Our little lady is ONE!

Well, it's official. Aubrey is now one year old. Although it's a bittersweet milestone, she has had a big weekend experiencing lots of new things, which have been really fun to see, like facing forward in her car seat, trying whole milk, and eating her very first cupcake! Yum! It's been so fun to watch her give these "big girl" experiences a go. She accepts change well, and is enjoying herself tremendously.

Last night we had some family over to celebrate her big day with a ladybug themed party, and she had a blast! She opened her gifts like a pro (must've been watching sister closely last week), and devoured her first ever cupcake. As she ate it, she kept squealing with delight, smiling big, cakey smiles, and looking at us with wide eyes as if to say, "THIS is what you've been holding back!? How could you?"

We ended the night by sharing a slide show that Brian put together of photos from her first year. It was fun to look back, relive some moments, and celebrate what she (and we!) have accomplished in her first year.

Wearing her birthday cake hat from Auntie Beth and Uncle Tomas. (She loves hats!)

Riding on her Rock and Bounce pony from Mommy and Daddy.

"One cute birthday girl," (just like the shirt says)

Opening gifts with "help" from big sister. It was really difficult at times for Camryn to let Aubrey have the spotlight that she's so used to occupying.

I think I've got the hang of this!

The ladybug cake, and Aubrey's accompanying cupcake. (This photo was taken "pre-swipe," before Camryn's fingers took a trip through the cake's frosting, and her front teeth scraped the face off of a cupcake. Luckily I was able to repair the damage before the party began, and she "did her time" in time out like a real woman. Apparently the "crime" was worth the "time." :)

I'd like that one, please!

Hand it over, lady!

Squish...

Yummy!!!!!

Mommy's so proud of me!

Happy Birthday, sweet Ladybug! We love you!

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Dear Aubrey,
It is with a mixture of both pride and sadness that I write this letter to you. The past year has flown by in a blur. It seems like only yesterday that I was trying my best to "will" you not to be born until after your sister's third birthday had passed. Well, as usual, you cooperated, and allowed your sister to have her moment in the spotlight. You even allowed her a buffer of five days before officially arriving.

There are so many things I want to remember about you and your babyhood. Things that are a part of everyday life right now, but that someday will be precious nuggets of long forgotten memories. These are the things that I just don't want to forget...

You are (for the most part) easy going and laid back. You are happy to hug the sidelines and watch the action and drama unfold before you. You do not demand attention, but are happy to get it. You are easy to make smile, and your big sister can make you light up like no other. You adore her.

You can also get good and fired up when you feel like it. It takes an awful lot to upset you, but when you work yourself up, you make it known how mad you are. You flap your hands, turn red, and release an ear piercing shriek. We try not to laugh when it happens, because that just upsets you more, but sometimes we can't help ourselves. :) Either way, it's an attention grabber for sure!

You have a great sense of humor. You're a bit of a goofball, like your daddy. You enjoy playing peekaboo with your lovey, and you literally squeal with delight when you think something is funny. When you smile, you squint your eyes nearly closed, crinkle your nose up, and even produce some nasal sounds, as though you're laughing through your nose. It's hilarious.

Your tiny features make me melt. Your baby roundness has just a bit of delicacy to it. You have such long, thin fingers and toes. I envision someday that you'll play piano, or golf, or do something else equally as graceful. For now, you toddle around on little stick legs, and wave thin arms at us, all of which spring from your round little belly. You are an irresistible little string bean.

You have the best hair in town. You may in fact hold the record for the most (4!) haircuts before one's first birthday. You easily sport hair bows, rubber bands, pigtails and braids, all while the bald babies look on with envy. You also love hats. Especially baseball hats. Especially your Daddy's baseball hats, preferably worn backwards. :)

You love to dance, bounce, jiggle, and shake. If it involves flying through the air, you're all for it. You've got a bit of a daredevil streak, which quite honestly, I both fear and admire at the same time. There is no doubt that you get this trait from your father, and I desperately hope that you got a bit of my hesitancy as well to balance it out.

You smell good. No matter how grubby you get from rubbing dinner in your hair, or crawling around on the floor all day, I can still bury my nose in your neck and get a good whiff of sweet baby scent. It's an indescribable mixture of Johnson's baby wash, Dreft detergent, and good old fashioned baby smell. It's intoxicating, and I know that someday soon it will be gone.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not being able to spend the kind of time with you in your infancy that I did with Camryn. It has been a challenge to spread my attention equally between the two of you, but you don't seem to mind. As long as you get to tag along, you are just happy to enjoy the ride. Your easygoing nature is such a joy to experience.

