Many Happy Returns

A week ago today, I was going crazy getting ready for Lorelei's first birthday party. Did I go a little overboard? Perhaps. But it was my little girl's first birthday, so I'm not going to feel bad about it!

As much as I might have gone a little nuts in the decorations, I thought it all came together very nicely--and for not too much money, overall. The theme was Hot Air Balloons, so we had red, white and light blue balloon garlands, hot air balloons made out of some old paper lanterns I had hanging around, some handmade pennants, a gallery wall with blown up pictures of Lorelei, her weekly photos and a big "hot air balloon" for kids to sit in and take pictures made out of a basket, some ribbon and a very big balloon.

Some of the biggest hits of the party: cheese cubes in the baby buffet, the kiddie pool filled with balls, the red and white striped paper straws (the thing to have among the under 1 set!), and the activity table handmade by Grandpa Dan.

I thought the party might be a bit bittersweet for me. How did my little girl get to be one year old??? She's no longer an infant, and just on the cusp of toddlerhood. She has two teeth, with two more on the way. She can pull herself up and is working hard on standing by herself. Next step is walking! She's got some basic signs down (more, all done, dog), and has a few words...maybe (woof, dada, mama, wow and possibly hi). But you know what, I feel good. I'm excited for this new stage. At the party, I got to hold little Logan, Lorelei's 6 month old cousin for a long time (the longest I've ever held him in fact) and while I relished getting to hold him and cuddle--since Lorelei is not much of a cuddler these days--I also didn't miss it. I even got to hold Grady, one of Lorelei's best buddies, and while he certainly wasn't light (he's at least 30 pounds!), it was cool when he asked me to hold him. It get's me excited for the future--a world of walking (running) and more talking. I've even been told that they start to get cuddly again.

Here are some pictures of her birthday--starting on her actual birthday up to her birthday party (this girl was well celebrated!)

First Birthday Cupcake (ok, so banana muffin with whipped cream). We were not a fan of the fire!

We were a fan of the muffin!

New puzzle from Grandmama!

Dumplings for the Little Dumpling! Dim Sum birthday dinner!

New puppy! At Wenchlette birthday party!

Waiting for our ice cream at Humphry Slocumbe

Mmmm...ice cream!

Birthday Party--the hot air balloon

Hot air balloon garlands and lanterns!

So. Many. Cupcakes.

Weekly picture wall

Gallery Wall

The food. Yes it was all white and red!

Birthday girl getting ready for her party!

In the balloon with her cousin!

Ball Pit!

Reading with Grady

Sharing with Lena!

Logan and Auntie Mel

Playing with the new activity table!

Cuddling with her Poppy (and her paper straw!)

Birthday cupcake (vanilla, with passion fruit filling)

Nom nom nom

Signing more. MORE CUPCAKE!

The activity table was a big hit!

Ribbon! Opening presents after the party

Testing out her new scooter

Thank you for the table Grandpa Dan and Grandma Janet!

One Year Ago

Exactly one year ago, to this very minute (more or less), I was holding my absolutely perfect daughter. Throughout the day today, I would think "I don't even want to think about what I was doing a year ago from this moment" because I was in labor. And while my labor was pretty easy, all things considered, it was not a walk in the park, either. However, when I was nursing Lorelei before bed tonight, I realized that at that very moment one year ago, I was also nursing her. I was nursing her for the very first time. And that moment was absolutely perfect.

It's hard to believe that a whole year has gone by. But it has. Last night, I put the finishing touches on our 2012 family photo album, an album that is almost completely about Lorelei. She has filled our hearts and our minds and our lives. She is ever present on my mind and in my heart. It's hard to believe you can love someone that much and have room for more. But every day I realize you can and you do. 

As I was showering tonight (a lovely, blissful shower uninterrupted by a tiny person playing on the bathroom floor--what my showers usually are like) I was thinking back on this year and what I've learned as a parent, a wife and a person. Here is what I came up with--in no real order:

1. Don't read parenting books. Or, if you do, read them with a giant, boulder-sized grain of salt. It's too easy for me to jump on the bandwagon of any parenting book. Just do what works and feels right.

2. Go outside and do something once a day, even if it is raining and yucky. Lorelei is at the point that she needs to get outside and see something besides the house. It's also really easy to sequester myself with the baby when I am home alone with her.

3. Don't plan too many things outside either. Another problem I have. I will frequently overbook ourselves--occasionally at the expense of a nap--just so we can go to a playdate. That's just as bad as sequestering ourselves at home.

4. Mommy talk is important. So is not mommy talk. Do both frequently.

5. I like my work and the people I work with. It's kind of like my "me" time. I can laugh and joke with my co-workers and their ridiculous antics (sloshball? Sticking 5 cookies in their mouths at once? Swoll Train? I work with boys. They're weird.) and then go home to my perfect baby.

6. I like being home with Lorelei. Enough that I would love to be a stay at home mom. But that's not in the cards right now. And I'm okay with that.

7. I'm anal retentive and a control freak. I'm okay with that too. I make lists and complete them. I like things to be done a certain way and get annoyed when things aren't done the way I like. As I tell my students, it's important to be flexible and try new things. I try to keep that in mind when the dishes are put away in the wrong spot.

