1st Birthday Party

CLICK HERE to see the album.

Just a few...

What an amazing 1st birthday party Lola had today! While the weather was a tad on the cool side (who thought we'd be wearing light sweaters on August 1st?!), the drizzle subsided by party time and every had a blast celebrating our sweet baby girl. Lola must be very loved because not only did all her local family and friends join her party, but the DiTore's came in from St. Louis and my dear friend from college, Gillian, and her mom, drove down from Grand Rapids!

We held Lola's party at one of the park district pavilions--it was a perfect space for the party--but it was a joint effort with a lot of helping hands on deck to set up and take down and we could not have done it without all the help from our amazing family. We continue to be blessed with and surrounded by so much support from the ones we love and we are so grateful we have such awesome family and friends! 

Here are just a few of the day, I promise to post a link to them all tomorrow.

*ONE*

Our sweet baby girl is ONE YEAR OLD today! I'm looking at the clock....it's 8:40 am. Exactly one year ago today at this very moment, our lives changed forever in the most incredible way. She has made every second of this last year the most wonderful year of our lives. We couldn't imagine our life without her and we are looking forward to her second year with so much excitement.

The Genius

(Both builder and machine are circa 1970s)

Maybe he wasn't a straight A student when he was in school, but as far as I'm concerned, my brother is one of the smartest people I know. When it comes to mechanics, there's nothing he doesn't understand. I'm the one with the college degree and wouldn't know where to start! And musically, well, we're not even going to go there!

The Genius aka My Brother just finished restoring his SECOND vintage Vespa. It's awesome. Gunmetal Gray. I'm waiting for my ride. See pic above :)

Keeping busy...

Lola kept herself "occupied" for a few minutes this morning while Mommy plucked her eyebrows :)

Lola's (First) 1st Birthday Party

On Saturday afternoon, our family gather together to celebrate Lola's 1st Birthday. Renee, Mom and Cousin Traci really out did themselves with this celebration for baby girl! The cupcake invitations Traci made really set the "sweet" theme of the party and Renee didn't disappoint with her amazing creations of "pink" velvet cupcakes and a beautifully decorated cupcake cake!

She was showered with love and generous gifts from everyone. I can't tell you what it meant to us to be able to celebrate her first year with them all because, even though they're far away and we don't see them everyday, they have been a huge part of her life.

Here are just a few pics of one of the best days of her first year. CLICK HERE to see the rest.

FLying the Friendly Skies

We left Florida this morning after an awesome two-week stay with our family. We love being with them so much. No matter what we're doing, we're always having a good time together. I love that. That's what makes family so special.

We flew Southwest Airlines home, and while some compare it to a cattle call (because it kind of is), we had an awesome travel experience from start to finish. Curbside check-in was a breeze and security wasn't bad. Boarding was easy and when we got on the plane, we realized we were flying a brand-spanking-new 747. It had that "new plane" smell and was even "born" on June 7, 2009 :)

The flight attendants were great and very helpful. Of course, they were taken by Lola's cuteness and flirty personality, as were many of the other passengers sitting near us. I think they liked her a little bit extra when she fell asleep, right as we were taking off. Before she fell asleep, she was showing the flight attendants that she was "ONE" year old by holding up her index finger (If you ask her "How old is Lola?", that's what she'll do.) 

Lola woke up 15 minutes before we landed. Angel! And as we taxied into the gate, the flight attendant came on and said:

"We'd like to give a special shout-out to Lola who is turning ONE." And then the whole plane started clapping for her! 

You don't often have perfect travel experiences, so you have to be really thankfully for them when you have them!

Fun In A Box

Look at me...I CAN WALK!

"I think it's these pretty new shoes that are carrying me so well!"

"I can walk myself all the way into trouble--like how I'm trying to pick flowers off Grandma's house decorations!"

The day after her 11 month update, I blogged that Lola took a few steps to me and then a few steps to John. And every day since then, our "baby" has walked her way right up to "toddler-hood". Just a week shy of her first birthday, Lola can take MANY consistent steps on her own--to the point where she can walk her way from one room to the other without any trouble.

I was hoping she'd be walking by her first birthday, I'll admit. Something about the though of her wobbling around at her party made me giddy with excitement. I'm starting to wonder if our daughter is a mind-reader. There she goes again granting every wish Mommy has ever had. :)

The Springs

This morning, Renee, John & I took Lola to the coolest place in Florida--literally! We visited the Wekiwa Springs State Park about 30 minutes from where Grandma & Grandpa live. As is usual for mid-summer in the Sunshine State, it was already 85 degrees by 9:30 this morning, when we arrived. The natural spring pool is set in a beautiful, lush forest for all to enjoy. The water is as cool and refreshing as you could possibly imagine. If we were anywhere else, the water would be deemed to frigid to enter, but not here! Us adults were a little shocked at the temperature when we first entered, but not Lola. She didn't seem to mind the cold water at all and after about a minute in the clear waters, it was comfortable to us all. Lola couldn't stop dipping her little hand into the water and sucking on her fingers to take drinks!

I didn't bring my camera, but Joe and Traci joined us later in the morning and they snapped some pictures. You can see their pictures HERE.