Annabel's Birthday Party

We celebrated Annabel's birthday with family & friends on Saturday.  I went with a primary color balloon theme.  I found her party dress when she was only about 3 months old.  I based the whole theme off the dress because I loved the dress so much.

We had these pictures taken in August...

Along with a few others that just turned out perfectly.  Thank you, Bethany!  

We used this one for the invitations...

Now on to party details.

I re-painted the banner I used for Adeline's 1st birthday.

Eats, drinks, & treats...

Pretty flowers & balloons...

Fun stuff for the kids I borrowed from my former boss.

Party Guests...

 

 Tater Tot & Straw-Barry

 Uncle Emil & Aunt KiKi

Cousins Amanda & Isaac 

 Tiny & Big T

Adeline and the Milbrodts: Ava, Landon, & Mark (Abby avoided pictures)

Silly Girls 

 Aunt KiKi & our new baby girl cousin due in January

 Uncles Shane & Emil

Cousin Murry 

 Westin

Nana & Tiny (Pappy was there too, but I didn't get any pictures)

Time for cake...

She was not really into it that much.  She just took a few little licks from her fingers.  

Now on to presents...

She liked the packaging and watching her big sister open presents more than she liked opening them.  She got so many great things.  What a blessed, loved, little girl!

 And he gets aggravated when Adeline won't smile for pictures!

What a great time we had celebrating Annabel's first year with family & friends.  Thank you all so much!

Annabel's Stats & Adeline's Update

My friend Ashley called me this morning and asked what we were doing today.  I told her we were taking Annabel to her one year well-child visit.  She said, "My gosh you're always going to the doctor!"  That is the truth!  I feel like we're close friends with our doctors after this summer.  I told Ashley I don't even want to know the grand total on what we've spent at the doctor since May.  Anyway, it is what it is and I'm thankful for these minor medical expenses in comparison to what a lot of people experience.

That being said, Annabel went in for her one year appointment today.  The doctor told me what I already knew...she's perfect.  :)

She's a little thing, with a big head.  Hah!

• Head Circumference: 18.5" - 95%
• Height: 29.75" - 75%
• Weight: 18lb 1oz - 10%

I'm not sure if I agree with their scales.  I find it hard to believe that she hasn't gained any weight since her last appointment with the way she's been eating.  I mean she's been putting away the groceries!  I think she eats more than Adeline on average at every meal.  Anyway, the doctor wasn't concerned but she did tell me to start trying to get her to drink 16 ounces of whole milk per day.

What she's doing these days:

• Nursing twice a day (1pm & nighttime)
• Size 3 diapers
• 12 month clothes
• Size 3-4 shoe
• Crawling everywhere
• Climbing on everything
• She's started taking 3-4 steps at a time.  She'll pull up to stand then let go & try to walk.  It'll be soon now.
• She has about 5-10 words.  I know that seems crazy, but her speech has really been ahead of what Adeline's ever was at this age.  I'll try to list them all...
• Momma
• Daddy
• Bye bye
• Ada (Adeline)
• Nana
• Night Night
• More
• Ball
• Various animal sounds
• She tries to mimic everything we say or every noise we make.  I've heard her repeat "thank you" & "breakfast" - no lie, I had witnesses :)
• She eats pretty much everything we eat, which is so nice!
• Her favorites are cheese, crackers, ice cream, & pasta (a girl after my own heart!)
• She thinks she's as big as Adeline & wants to do everything she does.

Now on to Adeline's update.  All the preliminary tests are pointing to it just being a virus this time.  Still no explanation on why she's been so sick so much this summer.  I think this virus must have been a bad one because Annabel & my mom both had it as well.  We will know more next week.  Please just continue to pray that she doesn't run a fever again for a long time.  If she keeps spiking a fever every three weeks or so like she has been, then we'll have to start doing weekly blood draws for the infectious disease doctors in Little Rock.  I really really really do NOT want to have to do that.  I think each of her four blood draws this summer has taken about 10 years off my life!

So now I have two, healthy, happy babies that could stand to gain a few pounds.  I can live with that!  Thank you God for these two beautiful blessings!

Annabel's First Birthday

My baby turned a year old today!  It's hard for me to type that without crying.  This year has FLOWN by.  Last September 19 was a wonderful day in that our precious Annabel came in to our lives, but it was so very stressful.  I'm so glad today was all happiness.

I walked into her room when she woke up singing Happy Birthday.

Then I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

Big sister enjoyed them too!

After breakfast, it was time to get dressed & head to the library for story time.

Thank you, Tiny for the precious birthday outfit! 

Then we met Shannon, Westin, & Reagan at Gulley Park for a picnic lunch.

Adeline & Westin spent almost the whole time in the sandbox.

While the girls napped, I baked cupcakes.

Then it was time for Daddy to come home and open presents!  Annabel was so thoughtful and got her big sister something to open, too so she wouldn't feel left out.

I think she likes it.

While I cooked dinner, Annabel decided it was time she learned how to crawl up in the stool at the kitchen counter to see what was going on.  

Then it was time for one of her favorites...pasta!

And her very first cupcake!  As soon as we lit the candle Adeline started singing.  I think Annabel liked us singing to her.

Adeline and I had to rush off to AWANA right after dinner, but Annabel got to spend some quality one-on-one time with Daddy.

When I got home, she was already in bed, but I snuck in and sang to her one more time.  

I hope you had a wonderful first birthday, sweet baby girl.  Mommy & Daddy love you more than you will ever understand (until you have kids of your own someday).  Our world is a brighter, happier place with you in it.  Thank you, God for choosing us to be Annabel Brynn's parents!