First Birthday Party

I had always said I wasn't going to do a big birthday party when I had kids.  That the party was more for the parents than for the actual birthday baby.  But once we sat down and made a list of my family, philip's family, and our best friends, there was no avoiding a large number of people. We have too many people we love and who love Ainsley. Since Ainsley came into this world in a snowy wonderland, I decided to have the theme for her party be a 'Winter OneDerland'. 

her birthday outfit that I barely got any pics of her in it! 

something else i never realized until I had a child, was how precious nap time is. and how missing a nap can ruin a whole day (for us at least). so I decided to avoid nap time completely and have a birthday breakfast:)  and yes maybe a lot of her party was for philip and I. but more than anything, we just wanted a day to be about our daughter and celebrating her life. with the people who love her.  I think we succeeded! 

her invitation 

The forecast was predicting for freezing rain all week, but luckily the day was beautiful! the sun was out and there was no rain or snow in sight:)  We decided to have the party at the Hartland Clubhouse. This decision was made way before we decided to buy a house and move. It worked out perfectly though. The pressure of having it at our house was taken off (especially since our house is not put together yet!)  We started her day off by taking balloons in her room and singing to her as we came up the steps. she was a little confused :) 

philip hadn't put on his shirt yet:) we were too excited 

here are pictures of the party set up and the food: 

homemade hot cocoa favors:) 

doughnut hole kabobs and fruit platter

doughnuts and sausage balls 

snowflake water, OJ, milk boxes and juice boxes

snowflake cookies

mini cupcakes

Ainsley's smash cake 

frame of her monthly 'onesie' pics. thanks aunt rachel! 

Philip came home one day with a present for Ainsley that she 'had to have'. He said it was her housewarming present. But i decided it should be her first birthday present. I was skeptical at first but her present was the hit of the party. a roller coaster!!! 

Philip has been so excited for Ainsley to eat her smash cake. He really wanted her to pick the whole thing up and just tear into it. But she is a lady, and ate it pretty daintily :)  *picture overload coming up*

a little scared of the candle and everyone singing 

sharing with daddy 

what was left:) 

Opening presents was pretty amazing. to see the fun and thoughtful gifts everyone picked out for her was so sweet. I didn't have expectations of her helping open presents, so when she wanted down and to play, I was fine with that:) I had to open the presents quicker than I would have liked, but a baby's attention span is not very long:) 

Overall, I think the party went really well! and if it didn't, at least I felt like it did haha:) I wasn't stressed out about it and felt like Ainsley had such a good time. 

A huge thank you to my mom and family for bringing food, helping us set up, and decorate. And a huge thank you to mine and Philip's friends who stayed and helped clean afterwards! 

Ainsley shares her birthday with Auntie Jo, and that night we went to Mi Casita to celebrate her! (well my family always goes to Mi Casita on Saturday nights). They brought out the sombrero and ice cream for both AJ's:) 

hand in ice cream 

Ainsley also had shrimp for dinner and (sadly) liked it. Her Daddy is so happy, I however am not ecstatic. :)  Happy Happy Birthday to our sweet Ainsley! We hope we made you feel extra special on your special day. Birthdays are a big deal in this family, and I hope your first one was spectacular:)  

ONE YEAR!

 a sneak peek of her one year photos taken by Mary Maldonaldo Photography 

I can not believe I am writing her one year update. It makes me tear up just realizing how fast these 12 months have gone. The first twelve months of her little life have come, and gone. I just want to make the time go slower. to make myself appreciate things more. To love and cherish the 2 am wake ups and the hair pulling and things that annoy me now:)  Because our lives have been forever and completely changed in the most amazing way possible. We have fallen in love and our hearts have been opened in ways that we didn't even know existed. I'm not saying it's easy or always enjoyable. But it IS always worth it. so worth it. 
 **her photo shoot this month was the worst yet! we did it the day after (her actual birthday was too busy!) and she had just bumped her head in the church nursery. we did have one year pictures taken by the same person who did my maternity pics, so I am hoping they turned out better :) 

height/weight: 20 lbs 8.2 oz (38%) 29 1/4 in (51%) OFC: 45 1/2 (61%) 

my 12 month stats. I was smaller than ainsley! 

size: she is in 12 month clothes. size 3 diapers. 
nicknames: beanie, monster, tornado, stinker 
physical: her eyes have remained blue she has a mullet but the sides are starting to grow out too to even it up a bit she still only has 4 teeth, but I think her molars are working on coming in her hair is a brownish red 

fell asleep in target. but look at the mullet. 

eating: she eats most anything that we do. still takes a bottle 4 times a day and eats a meal 2-3 times a day. she LOVES fruit and ravioli. she is definitely a carb girl.  she loves ice chips and fights Jackson for pieces of ice  she had shrimp for the first time, on her first birthday, and (sadly) loved it. her daddy is so happy 

sleeping: our rock star sleeper has lost her status this month. we have been so blessed  up until this point and don't know what to do with ourselves when she is up at 2 or 4 am haha. I don't know if it is her being sick for 2 weeks, or moving into the new house or teething- but she wakes up at least once a night screaming in her crib. She is fine when we pick her up and rock her, then screams when we lay her back down. We hear this is normal around this age, but geez! NOT FUN!  but we can't complain. I know it could be way worse;)  words: she says DaDa and Jackson with purpose. Philip thinks she says MaMa but if she does, it is not often. 
new things:  she is into EVERYTHING. if we change something or put something new out, she notices immediately.  loves trying to eat dog/cat food and putting her hands in their water bowls.  loves being chased and playing peek a boo still loves books and flap books. she will go to her book basket and pull out her flap books and bring them to us to read to her. she knows which ones she likes too  she is hating her car seat. makes her body as stiff as a board and screams when we try to strap her in. it's pretty awesome  she has started dancing. when music plays she squats up and down and claps  she loves playing with jackson. she follows him around and pets him and they roll around on the floor together. she gets his bones and hands them to him. they are best friends:) she tries really hard to be friends with Maya but Maya is not having it  She is obsessed with bath time still :) she loves pushing things around on the floor: her rocking chair, baskets, chairs, laundry basket, etc. 

lowe's trip with Daddy 

Ainsley, for your second year of life I promise to stop and truly enjoy each little moment with you. To love you unconditionally and patiently.  We are so blessed to be your parents and can't wait to experience the next year with you:)