Lucille's 1st Birthday Celebration!

   I had been planning Lucy's birthday party for months and, after a good cry the night before her birthday, was so ready to celebrate her big day with her. Lucy's actual birthday was Thursday but her party was not until Saturday so I got to have a day with her before sharing her with the rest of our family and friends.
   Lucy and I started her birthday with breakfast at Dunkin Donuts where she had a sprinkled vanilla frosted donut. She liked to flip the donut over so she tasted the frosting on her tongue, but not before picking off all of the sprinkles.

Isn't she beautiful?

  Lucy and I then headed to Annapolis to pick up some last minute things for her party at the Amish Market and Barnes and Noble. She loves to shop with me so she didn't mind being out at all. Later in the day we went for a long walk since she loves to be outside so much.

 

  

   Daddy had a special surprise for Lucy when he got home from work... NEW SHOES! Of course she wanted to put them on immediately and I cannot wait for the warm weather when she can wear them all the time.

 After one of Lucy's favorite meals, turkey quinoa meatloaf with asparagus and sweet potatoes, Jameson and I were so excited to give her our birthday present. Much to our delight she loves it!

 

   Saturday was the big party day and we are so blessed to be surrounded by so much of our family and close friends who were eager to celebrate with us! The weather was beautiful and Lucy behaved like the angel she is all day. Lucy got lots of beautiful clothes, fun new toys, SHOES!, a purse, and a doll which completely overwhelmed her that it really was all for her. After singing Happy Birthday to her, everyone snacked on candy, desserts, and cupcakes while Lucy enjoyed her cake and cupcakes. At the end of the day, it was truly a pleasure to host our baby's 1st birthday party at our home with so much love and attention focused on Lucy. Thank you everyone who came and made it so special for her!

The high chair that all of my sisters and I used as babies, updated in yellow for my babies

Favorite picture of the day!

Lucille's 12 Months

WOW! My baby is 1 year old! After a good cry session rocking her to sleep the night before her birthday, I think my tears have finally dried and I can look forward to everything toddler Lucy will bring our way.
   Lucy is not walking independently but she is getting anywhere and everywhere she wants to be. She uses her push walker to pull up and cruise around the house, the yard. She is standing to play with toys unsupported but when we coax her to walk to us she drops to her bottom and shimmies over. She has been crawling more and I have a feeling by next month's post we will have some more progress with walking.

 

As you can see above, Lucy has discovered the magic of chocolate and now points to the cabinet every time we go in the kitchen. But, luckily, we haven't found a food she won't eat. Miso soup and grapes are her current favorites but she tried and loved pineapple and grilled cheese this month too. We tried introducing milk but Lucy really doesn't seem to be interested. We are going to try heating it up and adding some flavoring to see if that seems more appealing.

       At the last post, Lucy had some tooth buds popping up but now she has a total of 8 teeth! Four top and four bottom. She has more buds coming in beside the new teeth but for now she doesn't seem to be bothered by them.

      Lucy's vocabulary grows by the day. She is a very clear communicator and now says "I want that" and "All done" as well as duck, hello, hi, bye, shoes, nana (banana), up and down, and she calls every dog she sees Ozat, her version of Otis.

    I love watching how loving she is towards all children, most adults, dogs, and baby dolls. She loves to give hugs and kisses and has recently started reaching for strangers to hold her when we are out. They all seem to be the squishy grandma type so I really don't blame her.

     Lucy has a new obsession... SHOES! We went and had her measured earlier this month so she could get used to wearing shoes. I had never put shoes on her before since, well, she was an infant and wasn't walking. She had been showing an interest in our shoes or any shoes she saw when we were out shopping. She likes to shimmy around the house with Jameson or my shoes in each hand. Ever since we got her two pair of her own, though, she will NOT leave the house without them. Every diaper change she wants to hold her shoes. Anytime she sees them laying around they become the toy she plays with. When I take them away at night or to eat she lets me know she is not happy to be separated. After the walking shoes she found a pair of church shoes with a flower on the strap that have become her favorite. Daddy got Lucy a pair of white ruffle shoes for her birthday which she had us put on her immediately. Aunt Marley got her a pair of paisley baby Tom's for her birthday which will fit in a couple of weeks and I am sure are going to be a top pick.

   Lucy's sleeping continues to be sporadic and she has started waking up at least once every night. She still doesn't like naps but has started to appreciate bed time more and more. I still get to rock her for a few minutes every night and when I lay her down she doesn't protest at all. Daddy has found a good way to calm her down too with a light back rub, one of the few times she will sit still.

   Jameson and I are having more and more fun with her the older Lucy gets. We love to go out to eat together and are so excited for the warm weather to get back out to Tuckahoe to walk the trails. Lucy is a joy to be around and we are so blessed that everyone we know feels the same way. We are never short on offers to babysit her but Jameson and I don't like giving her up to anyone. We are so excited to see her become a big sister and know that she will be a huge help to us and a little mother to her baby brother or sister. The other day I was holding her while she napped and she moved down from my shoulder and finished her nap with her head rested against my belly. I am so lucky.