You are the Sunshine of Our Lives!

Last Sunday afternoon we celebrated your first birthday.  I had a few ideas of what I wanted to do for your big day, but as per everything in my life I put it off until the day before!  I wasn't feeling the greatest over the weekend, but mustered up enough energy to do some baking and shopping in preparation for the family that was coming to help us celebrate you!  I went with a "Little Miss Sunshine/You are My Sunshine/Pink&Yellow" theme.  Since a big part of my thoughts were on sunshine, I figured we would have a summer time party type of meal:  lemonade, chips, BBQ Rootbeer pulled pork on pretzel buns, a simple salad, and a cupcake for dessert. 

12 balloons with your monthly pictures hanging from the strings

Homemade Buttermilk Lemon cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream frosting

The day was very relaxed with all of our (close by) family here with us.  We sat and talked, ate a late lunch, the kids took over the basement which gave us a bit of quiet to have adult conversations which is always nice.  Uncle Craig, Aunt Janine and the kids couldn't make it until later, but we were so happy they made the drive for YOU!  Micah didn't want to miss your first birthday party.  He thinks you are pretty great, and I think it is pretty sweet! :)  When everyone was here, we gathered around for you to open up your presents.  You were also a bit tired with some teeth pushing their way out, but handled all the commotion when it came to your older cousins helping you open each of your gifts.  They can be a bit intense for you, but they sure do love you a whole heaping lot!  It is special to see the way they all fight over you and love on you.  I am so thankful for our big, crazy, loud family with so many wild little ones! :) 

The only picture I have with you and some of your cousins!  I wish I would have taken more with all the others! :(

Blurry, but you LOVED this huge bag!

Sawyer trying to "help" you

You love cars, and deserved a pink one!

You also love baskets and bags, so Grandma and Grandpa D came through!

So cool new kicks and some hot wheels to add to your prized collection

You wanted that purse so bad, and didn't like that Kendrick was trying to open it for you!

Finally it was cupcake time!  You weren't too excited for the cupcake itself, but LOVED the raspberry on top!  Dad added a few more for you, and you ate each one so quickly it was quite impressive.  You are a pretty dainty eater, and like to be clean for the most part.  When your fingers get too dirty you stare at them and then proceed to lick your fingers clean.  It is pretty entertaining to watch, and I appreciate your desire to be clean! :)  You did end up eating the frosting, but that's about it and really only did because Grandpa D smashed the cupcake in your face to assist you in getting messy.  Regardless it was fun to sing to you and watch you pluck your raspberries out of the frosting and eat them one by one! 

So over it at this point, but look how cute you are! :)

It was a great day with all of the family, and a reminder of just how blessed we are to have each of them in our lives!  You add a little something special to the family with your sweetness, and I couldn't be happier to be your Mom.  You have blessed our lives for more than we could have imagined, and we can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for the future of our little family.  Each day we are reminded of His blessings as we here you talking in your bed, and are just so happy that you are ours!! 

Love you Little Miss Sunshine!  Happy Birthday to you!

Two Weeks with Papi&Mamie

A couple weeks ago, we were blessed with a visit from your Mamie, Papi and Uncle Joe.  We couldn't wait to see them, and counted down the weeks until it was finally time to pick them up on a cold, windy night at O'hare.  It was Daddy's birthday, and a great way to end his special day eating pizza with a part of his family.

You warmed up to them all immediately and were  having fun crawling around the floor with Uncle Joe, reading books with Mamie, and singing songs with Papi.  They had a busy couple weeks planned with visiting old friends and speaking at different churches, but we got to spend some good time with them in the mornings and afternoons, with a few special all (present) family included dinners.  They sure do love you, and you love them a whole lot too!  Uncle Joe surely knows how to make you smile just by being him.  It is so sweet to watch the two of you play, and listen to you giggle and laugh with him.  He adores you, and it is the best!

