first birthday party!

after much planing, shopping, and prepping, hadley's birthday party was a huge success!

we had a great time celebrating this sweet milestone with family and friends.

out shopping for the party food at costco..

while shopping at party time i put hadley down in the party favor isle. out of all the little toys to chose from this is the one that caught her eye...

a rubber rat.

so many milestones in so little time

in the last week, hadley has...

turned one

cut her fifth tooth

had her 12 month well check.. 21pounds, 8 ounces and 28 inches!

started standing up with out assistance

dancing to any tune

pointing to head

drawing with chalk

eating more and more

tried whole cow's milk (not a fan yet)

favorite thing to do: walk around the house

hadley's first birthday

hadley and i had a great day together on her birthday. we had smoothies, took photos outside, read a lot of books, and waited and waited for daddy to come home.

once we had our little family together again, and exchanged our welcome home hugs and kisses, we headed out to taylors/gotts with my parents.

hadley is becoming more and more difficult to take out to dinner, so we figured this casual burger place would be perfect.. plus we love the food!

we all got burgers and fries, hadley enjoyed the sweet potato fries dipped in ranch dressing (i promise i feed her well-rounded meals on a regular basis)

next we wont to the oxbow market to pick up a treat from kara's cupcakes.

we chose a mini banana cream cupcake for hadley.

back home hadley opened a big gift bag full of presents from nana and grandpa.

the cupcake was not enjoyed as much as we had hoped, but maybe it is a good thing she isn't crazy about sweets just yet?

the next day we celebrated with chris' side of the family. gramma made a huge spread (hadley's favorite- broccoli!) and cupcakes! poppy and gramma got the most adorable wooden rocking chair for hadley- she loves it! meems got her a pretty dress with matching accessories!

happy birthday little girl! you are our whole world and we love you dearly!

xo mama and dada

one year ago from right now...

i never could have anticipated the amazing love, awe, wonder, and delight i would know in a few hours from this moment. i have spent today staring at my little one toddling around babbling to her dolly. i have hugged her longer, and talked to her more. time is going by so quickly and it is all a bittersweet reminder to cherish every precious moment.

i remember exactly how i felt walking through the hospital doors around 7:30pm on 2.8.10.

i remember the feeling, but not the pain.

i remember the excitement i felt while it seemed like the rest of the world was sleeping.

i remember the serious moments without the worry.

i remember seeing, holding, kissing hadley for the very first time.

i remember the love because i feel it every time i look at my family.

nine ten eleven

nine

ten
eleven

So much has happened in the last few months!

Hadley decided she likes food, only if she can feed herself.

Her favorites are:

Cheese, raspberries, yogurt, oatmeal, cheerios, salmon, broccoli, artichoke, crackers, pears, and bananas!

Hadley also started walking right at 10 months, but decided it wasn't really for her. She would take a few steps every once in a while if prompted, but just started really moving on thursday, february 3rd. I am so thankful because my back was beginning to hurt from "holding hands" all day.

Hadley is fluent in "mama" and "dada" but definitely prefers to say "dada".

"na" is another common word accompanied by a head shake.

Sleep is still pretty rough.. that is all I have to say about that.

Hadley blows kisses and waves.

She scrunches her nose when she smiles.

She acts like a girl.

Hadley knows she is cute.

Hadley gives the best kisses "mmmmuuuuaaaaaaaah"

She loves all animals, especially dogs.

Prudence is her best friend.

She prefers a nightly routine of dad time, dinner, bath, brush teeth, massage, books, prayers, milk, song, sleep... until she wakes up at midnight.

strange coincidence

never in my life have i been the guest of honor of a surprise party.

my twenty-fifth birthday was a big surprise!

I met the girls that morning for delicious breakfast at abc, went shopping with my mom, and got ready to go out to dinner with chris.

we arrived at rutherford grill and the hostess, who i know told me "oh your friends are outside" my first instinct was that my friends had all gone out to dinner without me on my birthday. thankfully, that was not the case. we laughed and enjoyed good company, ate delicious food, drank bubbles and wine, and i couldn't have asked for a better evening.

thank you to our friends!

"today is my birthday party! cupcakes, presents!"

happy second birthday to my beautiful cousin bella!

i love you!

♥ hadley

bella's birthday party was so cute- minnie mouse everything!