AB's One Year Birthday Bash!

The Saturday before AB's birthday (and the Saturday before school started) we had Annabelle's 1st birthday party! Oh man, was Mommy ever glad for it to get here! I planned this party for three months, and what a relief to have it here! Not that I didn't enjoy every second of my sweet girl's day, but I tend to stress myself out over things like this. For those of you who know me, this shouldn't come as a shock at all! AB had a flip flop and sunglasses themed party. It was so much fun to plan. The colors were hot pink, neon orange and lime green. Everything revolved around these colors and it was very colorful and beachy at our house. Annabelle was all decked out in her birthday outfit. Here she is after getting dressed, lying down on the changing table. So much poof, all you can see is baby feet!
I spent the entire summer on this party, and the sunglasses banner was my biggest project (next to the DVD slide show). For every letter in "Happy Birthday" is a monthly picture in each one of the lenses in the sunglasses. I made them out of felt and it was so much fun!

The fabulous cake was made by the amazing Ronica Saygi. She teaches 3rd grade at my school, and I'm wondering how she doesn't go into business making cakes! She's so talented it's insane!!!

Another favorite project was the party favors. I ordered a bunch of cheap bubbles from Oriental Trading, took off their labels, found some beachy scrapbook paper, and covered the bottles with that. Then, I printed off labels that said, "Thanks for coming to my 1st birthday party. Love, Annabelle" with her picture and stuck the labels on around the bubbles. Then, as an extra treat, I wrapped a silly band around the top of the bubbles. That was a big hit, as you can imagine!

I wanted the mantle to feature sweet Annabelle's first birthday pics. Kelly took them in downtown McKinney and they turned out amazing! I framed several of my favorites and put them around the house!

Tah-Dah! I spent a couple of weeks making the tissue paper pom poms. I just focused on one size of pom poms, but really liked the burst of color they added to the room. Turned out to be yet another fun project.

One side of the table.

The other side of the table.

Miss Em all ready to par-tay!

Grammy and the birthday girl!

The kitchen table, with AB's smash cake as the centerpiece. Ronica made this, too!!!!

Kelly holding cousin Stetson

Two of my very favorite people, Andrea and Melissa.

Love this! This stunning young lady used to be little enough for me to babysitt her! I started babysitting her and her younger sister when she was eight and her sister was four! Now, she's old enough to babysitt my baby! Really??!? Where does all that time go?

AB saying "Hi" to her Nana.

Sweet Audrey - she was all about her Aunt Jen on this day! Love, love this girl!

Mommy and AB

Silly Daddy and Nick

Eating a quick lunch before cake

Time for presents! She got so many wonderful things! Everyone was so thoughtful and generous and did way more than they should have! AB loved everything she got!

Even Daddy loved the gifts! He modeled a couple of times!

Sweet Audrey just wanted to be in Aunt Jen's lap!

I don't know who's going to enjoy this one more. AB or Daddy!

My beautiful BFF (preggo with baby Harper - due in November!)

Next to Daddy and Granpa, Uncle Tony is AB's favorite guy! As soon as she saw him, she reached her arms up for him. So sweet!

Waiting for cake!

Mmmm....it was as good as it looked!

Sharing with Grandpa

Our favorite person in the whole world!! Miss Andrea - Annabelle's amazing babysitter! Of course, I think AB views going to Andrea's the same as going to a theme park or some fun place like that! You should hear this girl squeal every morning when she sees Andrea's house! She loves it there!

Daddy and Mommy with our big one year old!

AB and GG

Whew! Cousin Amanda finally made it!

Love my Audreys!!Big smiles for Grandpa!

AB and Auntie Julie!

AB and her BFF, Anna. These two are inseperable!

The day was actually a lot less stressful than I had anticipated. Everything flowed smoothly and there was a good amount of socializing, and a good amount of keeping things going so no one got bored. AB was in good spirits and was very go with the flow. It was very surreal celebrating my baby's one year birthday. One year sure does fly. I can remember her actual birthday so vividly and fondly. I love reliving those memories! Thank you to all of you who were a part of her special day, and to those who remembered me and kept me in your prayers on her actual birthday when I had to work. I can't very well take off the second day of Kindergarten, now can I? Oh well, we partied it up on Saturday and made a bunch of new and fun memories! Happy Birthday to my beautiful girl! Love you, Annabelle!

A Year Ago Today

A Year ago today, August 24, 2009, my world was forever changed into something so great - it's unexplainable. A year ago today, I became a mom. A year ago today, I learned how to love like I've never loved before. I learned about a love that gives a whole new meaning to the word, "unconditional." A year ago today, my precious Annabelle Noel Aldrich was born.

Happy birthday, Annabelle. You are the most special and wonderful thing that has ever happened to your Daddy and I. We love you way more than you'll ever know!

