly be any cuter, or funnier, or feistier, the next day begins. If I were to choose three words to describe you, they would be - independent, strong-willed, intelligent. You are very confident in yourself and your abilities, so you defy help, especially from mommy. In fact, just today you swatted my hand away when I tried to help you hold your sippy cup. 

This month was full of blessings! You were baptized on the 21st of February, 2015. Father Henry Petter baptized you into the Catholic faith at St. Ann's Parish in Coppell, Texas. Your Godparents are Kristen and Jacob Combo. They will be a wonderful, constant example of holiness. Mommy and daddy look up to them and we know they will support us in raising you in the Catholic faith. Everyone from our family was there for you, too. After your baptism, we went to lunch together at Fresco's. 

Your new prayer book from Kristen and Jacob.

Great Grandma Barad made your gown and it was absolutely breath taking. I will treasure it forever. If one day you have a little girl of your own, she can wear it, too. Godmama Kristen made your headpiece. 

"And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them."

Mark 10:16

We have finally found some food you'll eat consistently outside of the pouches you have grown accustomed to. DUMPLINGS. I make them for you. You would eat them from breakfast, lunch and dinner. You love to eat them with La Sueur epas. You shovel them in your mouth, almost like you're racing someone. You also love French toast sticks and you will always eat a fourth of my waffle when we go to breakfast on Sundays after church. I love the way you even say "yummmmm."

Also, this month, you experienced your first snow. Mommy stayed home with you for three days this month because it was icy and snowy. We took you outside in it for about five minutes. You didn't hate it, but you didn't enjoy it as much as you will when you're old enough to build a snowman.

You love goldfish. And you love chocolate chips.

Chocolate chips make you very happy.

You have become mobile this month. You use your walker to get around the house and you think you're such a big girl. I am so proud of you.

I love the way you stick your tongue out when you're concentrating, just like your daddy.

You've started wearing your sunglasses and I think you know when you look cute. It's hard to describe, but you really do act differently. It's hard to imagine, but you act a little sassier when you're extra dolled up and you smile more. Bat those little eyes even more. It's ridiculous how cute you are. 

You're fabulous, darling.

In this photo, you're pulling my hair and putting your feet in my face. It's your way of telling me to smell your feet. I always say "stinky feet" and you laugh and promptly stick your feet back in my face.

I love the way you're looking at me here. I adore you!

You sat still once this month...for about five minutes. 

But for the most part, our lives are in constant motion, like this...

And we wouldn't have it any other way. 

Love you more...