A Birthday Party for a Farmgirl

I would like to start out saying that we don't really get wild and crazy about birthday's in my family. I mean we acknowledge them and give a gift or a card but we don't have parties and quite frankly we are still trying to go out to dinner as a family for my dad's birthday from December. Don't get me wrong, birthday's are important and should be celebrated but we just choose to do ours on a much smaller scale.

Except for the first birthday.

Now, I've stated before that I refuse to compare Reagan to other babies close to her age. I choose to do this because each child is different and I don't go by the books either. So when planning her first birthday I was not going to compare her's to other peoples that I had seen on facebook or pinterest. Some of the birthday parties that I had seen on pinterest were amazing, adorable, and picture perfect. I made the assumption that either those people were uber crafty, had way to much time on their hands, had tons of money or paid for someone to do it. I had none of those. So off to Hobby Lobby I went with some vague idea of things I wanted.

I knew we were doing a farm theme but that was about it. Thank goodness Hobby Lobby had some great items that went with the theme.

Her party was great, she loved all the attention! She crashed and crashed hard that night and it took her most of Sunday to recuperate.

Loved her cake!

Favor bags with cow pies and road apples (peanut clusters and oreo balls)

Obsessed with balloons!

We kept it super simple.

Seeing all of her monthly pictures lined up made me almost tear up.

My little family!

Uncle Matt and Aunt Kiki

Mom's face is priceless

Do not touch my cupcake

Just kidding, I can share.

I really get to eat this entire thing!!!

And down we go...

This is Reagan and J her sitter. She was so excited to see her that night!

One Year Pictures

I have so much to catch up on, including her birthday party!

For now though, I will leave you with her first year pictures.

www.photographybyluann.com View Proofs and enter your e-mail address. Enjoy!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

I knew this day would come eventually, I just didn't think it would get here as fast as it seemed too.

I now have a 1 year old. A 1 year old, seriously. No longer a baby, no longer do I need to count in months, she is 1.

What a year it has been, from having an unplanned c-section (you can reread all about that day here, here, and here) to jaundice to heart murmurs. To crawling, walking and running. From breastfeeding, formula, baby food and regular food. From having no teeth to getting her top ones in first. Diapers, wipes, explosions, and Matt wanting to potty train her. Boat rides, camping, fairs, babysitters, farming and swim lesson. This little girl has had an amazing first year. So on this day I forget the sleepless nights, the screaming, the messes and just remember the cuddly baby that we brought into this world, our new year's baby, our everything.

A Baby Changes Everything

Christmas Eve, already!! Seriously where did the year go?

I cannot wait for Reagan's first Christmas tomorrow. I know she won't know what is going on and she will have more fun with the paper and boxes but it is still something I will treasure forever. I've waited for this day when I get to have my own little family on Christmas morning.

I am a huge sucker for the traditional Christmas songs, Silent Night and The First Noel are my absolute favorites. However, the other day I had CMT on and this song came on. By the time it was over I was crying, tears streaming down my face. I don't get religious on this blog because I have my views and you all have yours and we may not agree and that is okay but this song, yea, wow.

It is true, a baby changes everything.



Here is our first family Christmas card. Some people will be getting theirs after Christmas but it is the thought that counts right?

Christmas2013

View the entire collection of cards.

Here in just a week I will also have a 1 year old. Yea more on that later.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Introducing...

So remember a while ago that I mentioned I was working on a little project? Well, I introduced it to the world via pinterest this morning and now I am sharing it with all of you. I decided to start a second blog. This new blog will chronicle my weight loss journey. I want this blog to remain what it is, an infertility, parenting, pictures of an adorable baby and sometime in the future the story to baby #2. Therefore, I decided to start the second blog. Of course I will still be updating this one along with the other (call me crazy right!) Without further ado, I would like to invite you all to look at

www.selfishmomma.blogspot.com

Christmas Pictures and Bad Baby

There are way to many talented photographers in this area. Seriously, it makes it hard to choose who does what pictures and such. I love love love the photog who does Reagan's milestone ones. I probably have said it before but she did our wedding so she does hold a special place in my heart. I will continue to use her no doubt. But then, there is a young and super talented photographer who is going to be doing my brother's wedding next June. I've stalked her on facebook and have always liked her work. She offers a lot of mini sessions fairly cheap so I love using her for those! She is the one who did the mommy and me and her Halloween. When she offered a Christmas mini for $100 I jumped on it! Normally we don't do Christmas cards but when you have a little cutie you have to show her off! Those of you that are facebook friends with me have already seen them but for those of you who aren't (please feel free to add me!) here are my favorites from the session.

Reagan is such a chatter box these days.  Not everything is coherent but she does say some things very clearly beyond momma and dada. Puppy and kitty are favorites, along with Kate. Her newest one which she has picked up at the sitters is bad baby. When you ask her how she was at the sitter she answers bad baby. I promise she isn't a bad baby all the time (except when she took an ornament off J's tree and chucked it!) but to hear her say it is adorable.

9 Month Pictures

Seriously, 9 month pictures. The next ones will be 1 year. I'm not sure if I'm mentally prepared for that. Although, I did see in an email that I get that talks about the milestones your baby has this quote...

It kills you to see them grow up. 

But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.

Barbara Kingsolver

What a powerful statement. It seriously made me stop in my tracks this morning as I was reading it. I couldn't imagine not having that wiggly, giggly, sometimes cranky, Ms. Independent little girl.

So back to happy thoughts, here is the preview of her pictures along with the link to see them all!

www.photographybyluann.com Then click on view proofs and her session was in October.