The Party!

Bethie did not have the best time at her party, unfortunately. She wouldn't nap during the morning, and so by the time 2:00 rolled around, she was worn out and cranky. The people, the gifts, and the excitement were too much for her, and even the cake quickly lost its charm. I am trying not to be too disappointed, but it wasn't the party for which I had hoped. Still, my baby is a year old, and we did have a party! Happy birthday, Sweetheart! Mama and Daddy love you so, so much!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth Aurora Rose!

Today is my baby's birthday, and she is officially a toddler. I am armed with waterproof makeup and plenty of tissues, but we're going to have a great day. Her party is in a couple of hours, and we are lucky enough to be having my sister and brother-in-law coming in for the week. I will post pictures and videos as soon as I can, and in the meantime, I will try not to dwell on the fact that my baby has grown up so quickly. She is such a fun, cheerful little girl, and each day is a brilliant new adventure for which I am grateful. Happy birthday, my sweet angel!

Missing My Birdie!

I've been sick all week with a raging sinus infection that affected my asthma, so Bethie has had to go to daycare while I recuperate. I haven't had the breath or the energy to keep up with her, and I have missed her so much! What did I do with myself before we had her? I know I read a lot and played computer games, and it is amazing how those things do not hold my attention anymore.

I am hoping to be back to normal by Monday, if I can get the asthma under control. Until then, Daddy does all the leg work, and Mama gets all the cuddling! We did have a bath last night - something Bethie and I both love - so here are a couple of pictures of my little mermaid.

Naked Baby Dance!

This is Bethie's favorite getting-dressed-and-undressed game! Normally she dances a lot more, but this time she was sidetracked by the camera. Now, whenever I say "Uh-oh . . ." she starts smiling and clapping. Such a sweetheart!

A Moment to Reflect

Bethie will be a year old one month and one day from today. This has been the most challenging, rewarding, and wonderful year of our lives, and one for which I am utterly grateful. Bethie is a cheerful, social little girl who smiles and talks to everyone who will look at her. She is easy to take care of, easy to handle, and easy to love. Jeff and I have been so blessed, but sometimes I get so caught up in schedules and routines and wondering whether she's eating enough or sleeping enough or if she's on target with other kids her age, and I forget to be grateful. I forget to stop and really look at this precious little angel, and I forget how difficult it was to get her, and how I was sure Jeff and I would be childless forever.

Our condo is small and she sleeps in the dining room, but because she is so curious about everything around her, she can no longer sleep in her crib if Jeff and I are awake, no matter how quiet we are. So, she and I lay in our bed til she falls asleep, then I surround her with pillows, make sure I can see her on the monitor, and go on about my day. We do this the same way every day, at every nap time. After all, I can tell you first hand what happens to my happy, cheerful little imp when she gets overly tired, and it isn't a whole lot of fun. We were taking our nap today, and as usual, I was laying next to Bethie pretending to sleep so that she would follow suit. Instead of sleeping, she wanted to poke my eyes. I moved her hands away a few times, and then I happened to look at her. She was smiling as she poked me, and it hit me all at once just how blessed we are, and what a miracle she is. Instead of napping, I pretended to eat her fingers and kissed her neck til she giggled so hard she couldn't breathe. I traced her cheeks and her nose, and looked into those big, blue eyes. I kissed every inch of her face til she giggled some more, and then we got up to play. I thank God so much for that small reminder of how blessed I am, and even when we are awake at some late hour with a cranky, tired, almost-one-year-old, I will thank God for every second I have with her.

Bethie, Playing

Bethie is so funny when she plays by herself, which she so often does! I am glad she's such an independent little thing, but I didn't expect to be expendable so soon. The videos on this site have been working intermittently, so if you can't see this one, try again later. Hopefully, they will all work again before too long.

Playing

Bethie got a ball popper for Christmas, and it is one of her favorite toys: