One!

Millie turned one last Friday, and it was extra special this year as she was one on 11-11-11, so fun!

She had a wonderful birthday, and was in good spirits the whole day. Dave and I had a blast with her. During the day we took her to the mall to see the puppies at the pet store. Millie absolutely adores dogs. She was very confused when we first went into the store, but once she realized there were dogs inside we couldn’t contain her. She could hardly contain herself as well. She would make loud urgent screaming noises, making people think that she was afraid of the animals, when in fact she was so happy she was squealing.

After seeing the puppies, we stopped for lunch and took Millie to play in the Kid Zone for a bit.

In the evening, we had a birthday party with family. Millie was confused by the whole thing, but she did seem to enjoy seeing everyone. She loved being sung to. She scarfed her cake, and with a lot of help she unwrapped her gifts.

My favorite part of the party preparations was pulling out my old cake decorating skills, and making Millie her 1st birthday cake. I made it to look like her much coveted “taggy blanket” (which you can see featured in the lower left photo). I had a great time making the cake, and the best part was it only took like 30 minutes.

This picture pretty much sums up how Millie felt about the whole day. YAY!

Thanks to everyone who came. We love you all, and are so happy that you are part of Millie’s life.

Millie’s First Halloween

Last Halloween I longingly wondering how Halloween would be with a child, and look forward to the new traditions it would bring to our family. I was so right to look forward to it. Dave and I had a wonderful time with Millie this Halloween.

Before the big day arrived my sister came over and helped me design a strawberry costume for her, (she accidently got a hold of a blue maker he cousin Amelia was coloring with, crazy stuff happens when Lonica and I get crafting.)

We got to dress Millie up twice, once for the ward party and once on Halloween night. In my humble opinion, she looked absolutely adorable! We had a blast with her both nights! We also had a great time trick or treating with Amelia. Although it was Amelia’s first time trick or treating she caught on quick and had a great time showing Millie how it was done. While Millie was a little slower to catch on, she would more often than not stand motionlessly at each house chewing on a wrapped piece of candy, I have no doubts that next year she will be a fan.

Dave and I also had some Halloween fun without our little strawberry. We were lucky enough to attend two Halloween parties. At the first, we dressed up as a dork and pumpkin pi, and to the more formal themed party, we went as The Phantom of the Opera and Christine. We had a great time being our normal dorky selves at each party.

A Post Per Dave’s Request

Dave has very little, to no interaction with this blog, but last night when he found out that I had not posted this silly story about Millie (like I really ever post any stories, or post much at all for that matter) I felt guilted into sharing it, and not to mention, flaunt this darling picture of my baby girl.

Excerpt from Millie’s Journal:

After not napping, again, this morning we went to visit my old work. Everyone was so shocked to see how big you are and to see you trying to walk. You were getting pretty cranky when it was time to go home so I hurried and feed you and got you in the car so we could get home for your nap. When I set you in your car seat I gave you a Ritz cracker. I watched you through the car mirror sit there hopelessly holding it at the beginning of the drive, and the next time I looked in the mirror you were out like a light still holding your cracker. When we got home I set you in your car seat in the pantry and let you sleep. Forty-five minutes later, ugh, you woke up crying, but only for a short minute. When I peeked in the pantry to see if you had fallen back to sleep I found you eating your cracker. hehe.

Cousin Amelia

Millie’s big cousin, Amelia, (my sister’s daughter) moved here in May from Ohio. We were all so thrilled to have them back in Mesa. Lonica and I get together at least once a week, and if we aren’t getting together, than one of us is watching both of the girls. It has been so wonderful to have my sister, and friend, near by again. Happiest of all, could perhaps be Amelia. She has become Millie’s number one fan, and with some time to figure things out, Millie has become quite fond of Amelia too. At only 15 months apart, Millie and Amelia remind me a lot of my sister and I. We too are 15 months apart, and getting to watch these two grow up around each other makes me feel like I’m taking a look into the past. Amelia is such a huge Millie fan that Lonica doesn’t dare tell Amelia of an up coming play date until it’s just about to happen for fear of having to hear “Millwee, Millwee. See Millwee.” OVER and OVER and OVER again. The best part about this little arrangement is, in March Millie will have an other new girl cousin that she will be 16 months older than and she then will be able to go bananas over her.

Splish Splash

Last Friday Dave had the day off, and my friend Kayla had invited us and some other friends to go to Fountain Hills’ Splash Pad. Millie loves the water, and now that she can crawl and sit up I thought she would really like it. So the whole family piled in the car and made the trip out to Fountain Hills, and I was right, Millie loved it. She thought it was way better than the beach. She had a great time splashing in puddles, feeling the water on her hands and feet, and watching Elle chase the ducks.

                                                                       She liked to fight the water, HEE-YAA!