One Stats

Warning.... lots of baby book type details! :^)

My sweet little baby....you are ONE! How precious you are and what a joy it is watch you grow and change.

12 month stats:
Height: 30 1/2 inches (90%)
Weight: 25 lbs, 6 oz (95%)
Head Circumference: 46 cm (75%)

For the first time you actually lost a couple of ounces... all that scooching around and cruising. You got a clean bill of health and we chatted about all the things you are doing...
Here are some of them:

Movement: You can get into everything! You still get around with your funny leg/foot scooch. You are cruising and occasionally I'll catch you standing unsupported. I don't think you are in any hurry to up and start walking (and truth be known, I'm ok with that!). You love cruising around with your little doggie walk/push toy and Megan loves walking after you screaming, "look mommy, she can walk!"

Eating: (sigh) Well, we are working on weaning you and transitioning you to whole milk. You aren't fond of whole milk. So the Dr. recommended we get some Almond Milk to try. We'll see how that goes. But as long as you have food in front of you - you are happy. You sooo want to feed yourself with a spoon - and I have to admit that I'm dreading the mess so I've been hesitant. But, I think I'm going to have to just give in and let the mess happen and let you try to feed yourself yogurt and such to get that calcuim in you. You are pretty good about eating whatever we eat (better than Megan is on most days). But for some specifics....

What you currently love: watermelon, cantelope, bananas, honeydew, oranges, apples, chicken, turkey, ham, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, virtually all bread - but you especially love grilled cheese and anything from Chic-fil-a and Moe's. What you currently dislike: hotdogs (you got sick recently after eating a hot dog... and now wont touch them), peaches and pears (depends on the day), carrots, mac and cheese and fish.

Your Personality... you are a bit demanding. :^) Let's just say that when you want something and don't get it... you let us know you are displeased. You haven't actually said "no" yet - but you've demonstrated it. But you are also the biggest snuggler and lovebug. If I'd let you, you'd spend most of the day snuggled up in my lap and on my shoulder. You still don't like it when Mommy leaves you. The funniest thing to me is when the phone rings. You know that means that Mommy is going to run to get the phone (in another room) and you lunge at me as soon as it starts to ring to make me take you with me or stop me from going. It cracks me up that you know what that ring means and you sooooo want me with you every minute of the day. I love you too sweet pea!

Favorite things... you love music and will start dancing as soon as you hear a beat. You try to sing with Megan (boy this makes car rides very loud), and love playing instruments and clapping. You also love balls and cars and trains and baby dolls. You love giving kisses - and it melts our hearts!!!! You still don't have a "special lovey" doll, bear, or blanket.... just mommy and your finger!

Words you say: Mama, Da (Daddy), Meh (Megan), ba (ball), duh (doll), uh oh, and occasionally you'll say "mo" (more) and "ah du" (all done).

Every day you seem to do something different - it's hard to record it all. It's been an amazingly fun year and now we get to start another one together. You have our hearts little girl - and we pray that God will grow us as parents so that we can raise you in a way that glorifies and pleases our Lord. What a rich blessing you are!

Happy 1st Birthday!

A year ago, we were celebrating our newest arrival to our family... Your entrance into this world was a bit of an adventure. And, to be honest every day since has just been one more step down that road of adventure. You are so different from your sister - you two are both unique individuals - it's been a wild ride with the two of you... but as you get older and learn more about your mommy, you'll know I love wild rides..... your Daddy and I once road Space Mountain about 10 times back to back. But the wildest part of this ride as your parents is watching you grow from this.....

to this......

In just one short year. A wise woman once said to me, "the days are long but the years are short." Oh how true that is! I cherish this first year and I look forward to all those we have ahead of us (God willing!)!

Your big sister is SSSOOOOO excited that it's your birthday. She started the day out by smothering you with birthday kisses!

For a variety of reasons (Disney, business trips, people being sick, family in town, etc...) we just didn't get a birthday party put together. But the main reason, you are just not the social butterfly that your big sister is... and we thought you'd just cry being around all those folks. So we planned on having a family party in a few weeks when your MN grandparents are here. BUT.... Megan would have NONE of that. She was mortified at the thought of not having a party on your birthday. So we made some cupcakes for you and tonight we gather up some friends after Awana and we had a super fun impromptu birthday party! You were the perfect little birthday princess!!!!

Your surprise party was a big hit with you! Especially the yummy cupcakes that your sister helped to make (with much love!)

I was surprised that you didn't seem to mind the attention at all. All the folks at Jason's Deli seemed to think you were a super cute birthday girl too.

Even with that little cupcake, you managed to get icing in your ear, as well as your mouth.

And you thought the presents were fabulous. Megan assigned herself the job of "personal gift unwrapper" so that you wouldn't be bogged down with that responsibility.

You LOVED your first baby doll.....

And showered her with lots of kisses....

Thanks to our friends who helped make your first birthday so much fun. I know that as you grow, you will be so blessed by having them in your life!

