Goodbye to New York... See Ya'll in August

 We are now living in the Denver area for the summer. I didn't think that leaving Ithaca would even spark any emotion, but then I realized that people were leaving... and NOT coming back. What?! I just met you and now you're leaving.. and not coming back. We have made some good friends here, and I hope that we can keep in touch with all the great friends we have met.

Before we left, we enjoyed some tidbits of Ithaca.

Closing social.. Trying to walk.

 Picnic at Taughannock Falls 

Stewart Park

Graham, Amelia, Hal, and Isla

 Isla and her family are moving to Arizona this summer. and NOT coming back.

Syracuse Zoo

We went to the zoo during finals week. I swear it is Anthony least busy week of the school year.

He is very time efficient. It was a birthday celebration. 

This handsome guy turned the big 27!

For his bday, he got a bunch of randoms.. but he also got a season golf pass.

If you need him next fall, he will be on the green.

First Birthday Party

Amelia had TWO birthday parties. 

One in New York with our friends, and one in Utah.

It was a joint party with her BBF, Isla. 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of Amelia's favorite songs, so I thought it would be a really cute theme since she isn't into characters or toys.

 We let her open her presents on the morning of her birthday party. She really didn't know what to do.

She also wasn't too interested in the presents, until we opened her new walker! She loves that thing!

She had a bad diaper rash, so she was diaper-free for a few days..

We had the party at the Carpenter's home. I fully endorse joint birthday parties. 1/2 the preparation, for something they truly don't care about :) I think I enjoyed throwing the party more than the girls enjoyed having one. 

 

It was so fun having all of our friends there and Amelia enjoyed playing her all her little buddies

The SMASH cake.

Amelia did NOT like the frosting on her hands and almost cried when she couldn't wipe it off.

Isla, on the other hand, devoured that thing like it might vanish! It was adorable!

I would say it was a successful night.

Amelia is 12 months!

12 Months

 My stats:

Weight:: 22 lbs 14 oz.... 75%

Height:: 28 1/2 in... 50%

Somethings about my 12 month old--

-- You pretend everything is cup and try to drink out of it. You have drank a lot of bath water. 

-- Visited NYC. It was so much fun and you were so good! Even though you looked like Ralphie on A Christmas Story because you were so bundled.

-- You can stand all by yourself. You can also squat down (with great form, I may add) and pick something up and stand back up. 

-- You are a pro walker with your new alligator walker we got your for your birthday

-- You attended a Roman Catholic Mass for Easter.

-- You were 12-18 months and size 4 diapers.

-- Your hair is long enough for (very short) ponytails and pigtails!

-- You are such a Jabbawocky. You jabber and jabber all day.

-- Your crawling is SUPER speed.

-- Our whole house is constantly a mess with your pulling everything out. You normally like to put it back where you find it, but not always. 

-- You pull out every piece of clothing from mom's bottom 3 drawers. 

-- You have discovered the toilet paper and how to lift up the toilet seat. Uh-oh.

-- You had your first birthday party! 

-- You entertain yourself easier... by making a mess, but I will take it!

--You sleep through the night without having to have your binkie put back in.

-- If we crawl towards you,  you will speed crawl towards us and head butt us. It is sooo cute.

-- You cut a your canine teeth on top, but they keep going back in. 

-- You like to throw things on the floor and pick them back up.. You especially like to throw your food on the floor to tell us you are all done. Working on fixing that.

We love you so much. 

-------------------BLooPerS-------------------

Amelia:: On your first birthday

Written on April 11, 2012

My sweet Amelia girl,

One year ago today, I had just spent the night in the hospital being induced and woke up to what I thought was going to be a horrible day and ruin the day of your birth. I had to have c-section. Now looking back at it, I have no idea what I was so worried about. It was the best day of my life and I am so grateful for everything that happened that day. It might not have been what I had planned, but it was our story and our beginning and I couldn't ask for anything more than a healthy you. I remember one year ago, sitting in the hospital bed, just staring at you and wondering what I did to be the most blessed person in the world. You were perfect and beautiful and healthy. 

You are now one year old... how did this happen so fast? You were the most perfect baby I had ever laid my eyes on. You are every mother's perfect child. I have zero complaints about you. You are so easy to take care of and give me so much joy. You grow so much every day and I just can't believe my baby is one. You have been asleep for about an hour now, and even when I walk past your room I just miss you. Your dad and I take care of you all day, and then we lay in bed and talk about you. What you learned today, how happy you are, what funny things you do and how much we love you. We are so overcome with the love we feel for you and you consume our every thought and action.

We have been your parents for a whole year and you are alive, happy, and healthy. I say it's a bit of a miracle and I am happy your are our guinea pig child. You are so easy and just go with the flow, which is good because half the time I don't know where our "flow" is going! What I do know about this last year is you showing us more laughter, happiness, worry, and a bit of heaven on earth than we have ever experienced.

You are gaining such a zeal for life. You enjoy it to the fullest. You show me the most simple, heavenly happiness I didn't know existed. You certainly have a mind of your own and you are not afraid to express it openly. You have so many expressions and can probably go through 20 different faces/moods in about 1 minute. You are one clever girl. Watching your grow and learn surprises me on a daily basis. You learn new "tricks" every day. I dream of your future and what kind of woman you will grow into. Thinking about how I hope you will be inspires me to change myself into a better person. Being your mom is the greatest honor. Not just because I became a mom, but because I have been given the blessing of being your mom. I am so grateful I get to be a part of your life and watch you grow up and change this world. In the book The Help, is says every child is kind, smart, and important. I hope you remember that every day of your life because that is the very description of who you are.

We love you Millie Mae.