Arrie's First Birthday

I can't believe it has been a whole year! One year ago today I was HUGE and waiting for our little princess to come. I am glad that experience is behind me but what a miracle came from it all. We love having Arrie in our lives. She is so fun to watch growing and learning. Today for example, she got a tea set with plastic cakes from for her birthday, and I sat down with her to have our first tea party. She was picking up the cakes and pretending she was eating them and then she would swallow and make an "ahhh" sound! It was SO cute - I didn't know she had developed a little imagination already! We had a lot of fun.

She was so fun yesterday at her birthday party. She had her own little cake and we got her down to just her diaper and panties and sat her down with her cake. We thought she'd go to town on it - she loves sweets. But she didn't! She would put her fingers in and then show everybody and then lick her fingers off! What a little lady! :)

She loved opening her presents and finding what was inside the bag or the wrapping paper. She had fun with all the attention too. I think she was a little confused with all the attention but she liked it. She didn't like the hat or the tiara we tried to put on her - but we expected that.

So, with one year spent getting to know my little girl here are things about Arrie that I love.

1. Her laugh - I love how she lets out a little scream and it's usually when she sees people (or a dog - Pogi) that she loves. I love it when "Daddy" comes home - she really screams when she sees him. Also, if you tickle her in the right place she goes CRAZY! :)

2. Dancing - Arrie gets a beat and she shakes her upper body and bounces a little.

3. Reading stories - Arrie will go and get one of her books and bring it to me. Even though she doesn't like me "reading" the story, she loves sitting on my lap and turning the pages.

4. Waking up in the morning - As long as it is on time (and not before 7:00) I love going in her room when she's awake and she is so happy when we come in to get her.

5. Walking - Arrie is a great walker and she loves to go everywhere. With that is coming more independence which I'm not sure how to handle sometimes - but she's a "Big Girl" now and it's so fun.

6. Grandmas - it's been so fun to watch my mom become a Grandma. Arrie loves both of her grandmas so much and its so fun to see her interact with them.

7. "Loves" - Arrie gives "loves" by leaning into the person (or the dog - Pogi) sideways with her mouth open until her face touches them. That is her giving "loves."

8. Learning - I already mentioned this a little, but she loves to learn. I try and be creative to help her learn. I will hide things under her crib, or in a box and she will find them. Or she has learned how to put the tiny tubs of play dough back into the tube they go in. Or teaching her where her socks go, where a hat goes, where shoes go - and then asking her where they go and she tries to put them on.

9. Being "Mommy" - I love being her mommy. I love knowing she is my little girl and that she loves me so much. I get intimidated sometimes knowing all I need to teach her and knowing how much she will need me as she grows up - and also knowing how at times she won't need me and I'll want her to. But it is truly a holy and the best calling in life. I am so grateful to have Braden as her "Daddy" and my husband to help raise her. I LOVE being "Mommy".

Well, here are pictures from her birthday.

And then Braden's parents went to a concert the other night and got all the grand kids
these fun tie-die shirts!