One Year Old = 12 months old!!!

Her actual birthday was on a Monday.  We played and cuddled lots!  She wore her pretty dress...even though we didn't go anywhere.  We did skype with Jon & April and Bebe & Gramps so they could sing Happy Birthday to her in person.  When daddy was home when she woke up from her afternoon nap, we went to get her up together and sang Happy Birthday to her (and we videoed it too).  So we hope to get her up singing Happy Birthday each year and make a homemade birthday hat every year for birthday traditions.  I'm sure we'll add more along the way!

We went to the doctor yesterday (Tuesday).  There wasn't much of a wait since it was before lunchtime when we were there.  It was different from previous visits because now she can walk, so she was all over the patient room...in nothing but her diaper.  The doctor said she looked great and was impressed by her motor skills and the number of words she was saying.  Including but not limited to approximations of: Daddy/Dada, Mommy/Mama, up, ball, bubble, baby, ooh wee, hop, barking (for dog), roaring (for tiger), moo (for cow), more, sshh (shoe), balloon, cheese, apple, hi, bye, and Papa.  She knows a lot of receptive words: dance, clap, belly, dog/puppy, milk, Mama and Daddy.  She LOVES to dance (just starting moving back and forth) to music and singing.  And our favorite time of day is after bath & milk when we all lay and play on the bed.  She's so cute how she's starting to flop around on the pillows...fun and sweet times!  She's still sleeping good, starting to do a little imaginary play (especially with her new tea set she got for her birthday), and she still loves most food and her milk.

And of course, her birthday always means that football season is just around the corner!  Yay!  War Eagle!  (and Roll Tide! for the rest of the family ;) ).

Centre Birthday Party and My Class Reunion

Okay, needless to say from this picture....she LOVED her cake, well, mainly the frog made of icing on top.  Which she ate all of!  Her party turned into kind of a big deal.  It was at Bebe and Gramps' house, with help from Gama and Papa.  Family and friends came...including grandparents, Great Aunt Jane, the Thrifts, the Mobleys, the Davis', and many more!  There were cupcakes, bubbles, food, presents, and fun!  Marlee was a good sport and wore her hat again (for a few minutes), sat with me for opening all her gifts, and picture taking until time to leave town.  She got some awesome gifts...including her first pair of chucks, some Bama stuff (of course), cool clothes, "I Can Do It Myself" book, books from my grandmother that she used to read to us when we were kids, cute bloomers, toys, other books, and checks.  Everyone was so generous!  And Bebe did a great job coming up with the decorations!

She was so sweet and clapped when all her presents were open and waved at everyone!  It was a little chaotic, so we didn't get as many family pics as we would have liked.  Glad this kind of event only happens once a year (until you have multiple kids, I guess)!

The day before was our 10 Year Class Reunion.  It started with Saturday in the Park and ended with dinner and hang time at Chattokee Lodge in Gaylesville.  We got lucky with good weather all day, even though it was a little warm.  Here she is with Harper Nowak (Ted & Kadie's beautiful daughter) at the park.  A few families showed up with their kids.  It was nice!  Hopefully more people can show up next time!

Here's my best friend growing up...Jennifer Derrick.  It was so nice to hang out with her again, meeting her son earlier and her fiance for dinner.  Holly Jo Flora graciously took a group picture of all the classmates and posted it on our Class Facebook page.  (Holly took 1 year old pics on Friday of Marlee at my parents' house...can't wait to see them!)  We had pork tenderloin, asian slaw, baked beans, rolls, and tea.  It was all really yummy, and BYOB...so it definitely got fun!  We even went to the Gridiron for an after party to hear Jason Cambron play...and you know Dave ended up playing the guitar and singing too.  ;)  It was so good to see and catch up with many!  I've decided we might have to have a casual 15 year one as well!  :)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE GIRL!!!

This was me in late July last year.  Marlee was coming soon...and arrived 2 weeks early.  I had beautiful maternity pictures taken by Holly Jo (she also took my wedding pictures & is taking Marlee's 1 year old pics on Friday).  My little girl is 1!!!!!!!  The celebration began on Saturday and continues into this coming weekend. 

And this was Marlee Jessamine Sanford on the day she came home from the hospital.  Born Sunday, August 22nd, 2010!  It feels like it was yesterday in some ways, but sometimes it feels like we've always known her.  We love you so much Marlee J!!! 

Our big, sweet, precious, smart, funny girl is 1 year old!  She is growing and learning so quickly now.  She is saying more sounds/words...and that finally includes "mama" on a consistent basis!  :)  She's still a good eater and good sleeper.  She is fully weaned off of breastfeeding and onto whole milk.  Some days she still naps 2 times, but some days it's just one big 3-4hr nap.  She is walking even more steps now.  And now dancing from side to side (sooo cute) and playing peek-a-boo (behind chairs, coffee table, blankets, etc...so cute also).  She LOVES music and books!  She is getting teeth #5 & 6 on each side of her top 2 teeth, so she's been a little snotty and whiney lately.  We go to the doctor next week for 1 year old check up, so I'll make sure everything is fine with her.  The family is gonna love spoiling her this weekend for more birthday celebrations!