8. Buy flowers. Put them in vases. They make me happy.

9. Have sex. Even when I am tired and think I don't really want to. It feels good and makes everyone happy. Win-win.

10. Things happen. Naps are missed. Lorelei eats a lot. Or not very much. She poops. She doesn't poop. Her mouth hurts. She bumps her head. She puts weird stuff in her mouth. 9 times out of 10, it's okay and certainly not something to stress about. Enjoy what is happening right now.

Today, we celebrated Lorelei's birthday with pancakes (Lafayette--not quite New Orleans-style, but close!) for breakfast, presents and dim sum for dinner. While we had banana muffins for dessert, Lorelei fell asleep before she could enjoy them. So we'll have them tomorrow night. In the next week, we are also going to San Francisco for an ice cream social birthday celebration for her with my SF friends, and a birthday party for family and our baby friends. Pretty good for a one year old!

In the end though, I find it fitting that as we celebrate the one year anniversary of Lorelei's birth, we also begin a new adventure: finding a new home. Just like the hermit crab in one of my favorite Eric Carle books, I love my home, it is decorated just the way I like it, but it's grown too small. Too small for two grown ups, one baby and two dogs. It's scary and exciting and wonderful. Just like this last year has been...

One hour old

One hour old

One week old

One year old

52 Weeks aka ONE YEAR OLD!!!

Weight: 20.8 pounds

Length: 28 inches

Favorite activity: Getting into EVERYTHING!

Favorite food: blueberries, blackberries, cheese, mashed potatoes...

Favorite spot: Anywhere she can make a mess!

Naughtiest moment: Torturing Finnegan! He is her very very best friend and she loves to give him hugs!

Important milestones: Teeth! Two teeth on the bottom, and two coming in on top! Also, pushing herself up into a standing postition all on her own--then falling down 5 seconds later.

How Mom's Feeling: I cannot believe a whole year has gone by. Where did the time go? Well, I know, actually. It's all in here! Visits with friends, trips to the park, the museum, San Francisco...It just boggles my mind that in a mere 12 months, Lorelei has gone from being a little (but very cute) lump of baby to the tiny person she is today! In this year we've seen snippets of the person she will become shining through. She is clever (opening gates on her own), persistent (it doesn't matter how many times you hide the cell phone, SHE WILL FIND IT), and hates the word "NO." She is also loving (always kissing the babies in her books), curious and delighted by the world around her (she just loves to sit outside and laugh!) 

I keep trying to pinpoint best moments and worst moments of the year, and I just can't. There are so many to choose from. This year has been an amazing journey, and it's just beginning...

It's Birthday Season! 1st birthday party of the year: Madeline (only 5 days older than Lorelei!)

In the ball pit!

Climbing up the slide is almost as fun as going down!

Birthday Girl!

Ronen is always the life of the party!

Lorelei is digging this rocking horse!

Raise your hand if you've seen this look on Auntie Toff's face!

Happy Hollow is the Place to Be!

Goats. We dig them!

Buddy Danica

Lorelei and Danica, chatting in the sand pit

First big girl ride: the carousel!

Carousels are fun (when they aren't moving!)

51 Weeks!

Favorite food: blueberries are ALWAYS a favorite! Also, we are loving applesauce in the pouch (a win for mama!)

Favorite spot: In the kitchen 

Naughtiest moment: Playing with the drawers and squashing her little fingers in the door!

Cutest moment: Kissing the babies in her books

Important milestones: First sign ("more")! She stood on her own for 5 seconds!

How Mom's Feeling: Good. Busy. We've got some house stuff in the works (not gonna talk about it, in case I jinx it!) but needless to say, my hands have been full this week! When things weren't being crazy at home, Lorelei and I have gone to the park a few times, which was fun. Cold, but fun!

Lorelei also had her worst case of diaper rash to date. So, following advice, I stripped her of her diaper, rolled up the rugs and pulled out the mop. Baby girl went diaperless for most of the weekend! She also took long daily baths and no creams or wipes (unless she pooped, of course). And we eliminated clementines from her diet (the most likely culprit--new and acidic). By Wednesday morning, the rash was gone. Yay!

Some pics of our week:

French toast and berries!

Excited at the park!

Checking her messages!

Cups are good for sand!

Sleeping with her favorite blankie (love those little toesies sticking out!)

50 Weeks

Weight: 20.8 pounds

Favorite food: berries, for sure!

Favorite spot: Anyplace she can make a mess!

Naughtiest moment: Tossing all my mommy's books off the bookshelf and onto the floor.

Cutest moment: Playing with her buddy Grady!

Important milestones: She's working really hard to stand on her own.

How Mom's Feeling: Good. We were able to enjoy my last week of break at home. We went on a trip to Folsom to visit our friends Sandi and Grady, visited with Grandmama and went to the Discovery Museum!

What really astounds me this week is how much Lorelei is learning! She has started refusing to let me put anything in her hair: clips, ponytails, whatever. Instead, she pulls everything out of her hair, then tries to *brush* her hair with her clip! She also tries to feed Brian at dinner. I've even given up the fight with the cell phone (although I need to find an otter box that will work with my phone). It only took her a day to figure out how to play her favorite little game (one that allows her to tap a shape and it will change color and say the color and the shape)! 

Playdate with Grady

The slide was THE BEST!

To the Discovery Museum!

This ball thing was awesome!