Now You Are One

Well, we did it. Together we all made it through the first year of your sweet life. What a joy it has been.

We had an amazing party. Everyone turned out and you got tons of toys and clothes. It was a costume party and we dressed up as a family. You were a chicken and mommy & daddy were farmers.

Here is a list of who attended and what you received:
Shannon, Dylie & Duncan Anderson - Bracelets, blocks and stacking rings
Maya, Ella, Zoe, Brenna & Bill Clark - Hoodie, Pants & Shirt
Sam, Alex and Melissa Floor - Sweetest Sweater
Kathi, Charlie, Heather and Lauren Bernstein - Stacking cups & baby books
Darrell Peterson & Eric - Over the top Lion Walker (it was Darrell's birthday too)
Gary, Christina & Evan Merrill - Love to Play Puppy & Winter hat
DaShell & Matt - Cabbage Patch Doll
Rachel Gross - Disney videos, a couple cute winter hats
Aunt JJ (Jen) - Musical Baby Stroller/Walker ( YOU LOVE THIS!!!)
John & Lori Stockinger - Marshmallow Dora Chair
Kim, Jake, Aubrey & Gavin DeBartolome - Darling white fluffy winter boots & Pink Peacoat
Mom & Dad - Cozy Coupe Car, Boots, Shoes, Yo Gabba Gabba dolls, Corelle Baby, Talking Purse
Jessica & Steve Adams - couldn't make the party, but brought you the cutest dress EVER.

We had lots of little kids at the party, and you loved playing with everyone. You hadn't had a long nap that day, so we were afraid you would be fussy...but you were perfect. The kids played pin the stem on the pumpkin and then had a costume contest. Everyone got a prize, but Gavin won the best costume trophy.


We served Pampa's homemade chili in bread bowls, mummy shaped pigs in a blanket, artichoke dip, candy and chips. Everyone had a really great time (at least they said they did :)



You LOVE all of your new toys. You spend hours getting in and out of your car on your own, and then walking around with your lion walker and baby stroller. Your cabbage patch and your other dolly are really special to you. You really treat them like your babies. It is crazy. You put them in the stroller, walk them around, and keep checking on them. Sometimes I find you sitting and hugging them and sucking on their heads. I think you are trying to kiss them.

You got your first fat lip the day after your birthday. You were trying to climb in and our of the car on your own and somehow tipped it over. You were fine though and the swelling was gone by that night.

Two days after your birthday, Oct 22nd, you gave us a wonderful surprise....You Can Walk!!! Not all around the house, but back and forth between me and daddy. It was so exciting. I had you out in front of me, and I let go of you standing. You just all of the sudden took about 5 steps toward me. Jen & I screamed for Daddy to come see. Jen grabbed the video camera, and you just kept walking back and forth between me and daddy. It was soooo great. I had to leave and go to my trainer to work out but called about everyone I knew on the way. I am so proud. You are growing up so fast.

There are many more stories about the past exciting week.. but all I have in me for now. It has been a long day :) You are napping right now and I should be working. So back to work.

I love you my sweet baby. Mama

P.S. - you had a Dr. Appt for your 1 year visit. 23 lbs 1 oz and 30 inches long. You are in the 90th percentile for height. I doubt that will keep up :) And today is Grandpa Bill's Birthday.

Last Day As My Little Infant

Boo hoo....you are growing way too fast. Tomorrow you will be one, and I don't know how I can handle it. It has been the BEST year of my life. It is unimaginable how much things have changed and how much happier I am to be alive :) Thank you for choosing me as your mommy and giving me a chance to know you.

We have had a really really busy month. This is my excuse for not writing in your blog for so long. I am going to try and recap some of our adventures.

First let me start by saying you now have 3 teeth; and you really like to use them. You like to bite mommy's finger, and really enjoy chomping your goldfishies between your top tooth and bottom two. So cute. You also had your first bloody nose. I had to take pictures becuase it was so sad. You are just trying to walk everywhere, but when you let go of the coffee table...down you went.



Here is a quick recap:
Oct 3rd, BBQ at Bill and Brenna's. Zoe, Gavin, Maya and Ella loved playing with you.
Oct 4th, We went to Samantha's baptism. You were a hit with all my work friends. You kept us entertained through the LONG service :)
Oct 5th, Mommy started training with her trainer...so hard!!!
Oct 6th, Aunt Jennifer and Hamlet came to stay with us. You have a Nanny!!! Yippee
Oct 9th, We left for Calgary to visit Annie & Chad for Canadian Thanksgiving
Oct 18th, the first of your birthday parties at Grandma and Grandpa Mangrum's.

So Calgary...travel was a nightmare. We got to the airport on Friday, and were told our flight was delayed and that we were re-booked from United to Delta direct. At first I was excited because that meant no stop over and only 2 hours of travel. We were going to go home for a few hours to see Daddy before leaving. I tried to check in a Delta while you circled the airport with Jen. Very long story short...It took 3 hours, a major baby fit, full on tears from Mommy in front of a ton of people at the airport.. and we finally got on that flight. They weren't going to let us because the two airlines were fighting about how the tickets were issued. CRAZY.

Meanwhile, you and Jennifer are sitting at the park and wait, and the car died because Jen left the air conditioning on while waiting. NIGHTMARE.

You were not a good girl on the plane. Worst ride yet. It's not like you were bad, just restless and I totally understand why. Either way, everyone on the plane loved you. People are always waving at you and you smile big time back at them.

Calgary was FREEZING. I guess they were having a weird cold spell. It was 8 degrees F. one day. But we had a great time anyway. You loved Georgia, Mika, Annie & Chad. We went to the Calgary Zoo and Banff. We took a gondola ride and went in the hot springs. You loved the the hot springs. There was one other baby in there, and he had the same birthday as you.

You sure loved those doggies. You were feeding them like crazy. Annie and I picked you up an Ikea highchair, and your favorite thing to do was drop your food and watch the doggies pick it up. Or you woudl just let them lick your food, and then you woudl eat it. Sick

You had your first Canadian Thanksgiving. Chad cooked a delicious meal and Annie, some homemade pies. You had your first pumpkin pie with whip cream. You loved the whip cream so much, that Annie just sprayed some on your tray the next day. You went in face first to eat it.




The trip home was just as eventful as the way there. In fact, the exact same thing happend to us. This time United told us to stay another night at Annie's and then they would have us no Delta direct in the morning. It was all messed up when we got there. Long story short, the United rep ended up running us all the way to our gate. But we made it and you were an angel. You slept the whole way home. Daddy was sooooo happy to see you. He sure misses you when you are gone.

This is a really long entry. I will leave it at that because I know I will want to write more about your birthday tomorrow.

Love you forever and always. Mama.