First Birthday Party

I had been planning your party for months in my mind and I think it really came out looking very sweet & cute!

It was of course, a Country Butterfly Garden Theme!:) 

Some of the Decorations!

 Mason jars with ribbon and pink lemonade

 Butterfly chandelier and cupcake tower

 Goodies. I kept it simple with fruit and light snacks.

 I am one banner with newborn, 3, 6, 9 & 12 month pics.

 Foyer table with customized M&M's as favors.

 Favor cookies

 Baked by Mommy and decorated by your sweet Aunt Jennifer who spent the night with us the night before and helped Mommy decorate before the party.

 Butterfly cookies

Birthday Girl!



All the family and some friends came to the party and it was an exciting day! I did tear up when we were singing Happy Birthday to you! You just smiled and enjoyed it. We are so so so lucky to have you!

Happy Birthday Carly!

Carly Kate, you are one year old today!  This year has flown by.  It seems like just yesterday we were preparing to go to the hospital to have you.

 

You were a 5 lb 9 oz tiny bundle of sweetness! We were so thankful you were healthy and finally here!

 

You have been a source of pure joy to us in the last year. You have the sweetest personality and it's growing every day. You love to hug and kiss me and it just makes my heart melt. You are such a good natured baby. You still do have your moments but they are mostly short lived.

(this was too cute not to share of you chewing your paci)

I loved you so much from the moment I met you - but I love you 365x that now. My love grows for you every day. 

 You act shy when everyone talks to you but then you will smile and flash your dimple once you warm up. You love to wave and say bye bye to everyone.

You ALWAYS wake up happy in the mornings, you're such a great sleeper. I love that about you!

You don't say a whole lot of words yet but you babble a ton. You say "momma"(on occasion), "dada"(a ton), and "bye bye". You LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mickey Mouse "Hot Dog" song and it sounded like you were trying to say "Hot Dog" one day without the t on the end of the Hot and G on the end of the Dog. You also have sounded like you have said Odie. He lets you crawl all over him and pet him. You LOVE him and Pebbles. Pebbles is very tolerant of you but still is unsure of your tricks, haha!

 You just started crawling 2 weeks ago and you are everywhere and into everything. We have baby proofed the house and put up a new gate at the top of the steps. You're not walking yet but love to walk around the house while we hold your hands.

 

You weighed 20 lbs and 15 oz(48%) and 29(46%) at your 1 year check up. You wear a size 12-18 months and a size 2 shoe. Your foot is so tiny!  You wear a size 4 diaper.  No more baby food, you are eating all table food and for the most part you do well, but you are one SLOW eater. You are also on whole milk and loving it and only have a bottle at night. Speaking of nights, you are a total Mommy's girl at night. You want me to feed you and snuggle you and put you to bed. You refuse to let your Daddy. He loves coming home from work and playing with you.  You play find Daddy crawling around the coffee table now.

 

God really has blessed us. I thank Him every day for letting me be your mom. You are the best gift I could ever be given. Daddy and I love our little "pumpkin" with everything we have. You have stolen our hearts!

 

Happy FIRST birthday Carly! I look forward to every birthday we will celebrate in your life.

It's amazing how much you've changed in the past 12 months!

 

11 Months

Carly Kate you are 11 months old today!

You are soooo much more active these days!  You are in some 9 month clothes but wearing mostly 12 month and you are still in size 3 diapers but they are getting snug. You wear a size 4 at night. You have 2 upper teeth coming in and you can see the two lower ones when you are eating. You are sleeping very well through the night. You only wake up once or twice for your paci. You sometimes will take 2 good naps during the day, a late morning and late afternoon.  We were letting you lay on the couch after you fell asleep in our arms but now we just lay you down in your crib for naps and you fuss for a few but then you are out for an hour or more. I still hold you at night and get you to go to sleep.  You are a definate Momma's girl at night. 

You are eating well! Fruit is still your most favorite.  You would eat it all the time if I gave it to you.  You are eating puffs, cheerios, crackers, yogurt, potatoes and more food with substance these days. We went through a phase, hopefully, of you spitting food back at us. That wasn't pleasant..... You are also drinking out of a sippy cup finally!  It took a few days before you got the hang of it.

You still love your jumperoo but now you have a walker that you go EVERYWHERE in, we just had to put up the baby gates. You love to sit on the floor to play and will go from sitting to laying on your tummy and squirming around. You will scoot backwards but still haven't crawled and you'll roll over every now and then. We keep thinking you are going to take off at anytime!  Sunday night you pulled up all by yourself. You also will walk while someone holds your hands.

You are a lover of music! You will stop and watch tv if there is music on and any toy that has music you will play and play with.

You love to mock us, it is so funny! My favorite part of the day is when I go in your room in the morning to pick you up and you just grab on to me and hug me tight! It's the best feeling the world.

