It's Your Party ~ 3 of 3 That Is!

Yes, this post is ALMOST three months late ~ but please, don't despair!  It will be ok ~ I will get you caught up on all that has happened in our crazy, beautiful life very soon :)

April 16, 2011 is one of those days that is forever locked in that special vault of memories only mommies have.  You know that vault?  The one where you relive its contents at every milestone ~ kindergarten, driving, first date, graduation, college, wedding, and the list goes on and on.  It is that vault of memories that can make you both laugh and cry, for you will truly never know where the years went.  You will only know that each of those special moments and all those in between went by way too fast.  And while you are happy and so proud of the person that your child has become, they will always be your little baby...always...absolutely always.

I can't tell you how proud I am of our sweet baby girl.  She is without a doubt the joy of our home, and I cannot stress enough how quickly this big day came.  ONE YEAR!  ONE STINKING YEAR!!!  I absolutely could not believe it.  And now, even as I write this, three more months have already gone by...I don't know who is stealing time, but whoever you are, can you please slow down just a weeeeeeeee bit?!  Cause I sure would appreciate it!

For those of you who know me, one might say I am a bit obsessive...but I would like to say that most of the time ~ ok, some of the time, it's a good obsessive?!  Or at least, saying it's a good obsessive makes me feel a little better about myself ;)  So this quote, unquote "obsessiveness" led me to find a theme on Etsy that I just loved.  But why pay, when I can do it myself?!  Um, for future reference to obsessive self, just buy the stuff! It is way easier you silly woman!!!  Not to mention, I just had to invest in a Cricut in order to make this theme come to life :)

Somehow, a zebra banner grew to a zebra banner plus cake toppers, matching table runners, HUGE zebra balloons, a welcome sign, and the most ADORABLE outfit ~ not to mention the matching shoes!  But wait I am not done ~ let's see what else ~ umbrella table and chair rentals, a bouncy house, a swing set (also affectionately known as The Fort), tissue poms, a hundred plus balloons, four dozen cupcakes, hamburgers and hotdogs,  and an entire party execution team.  Yes, I know you are thinking it ~ OBSESSIVE!

And wait, let me go ahead and beat you to it.  Yes, I do know she will not remember a thing!  But, hey, that is why I have an absolutely amazing photographer :)  Our memories captured forever in film so that I can torture her later with strolls down memory lane!  Plus, years from now when she says in her annoying teenage whiny voice, "But Mom, you never do anything for me!", I can whip out the scrapbook album and this post and say, "Now, how is that for a first birthday party!"  Yeah, I plan ahead, but I bet you I win that argument ~ or at least get a momentary pause and an eye roll :)  Of course, my sweet Sophia will never be an annoying, whiny teenage girl...right???

Cause really, how can the sweet, precious baby in these photos, ever be anything but my little cuddle bug?



I cannot thank our wonderful family and friends for making this day so special.  Having each of you there to celebrate our baby girl's birthday meant more to us than you will ever know.  And to each of you, and you know who you are, who worked to make this day everything I hoped it would be, I am forever grateful.  Thank you for putting up with my crazy ideas.  Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and love.

But most of all, thank you for loving our sweet baby almost as much we do.  Our family would not be complete without each of you ~ for family isn't only blood ~ but bonds knit together through life and love.

I'mmmmmmm Baaaaaaaaccccccckkkkkkkkkkk!

I know ~ shocked aren't you!  I would venture to say it has been forever a while since I blogged and yes, I have gotten the suttle "reminders" that Sophia's adoring public is in need of some new material :)

But just in my own defense - you break your main camera, get mono, put your house on the market, sale your house, try to pack, find a new daycare, get over mono, move, enroll sweet So-So in a new school, contract Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease, try to unpack, paint, and work a full-time job in tax during busy season and let me know how much blogging you get done!  Don't worry...I'm just kidding ~ sort of :)

So now that I have the time (NOT) to blog, I think I might just provide Sophia's many followers with a little new reading material.  However, in order to do that we will have to take a trip down memory lane ~ and by memory lane, I mean like April :)

That being said, stay tuned...blog posts are coming!  TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Provided I don't get wrapped up in above mentioned painting and/or unpacking!)

Love to you all :)