Our Sweet Baby Girl Turned 1

How did it happen?  How did we go from late night/early morning feedings, a cuddly newborn, formula bottles & swaddling to a baby who sleeps 12 hours straight (thank the lord), a squirmy very active toddler, whole milk bottles & sippy cups?  How did it go so fast?  Where did my baby go?  Becoming a mother has been the best thing that has ever happened in my life.  I could not imagine our lives without Reese in it.  She brings such joy and happiness to our family.  It has been so fun to watch her grow and learn new things.  I am both sad and excited for her to grow older. 

At 1 year-old Reese is very active.  She isn't walking yet but pulls up on everything, balances very well and has stood & taken a couple of steps unassisted.  She is very good at "walking" on her knees - she is pretty fast!  She also "wiggles" on command and when her music comes on!  She loves to eat cheese, bread w/ hummus, mandarin oranges, baby puffs, peas, yogurt (sometimes), pasta - pretty much anything we eat.  Even though she only has 2 bottom teeth (got them when she was 6 months old) she does pretty well gumming up food.  She loves to feed herself and will rarely let us get anywhere near her mouth with a spoon of fork.

She is very social and is her most happiest when everyone in the room is looking at her (I wonder where she gets that from!).  She plays very well independently and loves tupperware, her kitchen from Auntie Jenna & Uncle Curtie and her stuffed dog Violet.  

She loves the bath and loves to splash around.  She gets mad at us when we take her out.  She goes to bed very well.  She gets a bottle before going to sleep and sleeps with her seahorse from Grandma & Grandpa.  We try to read her books but the only thing she is interested in now is turning the pages and chewing on them!  

Reese loves to screach and yell and makes sounds like "Da-da", "Na-na" & "Ya-ya".  We are still working on the whole "Ma-ma" thing!  

I had so much fun planning, crafting and decorating for her birthday.  I really can't believe she is a year - I am in denial!  Enjoy the pics!  P.S. There are quite a few - like 50!

This was our dry run on the Saturday before the party (Reese's actual birthday) We thought it might go OK but it turned out she wasn't so much a fan of cupcakes, or the hat or who knows!

Still going good...

...and we lost her...

Went better in the highchair!

Look at my two toofers!!

Sweet baby girl

Decorations...

 

Uncle Curtie the Lion & Auntie Jenna the Monkey!

Birthday Girl!

Awww...Smooches from Auntie Tracy & Uncle Colin!  She is so loved!

Auntie's & Uncle's together!

Me and these "poof" balls had a love/hate relationship!

Her "smash" cake that didn't get smashed!

Ryder the Elephant & I!

The adults had to have a little bit of fun too!

Tracy & Samantha!

Jenna & Samantha.  Apparently Samantha was more social - I hardly got any pics of Taylor!

Erin & Justin!

See?!?!  Bear still gets some lovin'!!!

The Luptak's with the Birthday Girl!

The Fischer/Werchek clan!

The Gorsline's!

Not too excited about it!

Auntie MaryKay & Auntie Myriam!

Emily is trying to help Reese out!

These glasses were an absolute hit!  Reese will be a rockstar in the Dominican!  Thanks Auntie Myriam!

Putting the kitchen together!

Emily & Ryder - how cute is this?!?!

Emily, Bella & Ryder!

She can't even contain her happiness!

I want to party too!

This one just cracks me up!!!

The Matteucci's!

Thank you so much to everyone who came to celebrate Reese on her birthday and for all of the awesome gifts!  We are so blessed to have such great friends & family.  Reese had a great first birthday!

XOXO -