Audrey: 1 year old!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Audrey!

So exciting to have my little La La turn one!

Balloons in the bed .... A birthday tradition.

We went to a special music class at the library then later we had a family party at our house with grandparents and cousins.

I decided to have a taco bar and made chicken, beef and pulled pork. I had some fruits and veggies, chips and dip, home made salsa and lemonade. It was so fun to decorate the house with pink streamers and balloons to try and make the party festive. I know she doesn't appreciate it now, but hopefully someday she will look back at pictures and see that I truly wanted to make each of her birthdays special.

Ahhhhh the cake. It's from a wedding cake store. The same one I got Devon's last birthday cake from. They didn't do it exactly the way I asked .... WHY didn't they do the leaves in green? It would have looked so much better, but it tasted SOOOOOO good with white cake and Bavarian cream filling.

The "smash cake". They gave this to me for free. How nice was that?

All the little cousins came up to the high chair to help her blow out the candles. It was probably one of my favorite parts of the evening. They were all so excited and happy for her.

Very dainty at first. Just dipping her fingers into the frosting.

Bravely digging in.

Yummy. Taste it, Mom!

Almost done.

Oh, this is so fun! Right after my Mom took this picture I ran my fingers through my hair. Bath time!

Demolished. I seriously had to take it away from her or I have no doubt she would have licked the plate clean.

Audrey loves her Aunt Jane. Jane is so sweet and patient with little babies they can't help, but love her.

Audrey had a blast with Abuela pushing her around the house in this grocery cart.

Audrey is such a lucky girl to have such thoughtful family to shower her with gifts.

I gave Audrey a sock monkey that I named Lily and a Madame Alexander doll I named Claire.

She waved her hands at the sock monkey and kissed the baby.

My sweet husband selected this beautiful antique box and bracelet for Audrey after looking in several antique stores for the perfect gift. He did this with out any prompting from me and I was brought to tears when I opened it. Someday she will be able to look back on this birthday and know that her Daddy got her a gift that will last a lifetime.

Fascinated by her new bracelet.

Happy Birthday to my darling daughter!

Audrey hit a HUGE milestone this month .... her first word!!!
Mom.
Not Mama, Mommy or Ma.
Mom.
I think she said that because that's what Devon screams over and over and over at the top of his lungs first thing in the morning. So happy that her first word was ... me ;)
She has such a fun time swinging at the park with her brother. She loves to be pushed high and giggle and wiggle!

Pucker up!

"Do you love my bow? My Mom made it. She makes me wear one every day, but even though I don't like having my hair done I am getting used to it."

Audrey will stop crying for three things: 1) milk 2) food and 3) books. She LOVES to be read to. She will be in a screaming fit and fussing to avoid going to bed, but will stop crying almost instantly if I set her in my lap and read to her.

Audrey loves her brother and he loves her too, but we are definitely starting to deal with sharing .... or lack there of ;) As soon as Audrey picks up a toy, Devon decides that he has to have it. She used to just let him take it and she would pick something else, but every once in a while she "fights back" with a slap or a hair pull. He better enjoy this time right now because pretty soon she's gonna clobber him! ;)

I am not sure what she will end up with, but so far Audrey seems to be a "lefty" much to my Mom's dismay.

Audrey has taken a few official on-her-knees crawls, but mostly Army crawls. She is so fast and has a pretty unique way of getting some serious speed by pushing with her toes and slapping the ground with only one hand to pull herself forward.

At her last appointment Audrey was 60th% for weight, 70th% for head size and 90th% for height. She loves to eat blueberries, eggs, chicken, fish, yogurt and pretzels.