Twelve Months Old!!!

Twelve Months Old - May 23, 2011


Yesterday my baby turned twelve months old...excuse me, one year old!! And I guess I should say toddler rather than baby! We had her birthday party on Sunday (post coming soon) and we had a special dinner last night to celebrate just the three of us. Caroline has been busy growing and learning!! She waves, claps, says "bye bye" sometimes, walks (most of the time, she still crawls when she wants to go fast), dances to music and feeds herself. She's starting to copy us - if we say something several times she'll try to say it or if we pat our head she'll try to do that too. She'll aim the remote at the TV and gets excited when she changes the channel. You can see lightbulb go off sometimes when she figures something out. She would rather be outside than anywhere else and she'll throw a little fit when we have to come inside. She's wearing size 12/12-18 month clothes and is still in a size 3 diaper, although we may be moving up a size in that soon! She's using mostly sippy cups, but will still have a bottle now and then. She's having whole milk most of the time, but I'm still giving her some toddler formula (when we're out so I don't have to carry milk around to get hot). We don't have her doctors appointment until Wednesday so we'll know her stats then.

Happy 12 months Caroline! I hope you had a wonderful year - I know I sure did. You are the sweetest, cutest, smartest little girl that I have ever known and I am so glad that you are mine. Love, Mommy

Happy Birthday Caroline!!!

Precious Caroline,

I cannot believe that I am sitting here writing to you on your first birthday! It feels like just yesterday that we were telling friends and family that we were expecting a baby. It also feels like you've been a part of our lives forever. I feel so incredibly blessed to have such a happy and healthy beautiful little girl. I thank God every day for chosing me to be your mommy.

The day has been filled with "this time last year..." stories. You woke up at 3:00 this morning - coincidentally about the same time my water broke last year. Although I normally love my sleep, I was so happy to have that sweet time with you this morning. Before you were born, Daddy and I had to go to the MEU three times. The last couple months before you came were difficult for me. On my forth visit to the hospital, the nurse said to me, "You are going to have a baby today! You'll be holding her in no time!" I was so excited - this was finally the day that I would meet my little girl. No more trips to the hospital where I came home empty handed. When I woke up this morning, I had that same excited feeling. I couldn't wait for you to wake up so I could hold you. (I may have helped in the waking up process...)

I've been excited about today but also a little sad. You are officially a toddler. Your infancy is gone. While you will always be my baby, to the rest of world you are not a baby anymore. You have grown and learned so much this past year and I am so proud of you. I couldn't be more in love with the baby you "were" and the toddler you are. The time we spend with you is the highlight of the day for Daddy and me. We love you so much!! Happy 1st Birthday!

Love, Mommy

My Two Girls

I am so lucky that my two girls get along so well. I didn't think that Daisy would really like a little sibling but I have been pleasantly surprised this past year.





Daisy has always seemed to love C.




Caroline's first word was "Day Day" and Daisy is the only "person" who gets a kiss every time she sees her. Is it any wonder why we're having a puppy dog party for Caroline??

Mother's Day

Last Sunday I celebrated my first Mother's Day!! It was such a wonderful day. I got to spend it with my two favorite people and my favorite dog (and my favorite in laws for part of it!). I got several sweet cards and some great presents (I got to go shopping for new clothes, jewelry, and makeup). Since Adam didn't have a lot of work to do, I decided that I just wanted to do something fun with Caroline so we went to the zoo. I've taken Caroline several times, but Adam has never been with her. It was a perfect day to be outside. Caroline had a great time. She did not have one single melt down! After the zoo, Adam's parents went home and the three of us went for pizza and frozen yogurt. It was exactly how I wanted to spend the day!









I have more fun zoo pictures but they are on another camera so once I upload those I will post more!

Water Babies

This past Saturday, Caroline had her first Water Babies swim class!! I had been looking for a place that did baby swim lessons since she was only a few months old, so when I found out that Brookwood had them I was so excited. She wasn't too happy to get into the water at first but then she started having a great time. I think that the "lesson" went very well and I am looking forward to next week!

Getting ready to go


She wanted the hat to stay home


Unsure about the water


Nope, not going to work


Okay I'll give it a try


Not so bad


It's fun!


I'm okay now Daddy

Play Date

Last week Caroline had a fun play date with Sydney and Robert. It was beautiful outside so we took advantage of the weather and played outside for a while. I love getting these kiddos together. They always have such a fun time! Look at this cute little pair - they share the same birthday!!


Sydney was eating lunch so they decided to take over her wagon...

Almost Mother's Day!!

This weekend is Mother's Day - my first "real" Mother's Day. Last year my sweet Adam packed a beautiful picnic lunch and gave me the diaper bag that I had been eying for several months. He was so sweet to treat me like a mom that day. This year I actually feel like a mom (duh Emily, she's almost a year old...) and I am so excited about Mother's Day. I don't really care about presents or breakfast in bed or anything else, I'm just excited about getting to celebrate something new. I love being a mother. It's without a doubt the best thing that I have ever done. Even with all the frustrations and diaper blow outs and temper tantrums, I still love every second. Thank you my dear Caroline for making me a mother and giving one more day of the year to celebrate!!


Caroline on my first full day of motherhood.