Joanna's First Birthday

On Tuesday, May 24, we celebrated Joanna's 1st birthday on her actual birthday at our house. We kept it really low key with just us and B's parents.  Sorry no big party like Vivian!  We did stick with the bear cake tradition :)

I made her smash cake using the recipe I made Vivian's with cream cheese icing. She didn't dive right in, but she did eat more than Vivian.  At one point she grabbed the entire cake trying to put it in her mouth!  I thought for sure she was going to have the entire cake in her lap.

After cake, we opened gifts on the back porch.  We got her an inflatable pool with a slide and a travel mattress for her pack n' play.  Vivian got her a toy phone.  B's parents got her a sweet little dress and 2 sleep sacks.  My parents got her a travel blocks and laptop.  We are going to MS in a few weeks so she needed a few new toys to play with on our long drive.  

We did grill burgers for lunch and visited.  After Nana and Papaw left, the girls got in the pool.  They had a wonderful time.

Both girls did well and Joanna took a 2.5 hour nap that day.  I just let her morning nap last however long she wanted since I knew an afternoon nap wasn't happening.  She did great with 1 nap.  

I can't believe she's already one!  We love you sweet sweet!!!

    

First Birthday Party

You had an EXCELLENT birthday little girl!  The good thing about having a birthday in the summer is that you can have a pool party.  That's exactly what we did!  We rented the clubhouse and had family and friends over to help celebrate your special day.

Memom made your little bear cake.  I knew I always wanted my first child to have this cake since my brother, myself and niece Audrey all had one.  I wanted to continue the tradition!

Me on my first birthday

You are WAAAAYYY cuter than Mommy!!!

We started your day with having a cinnamon roll for breakfast.  You LOVED the icing!  I gave you a piece of the bread and you spit that right out, ha!  You wanted the good stuff :)

 

 You had a busy morning of playing with Uncle Chris, Aunt Suzanne, Cousin Audrey and Papa.  You had a blast!  You took an hour long nap, from 10-11am.  I wanted you to nap longer, but sadly that didn't happen.  You were happy at least.  

Your party started a 1pm.  We showed up at 1:20pm.  You were fashionably late...that's okay!  Almost everyone was already there.  

 We didn't have a theme for your party, but everything was pink.

We did your smash cake first.  You LOVED it!  I made your icing with real strawberries.

After the cake was done everyone grabbed some food, ate and started swimming.  

We had to change your swimsuit because you decided to do a little poo poo.  That was a first for me.  I was unprepared.  Memom and Papa and to go back to the house and get you some Huggie swimmers and another suit.  It was all good after that!

You did a great job!  I thought you would become fussy since you were running on an hour nap.  You were a happy baby the entire time!

Your party ended at 4 pm.  We cleaned up the clubhouse and headed back home to open your presents and play outside a little.  

 

We got an earlier bath time...6 pm.  To end the day, you pooped in the bathtub for the very first time!!  I think you ate a little too much watermelon, ha!  Mommy put you down and you were asleep by 7pm.  

I am so glad you had a fantastic birthday.  We couldn't have asked for a better day.  The weather was great, you were happy and everyone was happy to be there.  

You are one loved little girl!!!  You have everyone (especially mommy, daddy and the grands) wrapped around your little finger.

 

Turning the BIG ONE!!!

Oh happy day, somebody is one today!  Little girl, I cannot believe you are officially a one year old.  It happened in a blink of an eye. It seems like yesterday I was holding you for the very first time.  It was the greatest day!

It truly has been amazing watching you grow each and everyday.  I have not missed a single milestone.  From watching you rollover for the very first time, to your first smile and laugh, eating solids, to watching you crawl, climb stairs and taking your first steps.  Those moments are PRICELESS!  

You just started really walking a few days ago.  You are finding yourself wanting to walk more than crawling.  It's the cutest thing ever!!

You are still sleeping through the night, minus a few nights here-and-there when you wake up crying.  When that happens, it usually takes about 2 hours for you to go back to sleep.  One reason why I think you wake is because you like to sleep sitting up sometimes.  Its the craziest thing to see.  I know it can't be comfortable!!

You love being outside.  That's your happy place! Whether sitting in the grass, swinging, playing on your new slide fort and water table.

You love fruit, especially blueberries.  I honestly think you could eat an entire pint in one sitting.  They are yummy!

 You are a mama's girl.  Some days you never want me to let go of you.

However, you do love your daddy!

You are a little babbler.  You'll occasionally say, "Mama", "Dada" and "Bro Bro."  Precious!

You love your Bro Bro!  You love giving him his babies.  You'll find one in the corner, hunt him down so he can play.  If we ask you, "Where's Brody" you look around the room for him.  So cute!  

You are an EXCELLENT sharer.  Whatever you are holding, you want to give it to someone.  If I purchase something at the store or if we go out to eat, we let you give the cashier or waitress the product or credit card.  

You stop people in their tracks when we are out.  Doesn't matter if we are grocery shopping, walking, at a restaurant, people have to stop and talk to you.  You love flashing your pearly whites.

You currently have 6 teeth with the 7th tooth trying to break through.  You have 4 teeth on top and 2 on the bottom with another on the way.  Love those little chicklets!

 

You hate having your diaper changed and having your clothes changed.  I sometimes have to wrestle you like an alligator!  It's exhausting!

You still aren't a fan of your carseat.  I'm dreading our 13 hour drive to Mississippi next week.  Not going to be fun!

 I can't wait to see what the next year will bring us.  I know lots of smiles and laughs will be along the way.  Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back little girl. We are so blessed to have you as our daughter!  

XOXO!!!