{The Big "1"}

Anna turned one year old this past Friday and Bob and I could not wait to celebrate with her!  We were both fortunate to be off of work for her big day, so we planned to spend the day as a family and then top the day off with dinner at Happy Joe's at night.  Going to Happy Joe's for your birthday has always been a big deal in my family and so I was thrilled to share the tradition with Anna.  We started off the day by waking Anna up with some birthday balloons.  After breakfast, a trip to the grocery store to pick out her birthday cake, and some playing, Anna went down for a nap.  After a marathon 3 hour nap we woke Anna up, had a quick lunch and headed out to the NEW Zoo.  Anna had a blast feeding the goats and alpacas in the petting zoo area and enjoyed playing on the swings and going on the Merry Go Round...which has always proved to be a favorite of Anna's!  After the zoo we drove straight to Happy Joe's where Anna enjoyed riding the Merry Go Round there, her first taste of taco pizza, and her first birthday sundae!  We were thrilled to share the night with grandmas and grandpas, my grandmother, and Becky and her two girls, Abby and Izzy.  After dinner we all headed back to our house where Anna opened some birthday presents and had some cake.  Anna certainly didn't waste any time getting down and dirty with the cake - she went right for it!  Overall, we had a wonderful day with Anna and are looking forward to her first birthday party next weekend!!! 

I will let the pictures share our big day!

Anna with her birthday balloons!

At the zoo with daddy!

Watching the lions bask in the sun!

Love the swing!

Feeding the giraffes

Excited to be at Happy Joes with Grandma Lois!

Birthday sundae!  Loved the cone, hated the ice cream...

Riding on her new rocker from Bob and I - Lulu the Ladybug!

Mmm....cake!

Playing with cousins Isabelle and Abby

{What I Didn't Know a Year Ago}

Hard to believe that a year ago tomorrow Anna came into our lives...It's hard to imagine life without her.  And as I reflect back on the past year, I realize I am really a lot smarter today than I was one year. 

For example, a year ago, I did not know...

...the words to the "Abby's Flying Fairy School" song on Sesame Street...I do now!

...how to open and close our stroller, I can now do it one handed while holding Anna with the other...

...how much little sleep Bob and I really can function on!

...that babies can eat table food without teeth!  Seriously, who knew?

...what the green (or blue depending) line was for on newborn diapers...or that it really is important to fluff the ruffles! 

...just how loyal our dogs are...on the most sleepless nights, they are always up by our side....making sure all is OK.

...just how good of a team Bob and I really do make:)


...amongst a million other things we have learned this past year...just how truly amazing being a parent is.  Anna gives me the courage, energy, and motivation to be the best possible mother, wife, and friend possible.  I whole heartedly believe she brings out the best in Bob and I and we are so blessed to have this little ray of sunshine as a part of our lives. 

Love & Kisses Annas!  xoxoxo

{Best Fourth of July Weekend Ever!}

This past holiday weekend was absolutely fantastic.  We had such beautiful weather all weekend long, which allowed us to finally get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun, as well as get a lot done around the house that was WAY over due!  Our weekend was busy - we started Saturday at the botanical gardens where our good friend Kelly graciously took some pictures of Anna for us.   I haven't seen them all yet, but she has been sending me sneak peeks this week and I already love them!  Big thanks to Kelly for sharing her time and talent with us!

After the botanical gardens, Bob and I took Anna to the wildlife sanctuary and then home for a quick nap.  After Anna woke up, we packed up, grabbed our favorite spot at Voyager Park in De Pere and had a picnic.  Overall, it was a great family fun day!  Sunday Bob and I worked our little tails off (I finally cleaned windows!!!) and did other stuff around the house.  That night we had our good friends Dave and Jo over for a little Mexican fiesta...after some tasty food, we headed outside where we watched 3 rather large firework shows - so fun and thank you neighbors!!!  We completed our weekend Monday with some more time outside with Anna, ran errands, stopped in at my parents and then went up to my dad's office to watch the Fire Over the Fox fireworks downtown.  I was shocked that Anna managed to stay awake to see them, but she did....and fell asleep right before the best part - the finale! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July weekend!



All Dressed Up & Ready for Fun!



Hanging with Daddy at Titletown



Snacks!

Beautiful View



Waiting for Fireworks



{Thankful}

So this blog post is really just for my benefit, but as I was laying here in bed tonight, with my wonderful husband sleeping (ok, snoring!) next to me, a feeling of calmness washed over me.  It's one of those rare nights where the dishes are done, laundry, well, it has been started, the house is picked up, I just checked on Anna and is she sleeping peacefully in her crib (butt up in the air of course!), Bob snoring next to me and two cute puppies cuddling on the floor below me, I am reminded just how lucky I am.  So I felt like it would be a good thing to write about it - that way, when the going gets tough, we are overtired, overworked, and just plain overwhelmed, I can remind myself just how lucky and blessed we really are. 

I worked a full day today (my day started out even earlier than normal, as a storm blew out our electricity last night....I didn't realize it until I was on my way to my mom's to drop off Anna and it was 6:30 AM...oops!).  Anyway,after work, I came home, made supper (a low fat version of beef stroganoff, yum!) and Bob and I took Anna rollerblading for the first time and had an absolute blast!  We recently purchased a jogging stroller, so we thought we would give our roller blades a try.  After dusting them off, seriously, it has been YEARS, chatting with the neighbors, we were off...and could not stop laughing....we started off a little rusty and Anna was probably laughing on the inside at us, but had so much fun - Anna too.  Came home, got Anna ready for bed and played with her for an hour or so before she finally tuckered out....and boy did she work on walking....For about 45 minutes, all she did was stand up, take a couple steps, fall down, and repeat!  And then it was bottle and to bed...

So here is my note to self....on top of a busy day, I still had time to get on the floor, play and cuddle with Anna....so next time when everything seems to have piled up...let it go, get on the floor with Anna and have fun....because undoubtedly, while it really isn't even that important, there will be time to get it all done....somewhere down the road:)

Goodnight!

{Watch Out World, Here I Come!}

Look at Me Go!!!