Your favorite word now is Bye Bye and you'll even wave.

I've been planning your birthday party for months now, just getting ideas and a few things here and there. This year has flown!

You are the sweetest thing! I kiss you constantly;)
XOXO

Baby Dedication Day

Today was Baby Dedication Day at our Church! It was a very special day today.  Josh and I vowed to make it a priority to raise Carly using the principles of the Bible and to set a good example with our words and actions, so that someday she will accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. That is my most important prayer for her!

Headed to Church! Doesn't she look like an Angel?  I am in LOVE with the dress and coat.  

 I fixed lunch at our house after church for the family.  It was a SPECIAL day that we celebrated.

 Aunt Jenn & Uncle Rich

 Grandmama & Grandpapa

PopPop & RoRo 

10 Months

Carly Kate you are 10 months old today!

MY OH MY, we are in the double digit months now;)  You are in 9 month clothes and wearing some 12 month and we have moved up to size 3 diapers. You have 2 lower teeth that have come in and you can only see them when you grin real big.  You don't like to show them off.  We had a few rough nights a week ago, where you would wake up and not go back to sleep unless you were in our bed, but we got through it and you are back to sleeping great in your crib. It's getting harder and harder to change your diaper, you want to squirm around.

You are eating well! If I gave you fruit all the time you would eat it. You can be picky at times when it comes to veggies and meat.  It seems like you go through phases.

You still love your jumperoo and go to sleep in it often, you just wear yourself out in it.  You love time sitting on the floor playing with anything that makes noise.  You sit and clap and move around when you hear music.   

You love to stand and hang on to the couch or ottoman and are getting VERY strong. You still haven't crawled although you will scoot backwards at times. 

You continue to amaze me and make my heart melt every single day.  You give wet kisses and hugs to me now and it's the best thing in the whole world.  I could listen to you laugh all day.  It's the sweetest sound ever.

Christmas was amazing!  You did so well all day with little sleep.  You are so laid back and good natured. You also shop and travel great too.  I'm teaching you early!

Your hair has gone from dark to falling out to growing back in and it's alot lighter.

You said "mama" tonight and your favorite word is "dada" still.

We love you so so so much sweet baby girl!

9 Months

Carly Kate you are 9 months old today!

Everyday you feel bigger to me and time is going by so so fast.  You are in 9 month clothes and size 2 diapers. You are teething, there are 2 coming in on the bottom and it's been a rough couple of days for you.  You've had a stuffy nose too and have done a lot of sleeping the past couple of days. 

Guess what?  You are in your crib now and doing great.  No more bassinet, only because you were getting to big for it and you could move it around, HA! 

  You are eating great and trying out meats. You hate peas or anything that has the taste of peas in it. You still love your Bouncy entertainer and we're trying out the walker, but you go backwards in it.  Your favorite cartoon is The Mickey Mouse Club, you ABSOLUTELY love it! You love music too. 

You have just started pulling up and standing when you're on someones lap.  You still haven't crawled and I'm wondering if you are going to skip that step.  Everytime you are on your belly, you either want to go to sleep or get mad about it.

Santas coming in 10 days!

Santa Visit

The visit was a success! No tears and you even grabbed his beard.

OHMYGOODNESSICOULDEATHERUP!;)

 

8 Months

Carly Kate you are 8 months old today! You are growing, Growing, GROWING! You are still in 6 month clothes but can fit into some 9 month. You are still in a size 2 diaper and you probably weigh around 16 pounds.  I am pretty sure you are teething, your gums are opening up and I've had to give you some Baby Orajel, which has helped.  You are still an easy going baby.  I wonder how we got so lucky:o)  You have for the most part out grown your swing.  It makes me a little sad......:(, no more lil baby. You LOVE your bouncy though!  I've got to get a good video of you in it, you just become camera shy when I get it out.  You love sitting in the floor playing with toys and you like simple things like tuperware bowls and cups.   You LOVE to be sang too. You have mastered fruit and we are on working on veggies now.  It's amazing how much more alert and awake you are, my little baby is now a big baby.  You are doing great in nursery on Sunday's.  It's me that has the problem, I have a hard time with leaving you, it gives me anxiety! 

We have a Big couple of months coming up with the holidays and a short out of town trip and then it will be time to plan your first birthday party!  I can't believe it.  I bet you guys will never guess the theme I have picked out:o)

Happy Halloween!

We went on a tour trick or treating with our lil pumpkin this year!  We went to see our neighbors then we went to

RoRo & PopPop's

Grandmama & Grandpapa's

 Uncle Russy & Aunt Angela's(Aunt A was at work:( )

Sweetest Pumpkin in the Patch!

