Our First Date

Five years ago today, I went on the BEST date of my life! John asked me out--I accepted. We went to Stanley's in the city and the rest, as they say, is history. In 5 short years, I love the history we've made together. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world that he picked me and I was able to make him "mine" before anyone else got a chance!

I LOVE YOU HONEY!

(PS...this is not a picture of our first date! Just a good one of us from our trip to Cabo that I've always liked.)

Neat Repeats

I love re-sale shops! They're such an adventure. You never know what you're going to find. Today, we got a few great pieces to add to Lola's wardrobe at Neat Repeats in Orland. Auntie Karen's mom, Pat, volunteers there every Friday and she told me last month to come check it out. I brought some clothes I had set aside for Goodwill and donated them--all proceeds go to benefit the Women's Crisis Center of South Suburbia--an awesome cause! Then, Pat helped me find a few cute things for Lola--and I found 2 fall sweaters for me that are perfect for work.

New Denim Dress--$3!

Pink Sweater--$1.50

Overall Dress--$3

Beautiful vintage piece I don't know how anyone could have parted with--$3! I'm sooooo in love with this. It's a little big, so I just have to have the seamstress move the buttons up a bit. It's going to look great layered with a light pink, blue or yellow top and her "boyfriend" jeans from Baby Gap. What a hip chick.

First Grilled Cheese

I forgot to take the flank steak out of the freezer this morning--so that meant Grilled Cheese for dinner. And then I realized--Lola can eat that! So for dinner, Lola got her first taste of this old stand-by. Without a doubt, she loved it. You know it's a hit when not one piece can be found on your kitchen floor after your baby is done eating their meal!

12 Month Stats

We went to see Dr. Geja on Monday morning for Lola's 12 month check-up. Doctor was very impressed with Lola--she said she was very smart and very social. Of course Lola was all smiles for her and Dr. Geja said she didn't just make her day, she made her week (Lola was her first appointment of the week--I guess a good way to get it started.)

She weighed in at 20 lbs. 4 oz. and measured 29.5 in. 

50th percentile for weight and 40th percentile for height. She's going to be short like her Mommy!

A Baby In Cloth

I seem to be getting around to doing things I've had on my mind for awhile now that Lola has turned ONE! Before she was born, I seriously considered giving cloth diapers a try. My mom helped talk me out of it and put the fear of an insane amount of laundry into my head. But now that she's not longer an infant and I'm not doing multiple loads everytime I turn around, I thought I could give cloth diapering a try. A few friends I know do it with ease and they each have two children--so how could I not manage?!

Lola and I drove into the city today to pick up some cloth diapers at a great store in Lincoln Square-Be By Baby. Here's a few pictures of what the diapers look like. They work the same way disposables do, you just don't throw them away. I'm looking forward to not having to pick diapers up at Target everytime I turn around! And since she'll be in diapers for at least another 1.5 years, it makes perfect economical sense--which we're all about these days!

These diapers are by Swaddlebees....

Lola's Little Academy

I have been wanting to decorate Lola's playroom for the past few months, but just haven't gotten around to it. So today, when we were at Lakeshore picking up some new materials for my Spanish classes, I was able to pick up the materials I wanted for her. We also used some of her birthday money to buy new musical instruments and a great Melissa & Doug farm puzzle.

Our Family at One Year Old

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of working with an amazing photographer--Rachel Williams of Brisham Photography. She captured some incredibly sweet pictures of our little family that we will treasure forever! She posted some on her blog and you can see them all if you CLICK HERE

Rachel charges a very affordable price of only $75. That includes her time, talent, editing and a CD of all the images which you are able to print from. For the work she does, it's a bargain. We couldn't recommend her more for anyone in the area looking for a great, affordable photographer!

Here are just a few. These are not hi-res images, but once I get our CD, I'll print some and share.

John picked this flower and placed it behind Lola's ear. What a sweet Daddy! Make me love this picture all the more!

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT BRISHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

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.