Our Third, First Birthday

Somehow it was a year ago that Amelia was born. So we had our third first birthday party in celebration of the big event and now we have a one year old. Crazy.

Serenaded Happy Birthday by the boys in the morning.

The crowd singing and eating birthday cake really didn't faze her. No crying, no smiling. I was expecting a little more drama but I guess it's just normal everyday life for her.

Not even much of a mess. Nor a big fan of icing. 

  

Aunt Jaime, Uncle Jared and the kids came down for the party and, fortunately, it was unseasonably warm all weekend so we took advantage of the weather and went down to see the White House and play ball on the Mall.

 

These girls are so much fun! They were huge helpers all weekend and we loved getting to spend so much time together!

FOR THE RECORD, Amelia at 1 year old:
She babbles loudly and often. She says dada and papa (of course!) and just started saying mama this week. Good timing. While she doesn't say much we can understand, she seems to understand a lot that I say to her, which I always find funny - such a tiny person following directions. She loves making people laugh, if she does something and it results in a laugh, she does it again and again. She's a real happy camper - for example, that first photo was taken when she had a double ear infection. She's not quite the sleeper she used to be, but I'm chalking that up to the just mentioned ear infection she's had for a month and am sure it'll pass (it better!). She is curious and busy and wiggly (ugh, changing her diaper is the WORST!) and flexible. She loves to hug and kiss her dolls, to look at family pictures, to listen to music, to peruse through books, to empty drawers, and to throw things (but usually just for a laugh). Owen has made it his mission to teach her to walk, so spends about 10 minutes every morning and every evening walking around with her and her "walker". It's working, she can stand on her own, and has taken about 4 very small steps at one time. He really and truly loves having her around; on several occasions I've heard him go in her room in the morning and read to her to keep her company. He hates to see her sad or in pain and gives her so much attention when he's with her. Jacob absolutely loves his little sister too, he dotes on her, loves to try to snuggle with her (she's just SO wiggly), and takes it very seriously that he needs to help keep her safe. I don't know how this happened, exactly, and I just feel very fortunate that they have her as a little sister and that she has them as her older brothers. I couldn't have imagined a year ago that the boys would be so accepting of her, and it continues to be one of the best things to witness as a parent.

Owen trying to do homework, and being very patient with this little distraction.

One Year

     

      

Thanksgiving 2015

New York was our Thanksgiving destination this year and we were not alone. Ten kids and 16 adults filled Lois and Mark's house and it was so fun to visit with family including the younger cousins of whom Jacob, at 7 years old, is the oldest! We also continued our tradition of going into the city with the boys (Amelia will join us when she's a little older). It was a beautiful day and this year we focused on the southern part of Manhattan, saw the Freedom Tower, visited the September 11 memorial, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and ate ice-cream in Brooklyn with a lovely view of the city skyline.

Jacob (7), Grant (3), Finley (3), Heath (6), Amelia (11mo), Owen (5), Olivia (3), Avery (5), Drew (2), Laila (3)

Lots of kids at the kids table.

Not a good sign when everyone's exhausted on the train on the way TO the city, before we've even started the journey across the Brooklyn Bridge...

The view from the other side.

Amelia - 11 months

Amelia is 11 months old. I'm sure there are big changes that have occurred this month but there's a lot going on around here so I might not have noticed some of them...? What I'm finding is as I see her do things, for example, taking something out of a box and then putting it back IN that box, I recall how definitely with Jacob and probably with Owen I knew that that was some sort of milestone, to put something back IN, and I must have read ahead in a baby book about how that would be something to notice. So, as I see her crawl up the stairs, point at things purposefully, play peek-a-boo, turn the page of a book, eat food without much fanfare (the pincer grip!), hand me things on purpose, try to make me laugh, hug her baby doll, put her pacifier back in her crib when I ask her to, among many other things, I think oh wow, look at how she taught herself to do that. I'm real glad she's so proactive.

 Waiting for daddy to come home from work.

 Lunch date with her buddy Abby.

 This is very troublesome behavior.

 First trip to the zoo!

Brrr, thanks for the hand knitted hat Nana.