More Birthday!

Today is Andrina's actual 2nd birthday. Tom and I took her to the zoo this afternoon and we let her open up her presents from us when we got home. She got all Sesame Street themed gifts from us as she is really into Elmo, Abby Cadabby, & everything Sesame Street. Here's some more pictures of our baby girl, who's looking more and more like a little girl every day...

Andrina with some new toys

Me & Andrina in our matching Elmo shirts again (I washed them yesterday)
Trying to put on a birthday hat decoration!

Hmm...I'm not sure if she's done being a baby yet...

Andrina still looks so much like a baby in this picture

Happy Birthday My Love!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday Dear Andrina

Happy Birthday to You!

Always the happiest baby!
I love seeing how this Elmo birthday toy was magical for you.
I love the gift of a second childhood you have given me to experience through your eyes.

Wow, you were only 18 inches tall and 6 pounds, 6 ounces when you were born.

Look how much you have grown since then.

Good night Andrina!

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since I gave birth to you. What do I say on this momentous occasion for you? What can I say that celebrates your first year of life? How can I convey just how much I love you? I have enjoyed your first year immensely. I loved you and enjoyed this first year, even when things were difficult, like when I could not nurse you, when you were fussy every evening for the first 3 months for no apparent reason, when you woke up every 2 to 3 hours and I could not sleep. I loved you though it all and as much as I loved you when you were born, I've grown to love you even more as the days and weeks and months have passed.

I'll never forget how when you were born that you were in my arms when you took your first breath of life. I'll never forget how hours later when I was still so pumped up with adrenaline that I could not sleep and you were asleep, I took you into my bed and laid you down next to me. I just gazed at you and kissed you all over, I was so full of wonder and amazement that I grew you inside of me and that I knew that I did something wonderful. I remember thinking that you were so beautiful and tiny and I waited so long to meet you that I could not get enough of you. And now it is one year later and I still feel the same way. There are so many times when I just look at you and I fall in love with you all over again. I can't describe how much I love you, how much your smiles and laughter and kisses and cuddles shake me all the way through to my soul. I don't know how many times the strength of my love for you have made me burst into tears. Every day I say "thank you" to God for you. My dearest daughter Andrina, as the years continue to pass, I hope that you will always know that I love you. I hope you will always know that you are my everything. And I hope you know that I truly believe that because I have loved you, I have gotten a glimpse of heaven and it's more that I ever could have hoped for.

Birthday Party Planning

Andrina is almost 10 months old and I am now busy planning for her first birthday party. Wow, she has gone from tiny newborn to and active older baby! So much growth and development in such a short time. I have several long lists of things to do, including the list for the handyman who I have to hire to do things like drill two holes in the brick above my fireplace to hang up pictures of Andrina. Tom said he'd handle getting someone out to stain our deck. I need to arrange for the dogs to be boarded during that and the party. I need to get someone out to clean up the doggy poop out of the yard before the party (we do do that but I want to make sure it's all gone with all of our guests out there, plus I'll be super busy and who really wants to do that anyways?). There are decorations to buy and hang, but I have bought most of them. I need to order m&m's, put together party favors and treat bags for the kids, invitations need to be mailed, plan the menu, buy the food, order a cake, and on and on.

But, I am actaully excited about all of it. I know Andrina won't remember any of it but it will be such a special day for her and I want to make it as special as possible. And I am excited that I got two big things done today for it-I ordered the photo invitations and I reserved a moon jump and the tables and chairs we'll need. The invitations are super cute and I can't wait to get those mailed out to everyone once they arrive. Come Monday I'll need to get back to calling and continuing with the party plans.