You have so many quirks and traits that make you unique and special, and your Daddy, your sister and I love you so very much. You have completed our family, and I look forward happily to many years of watching you grow, learn and change before our very eyes. I have faith that you will make us all very proud.

So Happy Birthday, my sweet baby girl. I love you.
Love,
Mommy

Happy Birthday, Princess Camryn!

Wow. I can hardly believe it, but today Camryn turns 4! Can it be true? Can my first baby really be a "kid?" According to the calendar (and to her), the answer is YES!

Camryn is really into princesses right now, and insisted on having a princess birthday party. So yesterday, a few of her closest girlfriends came over to celebrate with a princess luncheon, complete with a pink castle cake and tiaras for all!

I'm pretty positive that Brian fought the urge to run more than once, but he stuck with us, and helped me decorate our house in all pink, serve pink parfaits and strawberry drinks, among other things, and entertain five giggling 3- and 4-year old princesses. Such fun!

Her Royal Highness checking out her princess hair and makeup

Camryn of course, wore her Cinderella "gown," and we even curled her hair and applied a little lip gloss...something Mom only lets her do on special days.

Baby princess, Aubrey got into the dress-up action too. They don't make princess gowns in size 12 mo, so a fluffy pink tutu just had to do! :)

Decorating tiaras and wands.

Lunch with the ladies

A little princess attitude...

Such good princess manners!

We ended the afternoon with the piece de resistance, a giant, pink castle-shaped cake. (I am NOT a cake decorator, and was quite proud of creation!) Chocolate cake with cherry frosting, yum! Camryn loved it too, which of course was most important!

Blowing out her candles...

Happy Birthday, Princess Camryn! You are so loved by your mommy, the Queen, your daddy, the King, and your little sister, Princess Aubrey, as well as the rest of the kingdom. May your fifth year be perfectly, royally, pinkalicious!

Busy weekend

We were busy this weekend trying to get last minute details pulled together for the girls' birthday parties, which are both taking place in the next two weeks, among LOTS of other things.

The girls had some Grandma and Grandpa time at the park while Mom and Dad had their tax appointment, and hit Toys R Us, sans kids. Aubrey rode in the "big kid" swing!

Camryn was happy to be out of the house and running free!


Whatcha doin' Grandpa?We also did some baking, and Camryn prepared her valentines for her friends at school. She did ALL of the writing this year, carefully spelling out each friend's name, and signing her own.

Sunday afternoon, when our pace finally slowed, the girls played dress up together. Very fun, and I'm exhausted!

Premeditation

Camryn: Mommy? What colors are valentine colors? (Disclaimer: She knows very well what colors are "valentine colors.")

Me: Let's see...red, pink, white, and sometimes even purple.

Camryn: (Gasp!) Did you know that we still have some candy canes left from Christmas? They're red and white! I know! Why don't we eat them since they are valentine colors, and it's almost Valentine's Day!?!?

Me: Nice try.

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuug!

Aubrey's latest skill is giving hugs. This is by far one of my favorite baby skills of late. Not just because it's super cute and cuddly, but because it's something that she initiates on her own to show us some love.

Several times a day, she will crawl onto me (if I am at her level), or saddle up beside my leg (if I'm not), and lean her whole self into me. As she does this, she turns her head to the side and says, "Huuuuuuu." No 'g' needed, I guess. We all know what she is saying and doing, and it's absolutely irresistable!

Where does she come up with this stuff?

Last night, as I tucked Camryn into bed and snuggled with her for a few minutes, she struck up a conversation with me out of the blue. It went something like this...

Mama, how did we get this house?

Well, your Daddy and I pay a little bit at a time so that we can live here.

So, you pay for it, and we called the builders, and they 'build, build, build' (insert hand gestures here), and then we got it?

Well, no. The house was already here, and Daddy and I kind of liked it, so we paid some money. Now every time we get paid at work, we pay a little more money for the house too...a little bit at a time.

Why?

Because houses are very expensive and so you have to pay for them a little bit at a time, instead of all at once.

(Silence. Wheels turning. Processing.)

But, I could help. I have money in my piggy bank!

You don't have to do that, sweetie. Mommy and Daddy have it under control.

But I could!

Yes, you could. But wouldn't it be more fun to spend your money on something else?

I don't know. Maybe.