7 Months

Carly Kate you are 7 months old today! You are sitting up all by yourself now.  You are the happiest little girl!  Yep, you are STILL in the bassinet beside of Mommy and Daddy's bed, you would think you would've out grown it by now, but there's still plenty of room in it.  Mommy read in the pediatricians office that the safest place for a baby til they are 1 is in the parents bedroom in their own bed. HA! So, that's my excuse;) I've been trying to get you on somewhat of a schedule these days. You are usually awake at 8 to have a bottle and take a nap around 9 for an hour or so. You are mastering fruits still for your snacks and so far so good.  I've got to get you used to your high chair because you are such a squirmer in it and sometimes refuse to eat in it.  You are all about play time.  You love sitting up and playing with toys that rattle or light up.  You will grab anything that is near you.  Christmas will be so much fun! You also have discovered my hair, which is lovely at times when you aren't trying to pull it out of my head. You usually take 2 more naps, one after lunch and then a short evening one before nite nite time around 9. This is my most favorite age thus far! Everyone says I will keep saying that as you continue to grow but I just think you are the most adorable, hugable, lovable little girl ever! I thank God every day for letting me be your Mommy!

Pumpkins with the Pumpkin

What a difference

a few months makes.

 Top: Carly at a few weeks. Below: Carly at 6 months

From 5 lbs to almost 15 lbs and sitting up on her own now.  She's growing sooo FAST! Before I know it she'll be 16 and hopefully, not giving me payback for me being a rotten teenager.

6 Month Pics

A few of my favorites!

A Blast from the Past

I wore this cute strawberry outfit when I was a baby.

Starting Solids

We tried rice in a bowl first and Carly didn't take to it the first time.

**I'm easing her into it. We've had bananas and apples. Apples are her favorite so far.  The pediatrician said one new food a week.

6 Months

Carly Kate you are 6 months old today! You have started to giggle and you love for me to sing and dance with you.  It melts my heart to see you smile. You are sleeping better through the night and you are STILL in the bassinet beside of Mommy and Daddy's bed....but this week all 3 of us got colds, your first one.  I felt so bad for you, but it looks like you are on the mend. I thought you would be sitting up by now on your own, but you are taking your time with it, we practice everyday and you are getting stronger and can sit like a frog by yourself.  We bought you a bouncy exersaucer and you are enjoying that, but you still love your swing and playmat.  You sit in your bumbo and LOVE to watch Baby Einsteen videos, it's so adorable.  You definately know what you want and aren't afraid to tell me.  If you don't want to be held that usually means to put you in your swing or to bed so you can nap.  You are in size 2 diapers and are wearing 6 month clothes.  I have decided I want to be a baby again, a NEW wardrobe every 3 months is so nice.  It's so much fun getting to dress you up...even if your Daddy doesn't like your hairbows.  We are getting out and about a lot more.  The weather is definately better and fall is coming, YAY!!!   With the holidays just around the corner, I'm getting more excited than ever because we get to spend it with you.  I love you sweet girl! 

Mommy Chronicles: Day 7

Happy Sunday!

We have been sleeping ALOT better(I'm knocking on wood, not to jinx it) the past few nights!  I wake up feeling rested instead of exhausted.  Our plan was to go to Sunday School and the Soma Service this morning, but that didn't happen.  Daddy was up ALL night at work and needed to come home and take a nap.  I needed his support in taking you to church and putting you in the nursery for the first time.  Yes, that's a BIG step for me.  You have been so healthy and I'm just afraid of throwing you in the mix with other kiddos in fear of catching something and I just don't like leaving you to be quite frank about it;).

Today we are going to see a friend of mine, at her housewarming party! I helped her to buy her townhome a few months ago, so it's going to be nice to go back and visit and see what all she has done with the place. 

This evening will be family time.  Looks like it is going to be a busy work week coming up.  Real estate has it's ups and downs, best way to explain is like a roller coaster!  It can be SUPER crazy busy, then there can be NOTHING going on. 

Mommy Chronicles: Day 6

Happy LAZY Saturday!

We have done absolutely NOTHING today!  Carly took many a nap and I did some laundry. That about sums up our day and Grandmama and Grandpapa came by for a visit in the evening.

Carly has all the men in her life wrapped around her little finger!!!



Mommy Chronicles: Day 5

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!

We all slept in til 9 this morning.  I couldn't believe it!  You only woke up once for your paci last night and this morning you woke up around 7:30 but went back to sleep after a few minutes and it was soooo nice to get some extra shut eye!

We haven't done much today.  I've answered emails, done some laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, and taken out the trash.  But we have mainly cuddled and watched some DVR shows.  I love days like this!

We had steak and shrimp for dinner. Started a movie, but Carly wanted the attention, so we can always finish the movie tomorrow!

Your nite nite bottle with Daddy.  Notice your hands behind Carly's hands behind her head, this is the way she sleeps!