It's Been a Long Time Coming: "Uncle" Jonas' and "Aunt" Jill's Wedding

Saturday, we had the privilege of being a part of a very special day. Jonas and Jillian Palamino said, "I do" on August 14, 2010. I have to say, it was probably the sweetest wedding ceremony I've ever been to...and my ceremony was pretty sweet! They had the entire congregation come up and join them in prayer. People placed their hands on the couple and we all prayed over them. What an amazing way to start off their marriage. It was so precious, it brought tears to almost everyone's eyes, including the bride and groom. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the ceremony. I would peek up at the two of them during the prayer, and notice Jonas wiping tears from Jill's face...melted my heart. Austin was a groomsmen, and he looked so handsome! It was such a wonderful night!

Here is Austin, AB and the bride. I love how AB is looking at her. It starts here with little girls. This is where they want to be the "princess" someday. Can you imagine what AB was thinking as she saw this gorgeous girl in this gorgeous dress?

Before we left for the reception, Daddy had to get some AB sugars.

AB and her man (well, one of them). Dylan and his "Nanabelle," as he calls her. So precious!

Check out those eyes! Watch out ladies, AB has her dibs on him!

So sweet!

Austin and Jen - Take 1

Austin and Jen - Take 2...much better!

AB, Jill and myself.

Daddy and AB had a blast dancing! This girl loved being on the dance floor with her Daddy!

Talk about a blast! AB couldn't get enough of her Uncle Tony. She wanted him over Austin and I most of the night!

AB, Daddy and Lackey getting down with their bad selves...really though, Lackey?

Dollar dance with the Groom! And yes, AB did pay $1 to dance with the Groom. I love these pictures of AB and Jonas!

Oh my goodness, it was such a beautiful wedding and fun reception. These two have been waiting for this day for a long time, and I'm overjoyed that we were able to be a part of it! Jill and Jonas, we love you guys so much!

AB's First Haircut

{WARNING: These pictures contain that of a graphic nature - I am not wearing any makeup! Feel free to turn away if it is too much to bear!}

Last Saturday, a week before the big day, AB and I went with Amy and Anna to Cool Cuts to get haircuts for the girls. Anna decided to chop hers off, and AB was in serious need of a bang trim! So, off we went for haircuts.

When we got there, we put AB in a car chair, and she wasn't so fond of the idea...

After a minute she got used to the idea of sitting in it, and I was able to explain to the lady just what I wanted done.

And then, she busted out the scissors and cape, and all was not right with the world, anymore...

Luckily, lollipops seem to make everything better.

AB did great as long as Mommy was holding the lollipop and Anna was in sight.

It was hard for me at first because she started looking like a little boy.

And she did NOT like the buzzing of the electric shaver.

Almost done! Check out the crazy amount of lollipop slobber going down the front of her!

Ta-da! The finished product!

AB and her BFF!

Then, it was Anna's turn!

Unfortunately, we couldn't stick around for the "after" shot of Anna's hair. AB and I had to get home, get dressed and head to Jonas and Jill's wedding, where we would see Daddy! But take my word for it, Anna's hair looks precious!!!!

Cool Cuts gave us a little bag with one of her curls and a sheet to put her picture on of her first hair cut! I already stashed her curl away in a safe place. My big girl is growin' fast!

Talkin' Up a Storm: Part 1

As of yesterday and today, AB has said (or attempted to say) four more words. While her vocabulary is relatively small right now, and I'm able to keep track of the things she says, and I want to try and document it as much as possible. Here's the latest as of yesterday 8/12/2010:

*Baby - when Daddy was changing AB's diaper, he pointed to himself and said, "Daddy," and then pointed to AB, and said, "Baby". Then AB patted her belly and said, "baby".

*Anna - However, when pronounced by Annabelle, she says, "Da."

*Poo-poo - Daddy asked her today if she had poo-poo, and she looked at him and said, "poo poo."
*Chana - We took AB to the doctor today for her cough. Chana was working, and when I pointed to Chana and asked her to say it, she did. Of course, it came out a little bit like, "Ta na".

Kisses for Bubba!

Growing up, I didn't have an older brother or sister...but I did have a "Bubba." My cousin, Randy, was always like a big brother and I adored him! There is video of me when I was a baby and he was a little boy, and I would just light up when he came around. AB must feel the same way. On Saturday at our Grandmother's birthday lunch, AB couldn't give him enough kisses! She adores him, too. All was well and good, until Cousin Stetson got a little jealous that his Daddy was being loved on by another baby. Here is a picture of a sweet kiss she has for Bubba. Don't forget to watch the video below! Enjoy!

"Deh Der"

Translated into grown-up language that means, "Dexter," which was AB's new word today. Dexter is Julie's dog and has apparently made quite the impression on Annabelle, because she hasn't even tried to say, "Scout," "Kemah," or "Bella." Dexter was trying to get into AB's play yard with her today, and would point at him and say, "Deh der." So cute! She loves this little guy.

AB is saying quite a few words these days. Here are the things that Miss AB likes to say:
* Bye-bye (which has a very intense southern twang to it).
* Hi
* Mama
* Dada
* Thank you (That-tu)
* What's That? (Was sat?)
* Choo! (Which she says after I sneeze)

Things AB will sign:
* More
* Please
* All gone
* Thank you