Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Two years ago today at 6:34pm, you blessed our lives and turned it upside down

Never, ever did we realize that you could love someone so much whom you just met and have her fill a hole in your heart you never knew was there.

The first 2 months of parenthood were definitely not what we expected and you gave us quite the scare, but at the end of that road was healing. You were so little, yet so strong; you made it through and defied the odds.

1 year birthday

Over these 2 years we have learned so much about you and about ourselves. We know our strengths, our weaknesses and when we can be total suckers for a cute, little girl with big brown eyes.

You have grown to be such a smart, beautiful, sassy little gal and we love every minute of being your mommy and daddy.

May God bless you over the next year and many years to come. We love you SO much and are so happy, proud and privileged to be your parents.

Happy 2nd Birthday Julia!

Our little stinker;

Our coco-peanut-banana;

Our pumpkin;

Our cutie-petutie;

Our brown-eyed girl;

Our honey-bunny

I'm Retiring....

from scrapbooking.

I scrapbooked our wedding; took me three years to complete it. I said I would NEVER scrapbook again, but then Julia came along with her miraculous healing from a never-seen, stump all the medical professionals, lung issue. Well, there was no pre-printed baby journal/album that covers sections to memorialize the aformentioned event, so I said I would scrapbook her first year. As a new mommy, that was a bold statement and well, it took me almost 2 years. I am happy to say I completed her first year book before she turned 2. It took me 6 nights of marathon designing, cutting, pasting and Cricuting (from a Cricut machine) to get it done before her second birthday. I was bound and determined to display it at her 2nd birthday party. So, I am now retiring from scrapbooking. Will I ever come out of retirement? Don't know; depends on what life brings. I will follow Brett Favre's lead; maybe I will go back, maybe I won't.

Not sure what I am going to do with all the leftover paper, embellishments, ribbon, cutting tools and stickers. I have already found a use for my Cricut machine in making posters for nursing conferences and work-related items. I may just put all the stuff in storage and see what the future holds. Maybe I will meet a diehard scrapbooker and give her all my lovely leftovers.

How will I document all of the rest of Julia's life? Maybe I will try this:

Or, I will just create photo books on Shutterfly or Kodak Gallery.

Everyone says I have set myself up for needing to scrapbook our next child's first year. To that I say, no. Maybe there will be another; maybe there won't, but I can say for sure that I won't be scrapbooking his/her first year unless they have a dramatic first year like Julia. Let's pray that doesn't happen!

Party Animal!

To say that Julia was a party animal at cousin Ben's wedding last weekend would be an understatement. She was more like Taz (tasmanian devil) + toddler with extreme adrenaline rush from being around family, friends and so many others having a good time. Julia's party began at the wedding ceremony. Mike had to watch her run around the back of church while I watched the lovely wedding ceremony of our cousin Ben to the beautiful, radiant bride, Jen. Once we got to the hotel for the reception, the adrenaline kicked in even more. I don't think the girl sat down for more than 5 minutes. Dinner was interesting. Mike and I had to take shifts running around with her inside the dining area and outside. She didn't want to sit and eat, she wanted to dance (we promised her a dance earlier-not a good idea). Mike inhaled his food and then I inhaled/devoured second.

While waiting for the hotel staff to transition the dining room into a dance floor/area, Julia ran around (and around, and around) with her cousin Ainsley and other 2nd cousins Callie and Finley. I thought for sure this would tire her out, but nope! The dance floor opened and Julia was all over the place. She was clapping, dancing, running, sliding, bouncing, twisting and other moves I don't know how to describe. She definitely had a great time! Once it was time to come off the dance floor for the grand march and first dance of the bride and groom, Julia was not a happy camper. All she said was "dance, dance?". She was not accepting of the fact that we couldn't be on the dance floor while we watched others dance (to slow songs). While the slow dances continued, we put her in her PJ's and she started to fall asleep on mommy's shoulder. She was a tired out party animal.

Sorry these pictures didn't turn out that great....kind of dark.

Julia on the dance floor bouncing and clamping amidst other guests dancing to a slow song

I am so happy! PAR-TY!

Julia and Cousin Ainsley on the dance floor

Uncle Dave being silly with his daughter, Ainsley