Random Stuff

We have been so busy that I have not been good about updating the blog. I am back at work and everything is going smoothly so far! This post is just a bunch of random stuff that I want to remember. "The foot out" - This was funny to me when I went to check on AK the other day. I rarely put a blanket in her crib but it was cold in her room that day. She had her foot out of the blanket just the same way I sleep when covered up.

I went to pick up Anna Kate the other day from Nanny's house and she had all 3 babies in her chair reading to them.

AK had her 1st pb&j tonight and she loved it. I made just a half for her but then she wanted more. She ate the whole sandwich!

More please!!

AK's Birthday Party

We had Anna Kate's birthday on Saturday, August 6th. We did a luau theme and had a blast! Of course, it rained and stormed all day. We made alternate plans because our luau was supposed to be an outside event. At 5:00 when the party started, the rain stopped and the weather was great! (Thank you God!) The kids were able to play in the pools and slip-n-slide and everybody had plenty of space to eat. We did hamburgers and hotdogs with a few sides and of course, cake. AK loved her smash cake. It only took her a few minutes to completely face plant in it! Here are some pictures of her special day.
That morning we were cleaning up around the house and I noticed that she had gotten very quiet. I got a little nervous because she is usually right where I am. She had gone into her bedroom, crawled into her book basket and was reading a book to herself!

Early birthday present from Mimi and Pop

The food table

All of her gifts, we gave her the toybox which turned out fabulous!! All of the pictures hanging from the mantle are of AK from birth until now

She wore a hula monkey dress to her luau

Abby, Charlotte, Leighton and their families playing inside

Lots of friends playing outside

AK, Ella Grace, Jackson and Kade playing on the slip-n-side

For the "take away" gifts we did a candy buffet. We filled sand buckets with fruit snacks, goldfish, puffs, tootsie rolls, and M&M's. I hope everyone made them a bag before they left!

AK eating her smash cake (no need to use hands, just put your face in it!)

AK with mommy and daddy

Opening presents (she stayed in my lap for about 2 seconds) Jackson helped me open most of her gifts

Eating a marshmellow with Aunt Lizzie. Elizabeth made the cutest treats with "surfing" teddy grahams. I didn't get a picture of them but they were precious!

Connor man being silly!

Our sweet birthday girl :)

Happy 1st Birthday Anna Kate.....12 months old!

Happy birthday to our sweet Anna Kate!! This may be the last chair picture we do. Sophie put up with her long enough for me to get one good picture! She looks so big compared to her 1 month picture.This has certainly been the hardest but most rewarding year of my life. I never knew I could love something as much as I love her. She is such a joy. She makes us laugh everyday and has become a VERY busy little girl. Here is what we can do as of this month:

• 3 meals a day of table food and usually a couple of snacks
• She has cut down on formula and has begun drinking some whole milk
• She still loves water
• Size 12, 12-18 month clothes, 3 shoes, 3 diapers
• "Talks" all the time (real words: no-no, mama, dada, hey there, doggy, ball)
• Has begun to run
• Still loves to read and take baths
• Is learning body parts, has ears down!
• Is learning animals, has elephant down (she throws her arm up like an elephant trunk)
• Sleeping about 10 hrs at night and maybe 2-2.5 during the day
• Loves to be outside!!
• Loves to climb on everything!
• Loves music and dancing
  

We have celebrated AK's birthday all day today. We started our morning singing Happy Birthday and cleaning up around the house. AK loves Mickey Mouse so I attempted to make her a Mickey Mouse pancake for breakfast with pancake and banana slices. She loved it!


We ran some errands this morning and stopped by to see Nanny and Grandma. Jackson and Abby were there and Jackson gave Anna Kate a special birthday cookie with pink icing.

Jackson feeding AK her b-day cookie (he got one too!)

We had to go to the doctor for her one year check-up this morning. She is a healthy baby girl! She weighs 19.6 lbs (25th%) and was 30 in long (80th%). She was so busy in the doctor's office the doctor said "I can see why her weight gain has slowed down!" We have to go back next week for shots. I didn't want her to feel bad tomorrow during her party. She did get a finger prick to check a couple of things.

Getting some sympathy from daddy after her finger stick

We met up with Cinnamon and Matthew for a special birthday dinner at Rucker John's tonight. AK ate a whole grilled cheese sandwich and some watermelon! She also drank out of a straw tonight and did really well. The waitresses came and sang happy birthday to her and gave her a brownie dessert. It was really good.....she enjoyed it!

Sharing dessert with Jackson and Abby!

After her bath tonight we gave her the last of her birthday week presents. A new big girl car seat! She can't use it yet because she is not 20 lbs but maybe when we go back next week she will have gained the weight!! This was the only "birthday week" present that she cared anything about because she could climb on it!

Anna Kate we love you to the moon and back! We cannot wait to celebrate your birthday tomorrow with all of our family and friends. We thank God everyday for letting us be your parents!!

Birthday Week Day 4

We didn't ever wrap tonight :( but we got her a "Birthday Girl" shirt for her to wear tomorrow on her birthday!!! (tear!) I can't believe our sweet girl will be 1 tomorrow!! I gave her the shirt and of course......she threw it in the floor! Ha!

I remember this time last year so clearly. We had been to the doctor earlier that day and told I could be induced the next day, to be at the hospital at 6 am. We went to RJ's for dinner and they made me an "about to have a baby" special dessert! I definitely didn't sleep the night before (or at least not very well). I was nervous, excited, scared to death of what was to come. I woke the next morning at 4:45 am to shower and get ready. We stopped by Bojangle's to get me a biscuit (I would have eaten more had I known I wasn't going to be able to eat again until 3 haha). Everything went so smoothly at the hospital and our family and friends were all there. It was such a blessed day!! Just to reminisce...AK's birth storyLittle did we know she would be the biggest blessing of our lives!!

Birthday Week Day 3

We tried a gift bag tonight instead of wrapping her gift. Don't let this picture fool you......she STILL wasn't interested!

So, I opened the gift again and really excitedly said "Anna Kate, big girl socks!!!" She took them and threw them in the floor. I know one day she will appreciate my efforts! :)

Birthday Week Day 2

Well tonight we tried gift number 2 for the birthday week.....still not interested!

I opened it for her....new AK sized forks to practice eating with! She is so independent we thought she would like to have these while she eats.....we will see :)

Birthday Week Day 1

Today we gave Anna Kate her first present of the week. She was definitely not interested!

Finally I got her attention by tearing the paper and she opened the gift.

New sippy cups to drink whole milk in!!

We went to Rucker John's tonight and she got her 1st kid's meal. Grilled cheese and watermelon. She loved it!