On the last Tuesday of their visit, Mamie planned a little party for your first birthday and it was so special with hats, balloons, and a green table cloth for our little St. Patty's Day girl! :)  Jane Hawthorne, a woman that is a blessing to know and love, joined us for the special night and we were overjoyed to have her company!  You liked the fact that she had glasses, and continually pulled them off her face as she played "patty cake" over and over with you.  You didn't care too much for the cake, but you ate about half the raspberries that surrounded it and enjoyed each and everyone of them!  Uncle Joe helped you open presents in your sweet little dress from Mamie with a matching one for little Liesel.  It was a great night celebrating you my sweet girl!  You are well loved by so many, and it is so special to feel that love as your mother! 

It is always hard for me to leave them, or watch them go.  My heart gets sad for the distance that separates us and I never quite feel like we had enough time.  Soon dear Zaylee girl, we will be seeing them much more regularly as we will be moving to France for some time with the Tabailloux side!  I am so thankful for this opportunity to give them some much deserved grandbaby time and just get to know them fully and experience a bit of where daddy grew up! :) I have a lot of work to do before them with the whole language aspect of things, but am confident I will be just fine even if I am a bit lost for the first month or so! Thankfully I was given a pretty good memory and fast learning curve, but I am not hoping for any miracles in the time we are there just a better understanding and a bit of conversation skills in daddy's native tongue.  Truthfully dad and I are just excited to take this leap together and experience something totally different together.  It will grow our relationship in ways we didn't know possible or even that we may have needed, and we can't wait to see what God has in store for our little family!

Anyway more on that later, back to our two weeks with the family...
It was a great time with lots of love for you and your sweet little cousin Liesel.  We were so thankful for the time we had with family, and can't wait to see them all again soon!  Until then, we shall skype!! 

A Year Ago Today....

Weaning

The past two weeks have been bittersweet.  I knew that by your first birthday I wanted you to be either fully weaned or at least on the way there, but I had no idea it would be so hard for me to let go of.  I have loved the bond between you and I, and the ability to soothe you at any given moment if you needed me.  It was something that came so easily for the two of us, and I am so thankful for that.  I fed you anywhere and everywhere regardless of what people may have thought because my baby needed to eat! :)  I had hoped you would wean yourself to prevent me from having to refuse you your much desired milk, but when the day came that you didn't want me it stung much deeper than I had ever imagined.  I broke down in a puddle of tears to your daddy, and he of course wiped them away and picked me back up with words that always seem to set me straight and build me up like no one else has ever been able to do for me!  The next day all seemed back to normal, so I held on to our bond for a few more days before attacking the weaning monster.

At first I dropped your late morning feed and tried different types of milk in a sippy cup, but you refused each and every one.  For three days this went on, and you were extra crabby and I took it personally as it seemed you were mad at me.  It hurt my heart a bit, until you started taking the last milk I tried, rice milk.  It made me so happy to see you drinking from your sippy cup, tilting your head back as far as it can go.  You are just so darn cute!  I am happy to say that you are currently drinking at least 12-15oz or rice milk a day, but sometimes more.  Every day it seems you are liking and accepting it more and more.  I am still nursing you in the morning and before bed, and truthfully that bedtime routine will be a hard one for me to let go of, but I know the day is drawing near and you and I will be just fine.  I know this, but it's hard for me to accept.

I love being your mom more than I could possibly every try to express.  You make my life so full and rich.  I pray we always hold a close bond with one another no matter what stage in life it may be.  Zaylee girl, I hope you always know you can come to me with anything and everything.  I want nothing but the best in life for you my sweet daughter. 

Ready for walks

As much as I enjoy winter (or sometimes as little as), I have never been more ready for a bit warmer weather.  I long for the days  of our endless walks around the park.  The stop at the playground for some good swinging action.  Passing by the familiar faces of strangers that also fill their days with the outdoors.  I'm ready to get out of the house and play.  I'm ready to stretch my legs and feel as if I've had a bit of exercise, without actually having to do the task of exercising.  I miss the routine, and the smile on your face as we would get ready to walk out the door.  You love the feeling of fresh air on your face, and I am so happy you do!  Soon, very soon, we will be freed from the winter blues, and be able to run (literally as you are SO close to walking!)  around outside!  I can't wait! 

Yesterday watching the snow fall!

January rain

Back in November

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