Lilah love!

So even though Lilah doesn't really know or care that it's her birthday, we had to celebrate having her in our family for one year!  We decided to have a little family/close friends party and it was so sweet.  I felt lots of Lilah love from everyone there and I hope she did too!!!

Since my camera is dead and the charger is packed away somewhere (boo), Dad and Jeanette took lots of pictures for us!  Lilah may have been a little too overwhelmed by it all to smile at the camera, but she was happy and busy and super cute!  I think I will just show you the pictures! 

I had fun doing a "You are my sunshine" theme (since she is :)

James had fun grilling some yummy food!

Sweet Ethie

She loves her brother sooooo much!

Awesome playground!  Scotty and Ethie conspiring...

I made a little quiz about our Lilah and everyone read something they had done with her and wanted to tell her.  She is so blessed to have so many people who care about her!

Her sunshine cake!

Oooh, fire

Hmmmm...

Oh, I see!

She liked painting herself with the frosting mostly :)

Messy, happy baby :)

All clean!

On the run, like always!

So many nice, fun presents.  Thank you, everyone!!!

Such a fun celebration!!!

This year has been wonderful with our Lilah and we are so very thankful for her!

365 days of Lilah!!!

Our Little Lilah-bug is ONE!!!

One year ago, we were just about to meet her (see birth story here)!

Lilah came to the world with the sweetest, most peaceful spirit and we completely fell in love with her right from the start. 

And she has made our lives so happy since that day!  I can't even imagine not having her in our family anymore!

At one-year-old, Lilah:

• is a cuddle-bug and LOVES to be held and rocked
• loves to look at and eat books (and she will back herself up to me and plop down on my lap with a book)
• has 8 tiny teeth (4 top, 4 bottom)
• loves to run around everywhere with her short little legs and she is FAST!
• has a soft little voice and likes to say, "bababa," "mamama," "dadada," and "oh, wowowow!"
• will put anything up to her ear and say something that sounds like "hello"
• gets excited and dances (shakes her bum and bounces) when she hears music
• loves loves loves her binky
• loves to hold and cuddle soft things (blankey, dolls, animals)
• doesn't love the bath, but does love swimming pools
• loves to be chased and play chase with Daddy and brother!
• is fascinated by dogs and cats
• loves to be tickled and kissed
• will put on any necklace she finds and leave it on all day
• loves loves fresh peaches (she must know she's a Georgia girl!)
• sleeps 10+ hours at night, but doesn't love taking naps (she's usually happy though!)
• loves being pushed in her little "car"
• loves to eat, mostly sweet things and anything she can feed herself
• gets into everything and gets frustrated when she can't
• wears size 12-18 month clothes and 75% for height and weight (cute little chub!)
• sports a mullet (I can't bring myself to cut it yet)
• has blonder hair by the minute and greener eyes (we think)
• waves hello and good-bye 
• is busy busy busy!!!

We love you so much, sweet Lilah!!!

One-th Grade!

Yes, when people ask what grade Ethie is in this year, this is what he tells them!  Since we moved to Carrollton this summer, he has a new school, new teacher, new friends, new everything!  Fortunately, that doesn't faze E in the slightest.  He loves it!

He even insisted on riding the bus, even though I told him I would happily take him!  And since we have to be at the bus stop at 6:35 (!), I totally forgot about pictures.  So here are some of a sweaty, messy, very happy little Ethie-man after his first day of one-th grade!!!

It's a bike (and a move)!

Well, I have been a little preoccupied lately with moving.

The kiddos and I moved in with my mom and Scotty while James stayed in Atlanta to finish the last few months of his thesis.  We didn't want to renew our contract since we (hopefully) won't be here that long and didn't want to be stuck with it.  Thankfully, James is able to stay with our good friends, Ashley and Brandon, and concentrate on work during the week.  And the rest of us count the days until he comes to see us on the weekends!!!  It's not the ideal situation and we miss him a lot (and I miss Marietta), but we are thankful for kind family and friends to be with in Carrollton and for a place to stay (thank you, Mom)!   

On a happier note, the day after we moved in, Ethie was riding his bike out front and saw the girl across the street (Becca, whom he has a crush on, or would like to crush) riding without training wheels.  So obviously, he had to lose the training wheels and I had to try to teach him to ride a 2-wheeler!  It only took him a few tries and he was riding like a pro by the end of the day.

Yay, Ethie!!!