And by the time we got home, got that icing out of your hair (and ears), you let us know in no uncertain terms....

Birthday's are exhausting!

Happy Birthday my sweetheart! We love you so much and are so blessed by you.

Tomorrow is Nicole's 1 year checkup - I'll post her stats then.

Little Voter

Nicole came and supported me at the polls this morning... I was a bit wishy washy on a few positions, but I think she steered me in the right direction.I think all the attention from the polling officials made her first voting experience a good one.

It's funny because Election Day is a day of memories for me.... Last year at this time I was waiting for Nicole to be born (her birthday is Sunday), and 4 years ago we found out that Megan was going to be a girl. I vividly remember being off work (schools are polling areas so school are out), and going out to vote, going to breakfast with Tom and then heading to the BIG 20 week ultrasound for baby 1. So for me, election day is more than just a day to vote... there will always be lots of memories to revisit as I cast my ballot.

Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween! We had a holiday weekend with our little pumpkins!This year our "pumpkins" had to be our family (according to Megan) - so we each got our own. In order... baby Nicole pumpkin, Daddy Pumpkin, Mommy Pumpkin, and Megan Pumpkin.

Megan was not too thrilled with the pumpkin carving... she is so like her momma and is very smell sensitive. Megan got one hand of "gooey slimy gunk" out and then had to leave the table because she about threw up. Thankfully, mommy is the family carver and I was able to get it done. Although she couldn't help with the insides.... she did design the face and was quite happy with the results of the Megan pumpkin.

We started our Halloween celebrations on Saturday when we got together with my family so all the cousins could go trick-or-treating at Grandma and Granddad's house.

Ummmm... Nicole wasn't so sure about being left there with princesses and ninja's.... what's a fairy to do?

But the bigger girls made sure to show off all their princess qualities and moves.

The Ninja's showed their powerful and lightening quick moves...Once the mommy fairy picked up the baby fairy... all was right in the world again.

The little fairy was ready to fly away and spread happy magic wherever she went (as long as mommy went with her)...

Tonight we redressed up our little fairy and princess again and hit the pavement to do a little trick-or-treating.

That cute little fairy was super sweet, even after being squeezed into her outfit..... I bought this before she was even born (when it was clearanced last Halloween at Gymboree) and it is way too small for her... but we made it work! Once the sun started to go down, we headed out.... The princess led the way!!!!

And Nicole followed along in her awesome little setup! She was afraid her wings might get tired so she hitched a ride....

Daddy and Megan continued on after we finished our little cul-de-sacish area... And as you can see, Nicole had a great time on her first Halloween!

And now we get to look forward to setting up all those limits on Halloween candy. And working on self-control so that Mommy and Daddy don't go fishing for all the good stuff.

Day 1 of Disney

Megan, how excited are you about going to Disney World?
This excited...... And Nicole, are you excited?

Oh Yeah... so excited that she fell asleep during the ride to the park and was totally out for our grand entrance to the World Of Dreams!

It was super special to be able to have my parents with us for our trip.Megan's favorite part of the trip was seeing all the Disney characters... we saw every parade (at least twice)...

We had a great time on our first ride... Dumbo (Or Jumbo, as Megan calls it). Even Nicole seemed to like it.

When we weren't on rides, Nicole was a great little trooper and just kicked back and enjoyed the ride (and people watching).

Megan loved Cinderellas Golden Carousel.

And we ran into characters all over the place. Her favorite "impromptu" characters were Drizella, Anastasia, and Lady Tremaine---- those are Cinderella's mean stepsisters and stepmother. Megan was so taken with them but very cautious as well... after all, they were mean in the book. If you ask her now she'll tell you they were nice to her, but mean to Cinderella.

It was really sweet that she was so taken with them - Cinderella is actually the only Disney story that Megan knows. All the others have scary parts and she won't even listen to the books. Now that she has a "personal connection", I am excited to watch the movie with her.

After we finally pulled her away from Cinderella's family - we all rode, "It's a Small World" which of course everyone enjoyed.

Then it was onto other characters.... Megan was so taken with Minnie Mouse's house.

Then.... she got to meet the big guy and girl in person!!!!!

She just loved them and didn't want to say goodbye. She gave them both lots of hugs and kisses - it was very very sweet!

And Nicole.... we'll see just took it all in and smiled - a LOT!

Tom and Megan raced.....

And in the midst of all that fun.... more parades and shows. The "Dreams" show on the castle step was Megan's favorite.... Everytime we'd hear it starting, she'd beg to go see it again.

And it was generally a good break for Nicole as well.

The first day was a blast.... My little princess ended up singing herself to sleep on the bus ride back to the hotel (with Grandma as her pillow).

And Nicole (who slept a lot at the park), kept Granddad occupied with smiles and giggles.

Once we got back to the hotel, everyone crashed....

And that was just the first day!!!!!