Pumpkin Patch {2010}

I always love going to the pumkin patch. I think because it is like the kick-off to the holiday season!! I absolutely love little lu's dress with matching shoes, a gift for her first birthday. It is amazing how fast this year has gone by, thinking about last year at the pumpkin patch, Lu was just a little lump on a bail of hay! It was last year we started the tradition all of the the little kiddos going to the pumukin patch together. I love the picture of Jon (3), Lu (1) and Brooklyn (2) sitting on the straw. After the patch, we headed to Claim Jumper for a happy hour grease fest and let the kids run a muck in the restaurant. I am looking forward to dressing in costumes this year (hint: a family of garden gnomes) and us celebrating with my mom, sisters and friends carving pumpkins, eating chili and tricker treating.

Photo's by Aunt Char Char

The Big Party {One}

Luella's 1st Birthday was a success! What a great day with friends and family. We had a noon BBQ with cupcakes as the theme. I got the idea after surfing esty.com and coming across these, upcycled crayons in the shape of a cupcake. Along with the crayons, came a homemade coloring book with coloring pages of pictures of Luella and all her friends that came to the party, and some that are far away that we miss.

To go along with the cupcake theme, all the kids had fun decorating their own cupcake with lots of frosting and candy. Luella and her bestie Brooklyn were checking out the action.

Next, was Luella's cake experience. This was her second birthday cake, so she was an old pro; but this time the cupcake had sprinkles. Luella loved the sprinkles! She loved them so much they left a colorful surprise for us later that night...

Present time!! The kids all helped out with the fun, including Jake (the one who can make her laugh the most) who she is sharing her chair with. I am not sure who liked Luella's presents more, me or her! As a child, I was a big fan of present and I have never out grown this. Luella's favorite present of the day was an Aqua Doodle. She loved it so much she would not share with anyone. In fact, she sat on top of the drawing pad so no one else could draw and just let herself a little corner. Hmmm...reminds me of the  the girl who hasn't outgrown her love for presents....

Finally, the day ended with another birthday celebration...Uncle Greg. This was not only a big deal because he was 35, but because he made it to Lu's party. Greg is recovering from his 3rd back surgery and let's just say outings aren't the easiest. Thanks, Greg, for celebrating with Lu and letting us share your birthday for her party!

Photo's by CharlaBLUE.com

Overall, is was such an amazing day with friends and family, who by the way lent a million helping hands to make the day run smooth (especially my mom who put her decorating magic to work)! My friends were laughing at me all day because I had the biggest smile on my face. What can I say, I love my little girl!

ALL the First's {BIrthday Month}

Here is a list to document of Lu's First's with just a random selection of up-close picture from each month. After much frustration with trying to layout a picture per month with the appropriate list, blogger is having a mind of it's own tonight so give up on trying to make this look cute (sorry this is the graphic designer in me coming out)t...so pictures are first, text is second and it is all a jumbled mess, but it is documented.

Birth

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

Eleven Months

One Year

One Month

First Football Game

Discovered Feet

Pulled self up to standing from laying on back while holding Mom’s Hands

Two Months

First Laugh

Rolled from Back to Tummy

Rolling Both Directions

Three Months

Grabbing Objects

14 lbs 2 ozs, 24 Inches

First Food, Rice Cereal

Army Crawling

Four Months

First time in Jumper

Sleeping on Tummy

Other First Foods Avocado, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes, Oatmeal

Five Months

Sitting Up on Own

16.5 lbs, 26.5 Inches

Six Months

Gave First Kiss

Moved to Convertible Car Seat

Crib Mattress Moved to Bottom

Ate Chicken for the First Time

Crawling on All Fours

Sits up form Lying on Own

Pulling Self up to Standing

Waved

First Finger Food – Puffs & Mum, Mums

Seven Months

Said Mama for Mama

Said Papa for Papa

Clapping

Climbed up a Flight of Stairs

First Tooth

Crawling throughout the House

Drank From a Straw

Standing/Balancing Alone

Pulls on Own Shirt

Loves Books Read to Her

Clapping While Standing

Tooth #2

More Finger Foods – Banana, Avocado, Toast

Eight Months

Tooth #3

18 1/2lbs & 28 inches

First Step

First Airplane Ride

Said Dog for Dog

Foods -Avocado, banana, egg yolk, yogurt, cheese, chicken, sweet potato, tofu, pear, plum, watermelon, cantaloupe, bread, Applesauce, sucks "eat juice", favorite baby food is spinach, peas & pears from plum baby organics, cheerios, puffs, Gerber cheesy puffs, pasta, nectarine.

Took 5 Consecutive Steps

Nine Months

Stood up without Holding On

Tooth #4

Got Hand, Foot 7 Month

No More Crawling, Only Walking

First Restaurant Food – George’s Greek Deli

Words - a Ma, Pa Pa, Baby, num num, nigh nigh, hot, nose, milk, book, dog, da da, duhh (that).

10 Months

Tooth #6

11 Months

Blowing Kisses

First Birthday {Present}

Lu loves her new playhouse...especially the slide (which, by the way, is for going up not down!)

{one} is fun

And she is ONE! The day of her birthday I had a little smile on all day. Her birthday was way more fun then any of mine have been lately. In just this last week she has started to do so many new things. She shakes her head no, so hard that sometimes it makes her fall down. She also does this while also saying "no, no no"...this is pretty cute actually. She is finally giving closed mouth kisses, as well as, blowing kisses...although she does not have the blowing part down, she want to kiss her hand and then put her hand on our mouth! She has started to play pretend. She is talking about something to someone, can't wait until the day we know what she is saying. Today while doing laundry she put her papa's underwear on her head and then brought him on of his socks and tried to get put it on his foot. She is starting to sing a lot, and still loves itsy bitsy spider, but has a new fave...pat-a-cake...her "roll it" is pretty funny, it is more like "smack it". She has bit of an aggressive side, but usually when she is frustrated, she wants to bit or rip in half what ever is closest in reach. She such a goofy girl and starting to get a little dramatic...I see some practice for future temper tantrums starting as she in starting to lay on the floor and cry.

Here she was getting in and out of her car, talking and pointing to the sky.

She loves to take her bow's out. Only because she is convinced she can put them back in herself. Still can't do that one yet, but give us a week or two.

Today we celebrated with her Bunya (grandma). We were surprised by a fun sign on the door, a cake and lots of presents! Luella shares her birthday with Aaron's mom.

She wasn't too sure about the cake. It took her a while to realized it was something she could even eat. She liked the frosting at first, but after a while she sang "no, no, no."

She was showered with gifts, but of her favorite were that from aunt..wooden spoons!! She was even dancing with them.

 

Her Papa bought her a playhouse but of course she loved the boxed. She also loved the directions. She was reading them out loud and dancing in the box! Pictures of the playhouse to come!

Overall, this little girls loves all things that starts with B.

Books, Balls, Babies, Blankets, Bags, Balls, Boxes and Brooklyn!!! 

And...I still can't get her to keep her shoes or hat on. 

Happy Birthday {one}