{ Katy Grace :: 1 Year Old }

Our little Katy Grace is 1 year old!
It is hard to believe, for sure.
I am amazed by the richness of this past year in so many ways,
but largely due to her sweet presence and development.
I can't imagine life without her, without a daughter.

I have never really been into pink,
but in this past year I have found myself rediscovering it
and appreciating it in a whole new way.
There are many days that Katy Grace is dressed head-to-toe in pink!

She loves all things girly.
She is obviously thrilled when she is wearing a party dress
and she is a shoes girl. No mistake!
If you're wearing jewelry, you're her best friend.
She already loves clothes shopping.
Nothing makes her happier than frolicking in a pile of clothes.
I can see we're going to have fun shopping for years to come.

She started walking a couple of weeks before her birthday.
She says a few words, mostly "mama" and "dada",
but she certainly practices her words.
She loves to eat.
She almost always out-eats her brother!
She likes to talk on the phone.
She started sucking her index finger about the same time she learned to walk.

We are beyond blessed that she is a part of our family.

We love you Katy Grace.
Have a wonderful year!

{ The birthday girl getting some help from brother }

{ Gifts!!!!!! }

{ All dressed up for her party }

{ Grandpa reading to Katy Grace before the party }

{ Birthday girl snuggles )

{ Lighting the candle }

{ She was quite dainty with her cake.  This was about the extent of the mess! }

{ Valentine's Day... and a Birthday Thrown In }

I have always valued time with my man, but now that we have two children, I value that time to a whole new level. Being alone is a treat, and being able to talk uninterrupted is enough to make an evening spectacular. We decided to celebrate Valentine's Day the Saturday before. Tim arranged to have my parents come up for the evening and he lined up a very special evening for us.

 We ate at a Mediterranean restaurant downtown that we've been hearing good things about. The food was delicious!  We savored our meal and lingered over it: appetizer, meal and dessert.  It was wonderful just to be together and have the time to talk and to just be quiet.  I love that we enjoy a comfortable silence.

After dinner we headed to a local winery.  Tim had intended this to be a surprise.  He is always a little frustrated that he struggles to come up with original date ideas. Being in a small town contributes to that! Earlier that week, he received an email invitation to a local winery where a friend of ours would be performing with his band (he played at our wedding reception). The trouble was, my dear husband left the email up on the computer and I happened upon it! Oh well, it was the thought that counted. It worked out well in the end, I think, because it would have proved a little disappointing had that been the only thing we did. This was my first time to visit a winery and it wasn't as fancy as I anticipated it would be. It was rather cold in the building and very casual. It was a fun experience overall, though. We enjoyed homemade chocolates along with our wine.  We laughed and flirted and held hands.

The evening was still rather young when we left there, so we decided to go listen to jazz at a pseudo Irish pub downtown.  We stopped back home first to feed and put Katy Grace down for the night.  On our way out the door, Tim couldn't find his phone.  After looking for it for a few minutes, I decided to make things easier on us and call it.  It was in my purse, which I was holding at the time... oops!  We left and a little while later, when we were settling in, I decided to check Tim's phone to make sure my parents hadn't tried to call (I'd left mine with them).  I realized I had a missed call from my phone so I went outside to call them back.  They told me they hadn't called.  I was confused.  Then I realized that was the call I made to find Tim's phone.  I wish I could say this is the first time this has happened to me, but it's not!  It happens on a rather regular basis!  Oh, dear!

Then came my birthday.  My poor husband has Valentine's Day to remember, followed by my birthday a week later, but he always makes them both very special.  He surprised me with these beautiful roses.  I love them because they remind me of my wedding roses. 

We did the majority of celebrating on Sunday.  Tim helped me go grocery shopping and put up with me while I shopped for jeans at the mall.  Thankfully I found a pair so it was time well spent!  Later in the evening he got a babysitter and took me out for dinner and dessert.  Over dinner we had a fun time talking about the re-decorating we want to do in our master bedroom.  It was fun to dream and look forward to the completion of this project someday in the future. 

{ Birthdays just aren't complete without cake.  My mom had given me fun cupcake supplies for Valentine's Day so it was perfect.  They were soooo yummy! }

{ And my guys did the dishes! }

This is my last year to be in my twenties... and probably the last year I'll admit my age.  I actually received a card that referenced getting old.  *Sigh* I knew it had to happen eventually.....

{ A Shower for Katy Grace }

Katy Grace and I were blessed by a wonderful shower last weekend, hostessed by my mom.  It was an open house shower.  I have to say it was the loveliest way to do a shower.  

All afternoon friends stopped in.

I was able to visit well with each friend. 

No one had to "fight" over holding Katy!

{Proud Grandma}

{Delightful PINK decor and yummy treats}

 {Balloons to welcome guests}

 There were gifts galore!  Katy's closet is bursting! It makes me so happy to see all of those adorable little outfits waiting to be worn.  

New clothes = Dress up

We did it today!  

I love having a daughter, can't you tell?

{Out little doll}

We have another shower on Sunday so we're feeling quite spoiled around here.  I'm sure I won't be able to resist posting more pictures, so bear with me!

{ Merry Christmas, Mr. Oliver }

Oliver,

Tomorrow is Christmas, and even though you celebrated your first one last year, we're feeling like this one counts more, because its magic is coming to life through your little eyes this year.

You are 14 months old today, and at least once a day I look at you and wonder how you could have changed so much in just over a year.  You are all boy, a little rough and tumble, and oh so sweet.  You're a charmer.  We just love your giggles and we love to get them going as much as possible.  It's even more fun that you're getting our giggles going with your impish grin, grunts at difficult jobs like exploring boxes, sing-songs in the car, and how you laugh at your own jokes and we have no idea what's in your little head, but we can't stop laughing.

Now you're a big brother and we just can't get over how sweet and loving you are to your baby sister Katy Grace.  You're already working hard to be a helper:  handing me a diaper, responding to her fussing, whimpering when she cries, and helping to burp her.

I miss having as much time to snuggle with you and I can't wait until I am recovered enough to pick you up again, but you've been very understanding.  I am loving that you and your daddy are getting lots of special time together these days.  I love that he plays on the floor with you and how you help add resistance when he does push ups!

Tomorrow you're going to wake up to a stocking and all those presents you've been playing with under our tree.  You're going to go to church and help celebrate the baby Jesus.  It's such a wonderful time of year.  I am praying that this year marks just the beginning of wonderful Christmases all through your life, and I will be praying that you will come to know the story of Christmas in your heart as real and wonderful and that Jesus will come to live in your heart every day, not just at Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Oliver.

I love you,

Mommy

{ Getting Ready for Baby }

Today I completed a gift I'm sending off to a far-away friend who is expecting her first baby. It was so much fun to put my creativity to work and to sew for a girl! I admit they were a little difficult to part with, because they turned out so cute. I guarantee I'll be making another giraffe! Wanna see?

{the tutorial is over here}

{ready to go}

{all wrapped up}

This has gotten me thinking of all the projects I'd like to do for our January baby. It's sad but true that I have yet to start anything. Life is a lot busier this time around, granted, but my mothering instinct wants to welcome this little bundle of joy with some special items just for him or her.

I have visions for the nursery, too. Some that Oliver will appreciate most and of course I need to create of nest for the new one. I'll keep you posted as these projects, hopefully, develop.