Our Little Walker

Well, we have a walking baby. Though the fact that Kate is walking makes her seem more like a classified "toddler" now, something that makes me proud, excited, and sad. On one hand I feel like, Kate is finally walking! But on the other I feel like, Kate is already walking?!?

I was so hoping she would wait for Nick to get home from his foreign trip before she really started walking, and thankfully she did! While he was gone, the most steps she took was four. Then, on the Saturday he got back (September 27th) she took 7 steps across the playroom, and since then has been walking longer and longer distances. The look on her face as she takes off is priceless - you can tell she is just so proud of herself as she beams from ear to ear atop those little wobbly legs.

Happy Halloween!

Last night was Kate's 2nd Halloween, though it kind of felt like her first. Last year I had a 2-month old sleeping in her bassinet in the living room while we passed out candy whenever the doorbell rang. One short year later, we have a trick-or-treater. Granted, this trick-or-treat adventure only lasted about 20 minutes... It was freezing and windy. Not the ideal Halloween conditions for a one-year-old. But we still had fun visiting our friends on our street. Kate would break out into a big smile whenever she'd catch a reflection of herself in her owl costume. When we got home we passed out candy to (a very few) trick-or-treaters, while Kate spent time taking candy out and putting candy back in the bucket. I don't know what entertained her so much about that but it went on for a good 20 minutes, and she went right back to "organizing" the candy bucket when she got up the next morning too.

One Year Old

On August 17, 2014, Kate turned one year old! This is a little unbelievable to me. I feel like I blinked and then this year was gone. It's amazing how much this little person changed, grew, and learned in this wonderful first year of her life.

We had a birthday party for her so that her family could celebrate her and all she means to us. I had always said I was not going to do anything too big, but when you have months of summer off from work leading up to the birthday party, you have some time to plan! Our theme was giraffes with yellow and gray as the colors. Family (and those considered family) traveled a long way to celebrate our beautiful girl. It was such a great day and I can't wait to tell Kate about it and show her the pictures as she gets older!

I didn't have a cupcake tower, so I made this out of wrapped boxes (and Kate's Sophie). I also made the cupcake wrappers.

These were Kate's monthly pictures enlarged to 5x7's and strung across the back wall of our kitchen.

We made a slide show of all Kate's pictures from her first year and played them on the Apple TV. The guests really enjoyed this!

Happy first birthday, Kate! I want you to always know that you are so special to me and Daddy. Your smile lights up a room and brightens our lives. You are so sweet, funny, smart, happy, and you bring joy to everyone around you. We love watching you grow and learn! We are so happy that God picked us to be your Mommy and Daddy. We love you!