Birthday Prep

It's hard to believe that our baby girl will be turning one this Saturday.  It's often said by parents, but they really do grow up too fast!  It may not seem like it at the time; during all the late night bottle feedings, diaper changes, teething and other fussy stages that have us ready to pull our hair out, but it's over before we know it.  During the late nights with her as a newborn we often said to each other that we can't wait until she sleeps through the night.  Now that she does, we find ourselves saying how we miss getting up with her at night and rocking her back to sleep.  We often take these little moments for granted not knowing just how much we'll miss them when they're over. 

I've always loved hosting and planning parties, especially the kids first birthdays.  Maybe it's because this it the first birthday party I've had to plan for a girl, but I have been so excited for Addi's that I've been planning it since she was six months old!  Nathan has usually helped in the past, but he has given me full control on this one.  I think it's mostly due to it being a girls party and knowing I plan on making it as girly as possible, he's stepping aside.  With the boys, however, he had to make sure I didn't cross the lines with the "cute" stuff.  He was always there to remind me I'm planning a party for his boys, not sissy's.  That's Nathan and one of the many reasons I love his stubborn attitude. 

Since I've had the past six months to plan for this party, I have come up with lots of ideas!  I take credit for the final look, but most of these ideas came from my many google searches.  I plan on having a food table and a sweets table, or candy buffet.  Here are a few of the things I have put together for the candy buffet:

Personalized Hershey Bars

Personalized Lollipops

Another sucker bouquet

Her party started off as a small family thing, but has turned into quite a large celebration.  It's her first though, so I love that it will be a big one!  We even have the Howe's, close family friends, driving up from Florida to be here.  They will be the only family to have been to each one of our children's first birthdays.  It means a lot that they're not only coming, but that I'll have Heidi to help put the party together and most importantly, CLEAN UP!  Just like old times Heidi!  I love you woman!!

Here are a few pictures during Addi's first year:

July 30, 2010 @ 0243
We Welcome Addison Marie Delimont
8lb 13.3oz   21in

Napping with Grams 2mo

First Halloween 3mo

First Thanksgiving 4mo



First Christmas 5mo

6mo

7mo

8mo

9mo

10mo

First 4th of July 11mo





The Hazards of Being a Toddler (and much more!)

It came as no surprise to most of us when Denton broke his elbow.  In fact, I'd say many of us were surprised it took him almost four years to accomplish this.  He might be a middle child, but he certainly doesn't hesitate to be the first at a lot of things.  Unfortunately, most of these things land us in the ER and one way or another include Daniel.  He was the first for stitches after losing a fight with Daniel and the first to break a bone after losing a bicycle race against Daniel.  In between these two, he was also rushed to the ER after Daniel pulled an 80lb T.V down on top of him, crushing his legs.  It seemed at times as if Daniel was thinking how great life was as an only child.  He's a trooper though!  He was ready to get back on the bike the next day.

After Denton's recent incident, we decided the family could use a little vacation so we decided on Richmond, Va.  This trip had it's fun and hilarious moments, but it was also a trip from hell!  For starters, Addi screamed during the entire five hour car ride.  When she's mad, she screams and I mean SCREAMS!  It was enjoyable.  The front entrance to our hotel should have been a red flag for us, but tired and now dealing with headaches given to us from Miss Addi, we overlooked the hazard.  Instead of sliding glass doors, they were revolving doors!  Should I say more?  Of course, Denton was unable to master the art of walking through these things.  He falls and his foot was drug under the door.  It took Nathan on one end pushing the door and I on the other to free his foot.  The door was relentless!  Foot or not, it was not going to stop rotating.  How we managed not bringing him home in a leg cast is a blessing. 

Tired and ready for bed we decide all the sightseeing could wait til morning; Addi had other plans.  She refused to sleep in the crib and does not like to be cuddled, rocked, or even held when she's tired.  So it took me walking her up and down the halls until midnight for her fall asleep; but not without a fight.  Scared to put her down, I slept with her in my arms until she woke at 4am angry that she couldn't roll onto her stomach.  The hall tricked failed this time so it was to the car we went.  I drove up and down the street until she fell asleep at 5am.  No way was I gonna move her!  I pulled into a deserted part of the parking lot, reclined my seat and napped with her until 7 all while the guys got a good nights rest.  Not according to Nathan though who complained of being up all night.  If that's the case, I'd like to know where he was between 10pm-7am.  Sure could have used the help!  

Our first stop was the zoo.  We were able to pet and feed the giraffes.  Addi hated it, Daniel was a little hesitant and Denton couldn't get close enough to them.  They also had a cage set up with birds that you could get in and feed.  Nathan took Addi in first and within seconds her head was covered with birds, which she also hated.  Nathan took Daniel on this ride around the zoo so I decided to take Denton and Addi to feed the goats and camels.  Addi is leaning over the stroller watching Denton and the goats and is oblivious to the camel that has come up behind her.  The camel leans over and attempts to steal a cup of water that was sitting in the stroller.  As it's trying to bring it back over the fence, ice water spills all over Addi.  Assuming I'm the culprit, she turns around to let me know she's unhappy when she comes nose to nose with the camel.  Then the screaming started.  I felt so sorry for her, but it was hard not to laugh right along with the 20 bystanders that witnessed it!

While in Richmond, we also took the kids to  Children's Museum and to the Planetarium.  I didn't think I'd ever get the kids out of the museum or Nathan out of the planetarium. 

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We officially have a walker on our hands.  She's been standing on her own and taking a few baby steps for about a month now, but now it's on!  She's all over the place.  Hard to believe she'll be one in just a few short weeks.