Winter ONEderland



How is my baby girl turning one already? Technically she isn't one yet, but we celebrated with family and friends this past Saturday.  Of course I went a little overboard for her party, but she's my girl, what do you expect? :)

 

Thanks to Pinterest I got lots of great ideas.  Sadly our ONEderland took place in 80 degree weather, but I think everyone had a blast none the less.  We are so blessed by having so many wonderful friends and family willing to come and help us celebrate our precious girl.

 

Here is Kate's high chair.  The cupcake was enormous!!

 I made a K to hang on the front door.

 I hung cake smash pictures on the wall in our dining room.  This is where the cupcakes were and where cake ate her cake.

 I love how the mesh garland turned out.  I'm keeping it for future baby showers.

 I found the white snowflakes at Hobby Lobby and may have returned them this morning. :)

 My friend, Jessie, made these unbelievable cookies that we used as the cupcake toppers.  Not only were the adorable, they were delicious too!!

 We served hot chocolate, chocolate milk and pink lemonade for our guests.

 Each kiddo got a coffee mug as a favor and to use at the party to drink their cocoa.

 The table full of pink food.

 Poor Garrett had to hang all of these lanterns.  I don't think he was too happy with me for making him do it.

 And finally, here is the birthday girl!  My little snowflake.

 We rented a big jump house for all of the kiddos.  We also set up our small jump house for the little ones.  The kids also played on the swing set and trampoline.  They loved it all and I was so relieved that they all played outside and not in my house. :)

 Kate loved the attention while everyone sang to her.

 Baby girl attacked her cake like no baby I've ever seen.  It was constant laughter of everyone watching her.  It was such a great moment.

 All done!!!!

 Once all of our guests left the grandparents hung around to watch us open presents.  Blake and Jack were great helpers along with our friends Macie and Lexi.

 

I cannot express how much it meant for everyone to come and celebrate our girl.  This year has been the fastest one yet.  I just pray that time starts to slow down just a little bit.



Santa

 Last weekend our neighborhood hosted Breakfast with Santa.  I love that our neighborhood does family events like this that are so focused on the kiddos.  The boys were so excited to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted.  Blake has cried the past two years and he was trying really hard not to cry this time.  He did so well.  His sister, on the other hand, wasn't a fan.

 After leaving our breakfast, we headed up to church for a kids' event hosted by our Sunday School leaders.  The kids had such a great time running around, doing crafts, listening to a story and decorating cupcakes. 

Here are all the kiddos listening to Gary read the Night Before Christmas.

 Kate had a blast crawling all over the place.

 Gary reading to the kids.

 Jack loved his cupcake that he decorated.

 Blake loved his too.

 Is their a cuter way to exit a room?!

 

Thank you so much Gary and Tami for helping our kids form wonderful Christmas memories!!!



11 months

I am just getting further and further behind with this blog.  It is a daunting task thinking about trying to catch up.

Almost a month ago, Kate turned 11 months old. :)

Kate,
You are getting more and more fun the older you get.  Your sweet personality is really starting to show.  You are still just as happy as always.  When taking your brothers to school, I have you in a stroller, and people are constantly commenting on how happy you are.  You smile at every person as they pass us by.

You are getting so big and wearing some 12 month clothes and some 18 month.  Our goal is to give up formula this month and start you on whole milk.  Fingers crossed it goes well.  You are doing so well pushing toys and standing up on your own for really long periods of time.  I think you will be walking really soon.

The love for your brothers is still strong.  They are getting frustrated with you when you get their toys but they still love you so much.  It makes this Momma's heart happy.   

 

We love you so much baby girl and can't wait to celebrate your first year with all of our family and friends!!

10 months



My precious baby girl isn't very much of a baby anymore.  She is now into double digits...10 months old!!  I am so crazy about this little girl that I can't find the words to describe my love for her. 

 

Kate,

You are still the happiest baby I have ever met.  I have many friends who have told me that they have never seen you throw a fit or even cry, you are always smiling or laughing.  I also get stopped by complete strangers constantly telling me how beautiful you are.  How you are the prettiest baby they have ever seen.  And how I need to get you into modeling.  Do I smell college tuition?!

 

You still absolutely adore your brothers.  No one can make you smile or laugh like they can.  Now, they still adore you but the fact that you can now get their toys makes them unhappy at times.  You are also crazy about your daddy.  You get the biggest grin on your face when he gets home in the evenings.  It is so cute.

 

You are crawling everywhere and even tyring to get up the stairs.  I see a baby gate in our near future.  You are also standing unassisted for a few seconds at a time and walking behind push toys.  Kate, Please. Stop. Growing. Up!!!!

 

You are still in size 4 diapers and in 12 month or 18 months clothes, depending on the brand.  You are eating everything in sight.  It doesn't matter what it is you will eat it.  Life is so easy now that I can pretty much give you the same thing I give your brothers.  I still give you baby food though but that will end in a month or so.  Bottles will also end in about a month in a half!!!!!  Your daddy and I are so excited about this.  However, it does mean that you are growing up and that makes us so sad.

 

I am also starting to work on your first birthday party already.  I know what I'm going to do now I just have to make it happen.  I can't wait to celebrate my precious girl's big day. 

 

Taking this picture has gotten very difficult now that you are very mobile.

 

When Garrett is home for bath time, one of us will bathe the boys upstairs and one of us will get some one on one time with Kate.  This is one of my favorite times of the day. 

 Look who found her brothers' shoes on the stairs. 

 I caught this really sweet moment between daddy and daughter the other day.  They love each other so much!!!

We love you baby girl and you have been the perfect completion to our family!!

1st trip to the dentist



Well, it isn't completely true that this is our first trip to the dentist.  Remember the little incident when Blake fell out of his crib and busted out his bottom tooth?  Technically that was our first trip to the dentist.  But, this was our first real trip for an actual cleaning.

 

 

Our pediatric dentist is A-MAZING!!! Her name is Dr. Jessica Kacher and has a practice in The Woodlands.  She was so wonderful with the boys and the boys did great.  Not a single issue getting them to do as they were told.  I was very proud of them.

 

Here is Blake with his 'cool' glasses on waiting to have his teeth cleaned.



 He did so great and was so still. 

 Jack was just cool period.  Glasses and pose.  :)

 He did so great also.  Neither one fought Dr. Kacher at all.

 And what was Kate doing during this visit you ask?  Just lookin' cute as ever of course!!