The Birthday Celebration Begins....Marlee's Turning 1!

And so the fun begins!  After keeping Marlee out at Julie and Jade's house last night to celebrate Mallory's birthday til passed her bedtime, she slept til almost party time this morning.  Jade grilled burgers, Marlee played with toys and walked all over, and Brittnye came to hang out too.  It was fun...a separate celebration for the friend with the same birthday!  Since their birthdays are Monday...why not party all weekend?!

We had Marlee's party at our house at 10:30 this morning.  Some of our friends, neighbors, and friends with their kids came.  The theme was stripes and polka dots.  I made: a chocolate cake (which we gave a slice to Marlee to mash/eat), her party hat (which she wore some of the time), her pom pom banner which read "Marlee is 1!", chocolate treats (delicious pretzel, hershey, m&m combo), and rainbow fruit kabobs.  I got a small ice cream cake and soft sugar cookies w/ icing as well. 

The kids were huge fans of playing with toys and the balloons, eating ice cream cake, and getting their bubble favors.  Marlee seemed to like the chocolate cake, but wasn't so big on the being messy part.  ;)  She got some awesome presents: clothes, an activity table, books, stuffed animals, and a talking/singing dog Violet.  It was a lot of fun!!!!!  MJ loves bubbles and all her balloons too! 

Here is Dave with Bart and their girls!

The celebration continues next weekend in Centre with family!

Heavy Heart Despite a Renewed Soul

I was soooo thankful that my friends Mallory and Julie wanted to take me to the beach for a girls' trip around Marlee turning 1 to celebrate Mother's Day and being a mom for a year...we've almost made it! ;)  It did my soul good to take a break from the everyday of being a wife, mom, housekeeper, dog trainer, etc. to get away and just worry about myself for a few days.  It was a blast!  We laughed a lot, read a lot, ate a lot, had a few drinks, and had to endure some rain, but at least our last day was sunny the whole day! 

However, our last day I also received some heart-breaking news...Jon and April lost their baby.  I almost break into tears just thinking about it.  Dave told me over the phone that it happened Friday.  Jon and Dave's mom Beth was in town for the last few days of my mom keeping Marlee while I was gone.  Their whole family is devastated, understandably.  But even though Jon and April don't deserve to go through this, I know they can handle it.  It just wasn't the right time, and everything happens for a reason...but it's still hard to take.  Even though it hurts mentally, April is okay physically, so at least they can try again.  And I hope they do...they will be great parents!  Anyway, I haven't called them yet because I don't know what to say, and I don't want to drudge it up if they are in a good place when I call.  I can't wait to give them huge hugs next weekend in Centre!  I send them much love, peace, and comfort.

We are gearing up for Marlee turning 1 around here.  Throwing a small party with friends for her Saturday morning that should be fun!  Can't believe it's almost her birthday already!  She is so precious and such a joy!  Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel and experience this...especially Uncle Jon and Aunt Ape! 

Must log off before I start crying!

First Steps, First Cousins, Firsts, Firsts, Firsts...

We were hanging out at the house on Sunday since we got to stay in town this weekend.  After cooking a late breakfast, I began doing some cleaning while Marlee and Daddy played.  I've been cleaning and trying to finish up laundry getting ready to leave for a girls' trip to the beach.  {Side note: I'm gonna be away from Marlee from the first time for more than 12 hours...and it's for 5 days!!!!  Mallory & Julie invited me to the beach!  It'll probably be harder on me than her, but I will definitely enjoy my girl time away.  Gama came up for the week, Bebe is coming on Thursday, and I'll be back Sunday.  I hope everything goes okay (a little anxious)!  But I'm so excited!} Anyway, I come downstairs after vacuuming, and Dave said that Marlee keeps letting go of his hand to stand and looks like she wants to take a step.  We grab the yoga mat, set up the video camera, and have her try to walk back and forth between us.  And....she did!  We have almost 6 minutes of video, but Dave edited the best part of the video down to under 2 minutes (he even added sound effects).  Said video above!

And guess what?!  Marlee's first, first cousin (Charlie, not really, but that's what the name is until they know the name) is due March 24th!!!!!  Jon told us when he came to the beach with my family because April thought they might be, but they are almost 7 weeks along now.  And today is April's 30 birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT APRIL!  We are so excited that they are expecting!  Fun times ahead!  They will be awesome parents!

Marlee has had a lot of firsts in her short little life so far (rolling,sitting, foods, laughs, teeth, standing walking) , but there are lots of "firsts" on the horizon.  Tonight, I'm leaving Marlee for the first time, she'll have her 1st b'day party soon, and many more!  I love my family and friends so much, and I LOVE be a mommy.  Can't believe I've had this important job for almost 1 year already, but it feels like Marlee has been part of our lives all along.  Looking forward to the rest of the year!