3 Questions

1. I need another book. Recommendations? I just finished the Help (which I loved) and I don't really have a next one in line. What should I pick up?

2. We are working on getting Lucy off bottles. (not fun) For a long time she wouldn't do sippy cups, now she will drink several sips of water during meals with those nuby sippy cups. But she won't take milk out of them. What am I supposed to do? She is still supposed to be getting 15 ounces of milk a day. Any suggestions?

3. Lucy requires a lot of attention these days- which I don't mind playing with her but I run out of ideas. I feel like we are both bored. (which is shocking with all the toys she has-so overrated!) I really need activities to do with her, things we can play together. Some things we try to do is play doh, "rice" box, coloring, dancing time...and that's the end of the list. The problem is each activity lasts 10 minutes, so i need to be well stocked with ideas! What are some good activities particularly ones that can help her learn and develop skills for a one year old? I would love all the ideas you got! Do any of you set up like a routine schedule of daily play activities? Gimme all ya got!

Thank you in advance...I love all the answers I always get on the blog! :) Y'all are awesome!

I Hate Goodbyes

It's that time of year again, when the 4th years graduate and have to leave us. This is a really hard time round here. You should see everyone's blog they all have these same photos up! This year was really hard, I lost some of my really good friends and I know it's only going to get harder! I can't believe how fast dental school is going! It's insane! Erik just started his 3rd year and I still call ourselves 1st years. Most Thursday nights we have a girls night to just sit and chat (sometimes into the wee hours of the night) this was the last one for many of the 4th years so we took the time to tribute them with a little farewell. We signed yearbooks and did a top 10 reasons why we love each girl...which I read and blubberd like a baby over (so embarrassing) These "Scrap" nights will be some of the best memories I have here. We already miss our dear 4th years! Can you believe all these girls live within walking distance? dream come true!! (and sorry to Kayli- who I am practically blocking in this pic...i had no idea-sorry!) 

Of course we had to get in one more nights of cops and robbers! ;) 

And apparently I didn't get the memo to wear black! Duh! 

Don't mess with us!

 Marci even brought doughnuts for the cops, how appropriate! Guess who therefore wanted to be a cop the whole time? That's right! AND let's be honest, I am the best darn driver around anyway just ask these gals! ;)

 Picture below = MY LIFE!

I spend almost every afternoon outside with these ladies while all the crazy kids run around. Pretty cushy life eh? Too bad half of them are now gone. ;( I love you girls! Here's to making the most of the next two years cuz I know they will FLY by! I don't plan to miss a moment of it!  

Lucy's 1st Birthday

Lucy's Big Day was perfect...just like the day she was born. I love having a child. Birthday's will always be a special celebration of that glorious day they were born. I know this is an obvious statement but it has a whole new meaning once you have a child. All day I just kept thinking how grateful I was to have my beautiful, healthy, and happy baby girl. On my favorite show Gilmore Girls every birthday at the time Rory was born her mother goes in her room and tells her about the moment she was born, while I didn't take it this far (mainly as not to disturb Lucy's nap), I did love pausing at 1:09pm and thinking of that amazing moment when Lucy entered the world. I will admit it brought a few tears to my eyes. I feel so lucky to be this little girls Mom. I love her so much! We had an awesome day Celebrating our little Lu! 

The Invite 

The Table 

Menu: Chocolate dipped Marshmallows, Jelly Beans, Peanut M&M's, Strawberry Wafer cookies, Chocolate Dipped Pretzels, Strawberries and Cream Gummies, Cupcakes, Frosted Animal Cookies, Cake Pops, Carmel Chocolate Kisses, Wintergreen Mints, Cotton Candy, Powdered Donuts and Water. (all pink and white of course!) 

The Outfit

complete with little piggy's in the back! :) 

Made with Love by Mom...and yes I SLAVED over that party hat and this is the only picture I got of her wearing it..lol! Isn't it cute though? 

The Cake 

She wasn't shy! About the only thing she got from her Mom was her sweet tooth! She downed this bad boy! She mainly stuck to the frosting..till the very end and by then you could tell she couldn't eat much more! ha! My favorite part was when we were singing happy birthday to her she was dancing/ banging her head on the back of her chair. :) 

The Family

The Baby Friends 

minus Kara. We also had many other loyal big buddies running around too. They watch out for Lucy and Lucy loves to follow them around! 

The Presents

Which she had no interest in....it made me sad! Her boy cousins were very into it though! ;) 

She did immediately LOVE this car mommy and Daddy gave her!

The Princess with her Spoils 

and this...

Wow! Lucy you are one very loved little girl! Thank you so much to all the family and friends who came to celebrate with us. 

Later that night after the party it started Pouring...i mean buckets..seriously! Erik got so excited, stripped down Lucy and ran with her outside! It was so cute! She was squealing with delight (we think). It was just the perfect ending to the day. I can't even begin to describe the joy that this girl brings into our lives. Happy Birthday Lucy! We love you!  

One Year

My beautiful baby at one years old

Courtesy of http://daniellehonephotography.squarespace.com/

Here are her one year stats. 

Height: 29 1/2 70%
Weight: 19.15 35%
Head: 19 1/8 greater than 95%