at 12 months:

This is a little update mostly for family that doesn't get to see what she's doing daily.
Rylee at 12 months:

She has 4 teeth (two top/two bottom)
We're getting rid of the bink. It takes her a few more minutes to fall asleep and she kindof chews her blanket but other than that, she's adjusted pretty good.
Takes 2 naps and sleeps about 12ish hrs at night.
She is often found carrying toys or shoes around the house:She'll move her legs faster atemping to 'run' when I 'chase' her
She's still sporting the mullet. I'm dying to get some longer hair on that head and made my first attempt at pigtails:

she gets excited for baths and goes strait to the tub when the water is running. Although, she doesn't care much for bubble baths:

She's a pretty good eater her favorites are alfredo/wheat noodles (seriously 3 helpings!), fish, and limes :)

not so favorite: chicken

she's starting to 'sortof' use a spoon.

when its quiet and I haven't seen her roaming around - 99% of the time she's in her room at the book shelf . After all the books are on the ground she "reads" them. Brown Bear, Brown Bear is still her favorite.

she doesn't really like being on the grass, but if we stick her in the swing or her stroller she'll chill outside while we work in the yard.

Her favorite toys are stuffed animals, books, and our cell phones.

She's banned from the kitchen while we load/unload the dishwasher.

She gives the sweetest kisses (open mouth or she'll turn her face so you'll kiss her cheek)

She's starting to give real hugs and wrap her hands around our neck

She'll throw a little tantrum and refuse to stand up when she wants you to carry her.

She has the funniest gruntish giggle - (think bevus and butthead) she makes this sound about 100 times a day.

She's only had ONE sick baby appointment and it was for allergies!! (the Dr couldn't believe that after being congested for a week she didn't even have an ear infection!)

She could play peek-a-boo for hours

She loves to twirl around and dance with you.

That pretty much sums her up! We just love her to pieces!

numero dos

We thought it was a little selfish to celebrate Rylee's birthday alone so we had a few friends over to grill on Saturday. It was pretty low-key and I (like many others) can openly admit that "1st" birthday parties are more for the Mother than anyone else. It was fun to get together, decorate and marvel at the fact that we kept our little cutie alive for a whole year!! The Banner:

The tissue paper pom-poms:


the photo time-line garland:

It was fun for us to see how much she's changed in a short time - and remember funny things she did {namely how much she's thinned, and how she slept with her hands covering her eyes}

I was a little bummed at the wind speed on Saturday. We'd planned to be outside {imagine lots more pom-poms hanging from the trees and the banner and photos drapped on the fence} alas all was well.

I will say that the decor was planned to be re-used and/or moved to Rylee's room.

{I'll hang the pom poms above the rocking chair and change out pics of cousins etc hanging on the garland}

AND, butterfly cupcakes: a miniature/crowd version of her other cake.

We had a great time, chowing, chatting and chilling.

All in all there was a party but we left out the elephant rides - there's always next year.

her big day

Rylee in her 'photo-appropriate' Birthday suit!

{I chose this picture because you can really see her top teeth. I like to call them 'daggers'}

When she first woke up we showed her the Birthday banner I made. She thought it was pretty cool. The rest of the day was just like any other. . . . . . until Daddy came home!!! We had a special dinner of fish and sweet potatos.

{I've been trying to be brave and cook fish more - Rylee loves it!}

her cake:

She had a hard time getting past the frosting (it was cream cheese baby, can you blame her?) She gave Michael the stink eye when he poked and revealed the actual 'cake'.

Then she got real mad when he tried to give her part of the twinkie (the butterfly's body)

After we got all cleaned up it was present time.

She's one lucky little lady!

I'm probably most excited for the swing for the tree in our back yard.

We {SHE} is so loved!

Thank you everyone for being a part of our lives and making us feel special.

What the One?

Yep, its been an whol year! I can hardly believe it. Excuse me while I get a little sentimental.

(I'll spare you her "first" photo . . . I think its cool but others may not want to see my internal organs)

Rylee has been such a joy to have in our lives and in our family. Being a parent is both harder and easier than I imagined it would be. She holds our world in her finger tips. You know the phrase if Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy? I'd say its the oppossite. Her smiles and giggles are nothing if not contagious. Its been one wild ride watching her grow in just this short year. We couldn't feel more lucky to have her.

We love you Rylee! Thanks for making our life wonderful.

Happy Birthday!