It happened....

My baby turned one. I will not include the word 'finally' in that sentence because it was not a long-awaited event. I am nearly certain that child has not been on this earth for more than 5 months...but the calendar seems to think otherwise.

Little miss celebrated in rainbow-style with a whopping two parties for her first birthday - one for our her friends and one for family. I like small parties and getting to spend time with people. Plus, I got to try various recipes and decorations and fun things like that.

Sophia's friend party was at 11am and the weather was beautiful....in the 80s. But that's too hot for partying little boys to avoid the pool and we ended up with a pants-less bunch running around our backyard. I told Ryan we should line them up, take a pic, and tell Sophia about the awesome first birthday we had for her. Ryan didn't think it was such a funny idea so I don't have a picture to show you.

Little miss failed at her cake smash. I think the girl doesn't like cake. I've given her cake multiple times in the last few weeks (plain cupcakes, her birthday cake without a crowd around to watch her eat - cause you know, sometimes girls are funny with their eating habits), but she doesn't seem interested in any cake options. For her family party she got cookies and ice cream and seemed pleased by that. Seems like a smart girl to me.....ice cream is generally better than cake anyway.

She also made a show with some real steps at her family party. She's taken 3-4 steps before (on her birthday eve, and then other times since), but they were wobbly, I-can-move-my-feet kind of steps. At her party, she was deliberately working her way towards some object (likely mommy). Second child syndrome means I don't have any video with the lovely motherly shrieks to prove she's done these things but take my word for it.

Aiden was as sweet as could be and went shopping with Daddy and picked out a gift for sis and helped me wrap it. Was it something he actually really wanted and plays with more? Sure. But you gotta start learning the giving spirit somehow....He was also excited to help her eat her cake and unwrap all her gifts. Big brothers are the best!

Birthday morning cupcake - don't be fooled, she didn't really eat it since it's that cake stuff.

Pictures on her actual birthday.

Had to get one that captured my most favorite dimple in the world.

This is how we got ready for the first birthday party. Soph ended up getting
sick on Monday so I think she may have not been been feeling well for her
party. Thank goodness for baby carriers and two free hands!

"My hand is dirty...and so is my leg because I tried to crawl through my cake."

"Thank goodness big brother will save me from having to eat this thing."
(I'm pretty sure these are all the things Sophia was thinking....)

For some reason, everyone just wanted to attack mommy after eating cake. I was obviously excited by that option...and it ended up happening so my jeans were covered in cake. Funny side story - at the time this was the only pair of jeans I owned. The next day when we went to church we got ready in regular rushed fashion and we ran out the door....and as we were driving I looked down to realize I was sporting my cake covered jeans. I went shopping for another pair of jeans that afternoon. 

Balloon hair!

Love our sweet Sophia and the joy she's brought to our lives!

Ahh, the sweet smell...

...of dirt. That's right. I said dirt. 

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago with friends. It was a dry, dusty sort of morning and we were all covered in a layer dirt by the time we left. We ventured home and were putting the kiddos down for nap. Sophia snuggled up on my chest before nap and I took a deep breath of her little self, expecting the sweet smell of baby and getting a big whiff of dirt instead. And all I could think of was how much that smell reminded me of days spent on a softball field. And I loved it. Just loved it. And in that moment I wished for Sophia to smell like dirt so many more days of her life. Not the typical mom wish for her daughter...but a true, happy wish from the depths of my heart. 

Here's a few pictures from our dirt covered day. 

Memorable moments

I started a first birthday post...but while I'm finishing it up I thought I would share a few other recent gems.

Sophia started saying Aiden's name this month and it has become pretty clear this last week. It's so stinking sweet when she says it....in her adorable little voice, with two distinct syllabus, "A-den." She'll walk around the house calling him or looking for him, just repeating "A-den, A-den." Melts my heart. 

Aiden brought me lots of laughs today...he started the day pointing at my forehead and saying "what are those...stripes?" Oh, you mean my wrinkles. Thanks for the early morning compliment sweet son. But now he has me thinking, stripes are basically always in fashion so maybe I should stick to calling them my stripes...

He made me chuckle again this afternoon when he said, "Mom, I love you one." It took me a minute to figure out why he said that....but then we proceeded to "love" each other all the way up to ten, back and forth. ("I love you two." "I love you three." And so on....) It's funny to think about how his 3.5 year old brain only comprehends one "2" - and that he think we are telling him 'I love you two'. Love seeing the wheels of his little brain turn!