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July 18, 2010

becoming a big girl

Hello. My name is Katie and I have a toddler. At this statement, I would highly expect anyone in the room to offer up Valium, ear plugs, or at the very least, a hug. What's so magical about that one minute between 11:59 pm on July 6 and 12:00 am on July 7 that suddenly made it necessary for AK to: 1. Eat egg whites, white potatoes, and whole milk. Do children under the age of 1 have some kind of defect that prevents them from being able to digest white-colored food? 2. Use a sippy cup. That girl hasn't been interested in anything but a bottle held by her Momma or Daddy for the past year. She thinks sippy cups are devices used for throwing onto the floor. She has zero interest in handling anything remotely independent when it comes to beverages. 3. Enjoy food that doesn't come in a package labeled "Gerber", "Beech Nut", or "Earth's Best"? What is so magical about that one minute? Nevertheless, we're not ones to argue with the top baby experts, so we followed suit.
Real food? Check.
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Please note her meal matches her outfit.
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yeah, ok, it says gerber. i still haven't quite embraced this new concept of having anything more than a baby.
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New carseat? Check.
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not. too. sure. how. we. feel. about. this. it's worth mentioning, however, that on our trip to target later that evening, she giggled the whole way there, very proud of herself that she could now see out the big front window and talk to momma. And the latest thing that makes us laugh.

July 6, 2010

the journey of a year

Tuesday, July 6, 2010: Birthday Eve As I sit with our sweet girl on the eve of her first birthday, all I can think of is how much our lives have changed in the past year. On July 6, 2009, Eric and I had our last date without needing a babysitter. The next day, we were parents. Our sweet girl has guided us on a journey I don't think either of us were expecting. We've experienced the ultimate extremes of emotion from sheer joy at the first sound of that sweet voice to utter terror when something which turns out to be completely normal scares the living daylights out of you because you've never encountered anything like it before. Anna watches as I make sure everything is ready for the first celebration.
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yes, I was bound and determined she would wear something completely hideous so that I at least have blackmail material when she's 16. The terrible twos don't frighten me a bit, but I am petrified of her teen years.
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We sit and chat, and I explain to her that this is her last night as a baby. Tomorrow, she is going to be a big girl. I'm not sure she was too thrilled by this news.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010: We made it!
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Cake for breakfast. Life is so good.
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She wasn't *quite* sure what to do with it. For about ten minutes, it was just a messy nuisance to smash.
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She eventually got the gist of it.
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The highlight of the day: The shiny little surrey with the fringe on top. Ok, it was a Radio Flyer double-seater wagon with a canopy. Where Gran and Grumpy think that's gonna go, I have no idea. For now? Their living room.
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Eric and I toasted each other that evening, congratulating each other on surviving a whole year without dying from sleep deprivation or, the most cheer-worthy task, not killing each other.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
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The theme was "Pretty in Pink". I got the idea from a blog my friend Vanessa found months ago. I've saved the link and did everything I could to replicate every detail.
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oh, the hat. that lasted all of about 0.7 seconds. thank goodness for a quick camera.
Lunch was served first, a spray of subs from Wawa (who knew a gas station could make such yummy food???), chips, veggies and watermelon for the big kids, and corn dog nuggets, chicken fries, mini pizzas, and a bowl full of Gerber Sweet Potato puffs for the littles. (hey, the bigs had noshing food, why not give the littles something a little more up their alley?) We dove into presents next. Ok, well, I dove into presents.
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Anna was too busy flirting with Jack.
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She got into it for a little while.
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sean was ready to take this sucker home. boyfriend couldn't be coaxed out with cookies OR cake. Speaking of cake....
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My dear friend, David, provided her cake and 50 cupcakes for everyone else. His confectionery masterpieces are gorgeous, and I was honored that he took time out to make our girl's day so special! We had the ceremonial singing and wish-making and Mommy blowing out the candle right before little fingers were burned. my kid is fascinated by fire....this can not be a good thing.
She was ready for the smash this time. She did that first birthday tradition up goooooood.
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tuckered herself clean-out. We bid our guests farewell. The lovebirds even stole a smooch.
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(now do you understand why the teenage years terrify me so much? just go ahead and order the padlock and the chastity belt. don't get me wrong, sean's a great catch and she'd have phenomenal in-laws, but let's get to a legal age, for crying out loud)
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and then there's this little series that makes me giggle. notice how the girls have the exact same looks on their faces? even down to mouth and eye expression. hilarious! You can see the entire album here. Eric's fave is #101. I suppose that's payback for the beeramid pic in the last post. Karma.... And, yes, I have already planned next year's party. Lady Bug Theme. July 9, 2011. Place and time: TBD.

July 3, 2010

A happy birthday to Cal....and a very large oops

What does a girl wear to a first birthday party? Anna just could not decide. Pink? Floral? Oh, gosh, it's an Elmo theme, and I have NO Elmo attire in my wardrobe.
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What IS a girl to do?
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Well, we found an appropriate outfit for the occasion and headed over to Lakeview Park for the festivities. Here are all the babies posing with their fave Sesame Street character. most of these folks I do not know, but from the right to the left kneeling down, that's obviously me and AK, my friend Vanessa and her son Jack (see previous post here), and my friend Whitney and the guest of honor, Macalan.
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Yes, people that is a real-live Elmo, in the fur, on a 90+ degree day. Poor chap.
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Why this girl is so shy is beyond me. I swear, she couldn't be mine.
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Oh! There ya go! Only, you must smile. I realize you don't feel camera ready, child, but truly you are.
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Do you NOT just want to take him home and call him yours? How cute is this kid????
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Sir Jack ridin' in style. Vanessa swore she was never gonna get this dude out of there.
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And a new activity we made it through sans screaming or drama -- the swing. Yes, folks, that ever-present baby swing that usually sits idle and lonely on the playground just swimming with God-only-knows what kind of germs. Honestly, you know there's all kinds of H1N1 and salmonella breeding on that thing.
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And there's no strap. Shouldn't there be a strap? I mean, we buckle our kids into everything else. Not this? Obviously it was designed back in the 1950's....you know, when parents used to cut the seatbelts out of the car because it was a hassle that wrinkled your good Sunday clothes.
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And a heartfelt apology to Gam and Pop. Somehow, this pic scurried away from the baptism album last week. I was quite upset to realize this, and promptly jerked it up by its hind-parts and dropped it into this post. I like to think it was just being modest.
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