First Birthday Girl

 The day came. My girl turned one.

We had a great month spending time as a family and enjoying the last bit of baby-hood left in our now-toddler.

We hit some major milestones and are in continued awe of how wonderful this little person is.
Its incredible to think that she is ours and we get to help shape her little (big!) personality.

Evelyn started walking on July 11th. It was just a regular day and she just decided to start walking for some toys. We figured she would have to be distracted to actually start walking, and thats exactly what happened. She was trying really hard to get that toy and she took her first steps toward that toy. She was determined and since then, each day she gets faster and faster. She is trying to run these past few days, but she ends up falling down and looses her coordination. 

I'm not complaining. 

We celebrated Evelyn's birthday with our friends and family a few weeks early due to Jordan's schedule. We had so much help from Jordan's high school friends to set up that morning, and they were lifesavers. The day was perfect. We rented a pavilion at a local park on a lake and it was gorgeous! I decorated with pinwheels and they were spinning in the wind, and the older kids loved it. 

Evelyn loved her cupcake! 

Evelyn continues to make us laugh. 

She is giggling so much, and usually about random things. 

She thinks she's real big and has the sass to go along with that. 

We took her to the zoo for the first time this month, she loved the animals! 

 Her personality continues to surprise us everyday with her laughs and silliness. She loves playing peek-a-boo and is starting to explore her world more.

She seems to have a way with people and make everybody around her smile.

She is still snuggly and gives nice, big hugs.

She loves her bath time and anytime she can be in the water. She got a water table for her birthday, which I'm sure may be her favorite toy on hot summer days!

We can't be more proud of our little girl and all the amazing things she is capable of already. 

She can say: daddy, kitty, doggy, hi, uh-oh, yeah & mama (finally!) 

She is the light of our life and we are so honored to be her parents! 

We made it through the first year of baby together! 

Can't wait to see what the next months & years have in store for us! 

The last night of baby

Today was the last day my baby with be a baby. 

Well at least technically.

As I was putting her down to bed, I couldn't help but be a little sad. 

My little baby is a little toddler now. 

Our life has been a little crazy lately with a lot of things happening. 

My family suffered a terrible loss when my cousin recently died leaving behind her 3 week old son. 

Needless to say, everything that has been happening has made this time with my baby even more important to me. I don't want to take for granted any thing or any time with my girl. 

Snuggling her to sleep tonight I don't ever want to forget these moments. 

The way her even, easy breaths rise and fall while she snuggles into my chest. 

She always lays her head right over my heart. 

I twirl her hair in my fingers. 

I rub her back. 

She wraps her legs around my waist and snuggles in even more. 

I just can't believe a year has already passed. 

A year ago tonight, I was trying to convince myself I wasn't in labor, 

and that she would never come on her own. 

A short 8 hours later, our girl made her appearance. 

I just can't believe a year has already passed. 

My girl will be one year old tomorrow.

And I can't quite decide if I should be happy or sad. 

For now I guess its bittersweet.