Mine. Mine. Mine!

There are SO many really cool toys to buy for kids these days!

So so many.

We were really impressed with how well we refrained from buying too much for Piper for Christmas.

There really was not an excess of toys from Santa, friends or family.

Piper's first birthday, however, proved to be quite the opposite!

She received A LOT of toys and other presents.

Packages are still arriving daily from my lovely friends and family.

I thank you all for your generosity 

and I feel truly blessed to share you all with Piper!

HOWEVER,

be warned!!

No matter how amazing the gift that you send is....

someone else's is better. 

Just ask Blue!

I had thought that it was going to be difficult to teach Blue not to touch Piper's toys...

turns out I had it completely backwards. 

xo

The Christmas/Birthday loot!

But... this is where I spend at least 30 minutes every day!

Yes, this green thing with chewed-off eyes and ears IS fun!

Thirty minutes later.... this is still fun. Sigh!

It's what's on the OUTSIDE that really counts!

Thank you, Aunt Krista, Uncle Harold and Jack,

for my farm.

Actually, thank you for the BOX that the farm came in!

We spent a very long time putting books into the box

and then taking them out again!

Fun!

xo

Put a book in...

Take a book out...
Repeat!

Taking Dolly for a Stroll

Piper was given multiple fabulous gifts for her birthday!

I am so thankful that she has such wonderful and thoughtful people in her life!

Thank you to everyone!

You will see some posts over the next few days featuring these gifts,

since Piper is having a BLAST playing with them!

Today's feature: Her new walker, 

which is disguised as a stroller!

Piper takes Dolly for a walk.

She takes her out and "loves" her.

She presses the button on the bear to hear music, 

and then dances up a storm!

Super fun gift!

xo

"HOLD ON Dolly!"

Time to get you out of there!

Ahhhh, Piper loves her dolly! xo

Fun to be One!

Today was Piper's very first birthday. 

That means that she had her very first birthday PARTY!

Besides the fact that she really wanted to take a nap half way through, 

everything was great and she had so much fun!

Here are some photos!

Enjoy!

xo

The Cake!
(There's a long story behind this one!)

The spread!

Offering her guest a beverage!

Piper and her best girl friend Wynn!

A very special birthday hat
for a very special girl!

Time to open presents...

and 'dress up in tissue paper!"

Sharing a new toy with my friends!

Getting a little help opening her big present from Jack!

The girls admiring Piper's new Dolly!

Piper and her party guests!

Piper has her eye on the prize!

Feeding Daddy some cake!

Falling asleep,
but willing to test out the cake!

A birthday tradition of icing on your nose...

and icing in your hair...

and icing on your toes!!!

It's official.
First birthdays are F.U.N. !!

One Year Ago Tonight...

One year ago tonight I was told that my water had broken

and I was going to have my baby!

I was in a state of shock 

that I don't think I ever recovered from. 

It's amazing that tomorrow Piper will no longer be referred to as a baby, 

but graduates to a toddler.

It is incredible how quickly this year has passed.

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful little girl in my life 

and to be able to watch her grow and thrive each day.

Tomorrow we will have a party to celebrate the first year of PIPER's life

and the most amazing year of MY life!

xo

One of the last photos taken of me before Miss P's early arrival!

So excited to be turning one tomorrow
and showing off her new hairdo.

It takes three ponytails to tame this hair!!

Mac-n-Cheese!

For supper tonight, we gave Piper some macaroni and cheese.

She's always been partial to macaroni, 

so we try to give it to her at least once a week to try to get her to like it.

Tonight, she picked the cheese out of the macaroni and ate it...

until she could only see macaroni.

Then she picked the macaroni out of the bowl...

until she could only see cheese.

Then why waste time picking up each piece of cheese when you can chug it??

xo

Getting the macaroni out of the way!

And she finds the mother lode of cheese!

And chug!

Curtains are a No-No!

My child is NOT allowed to play with curtains. 

It has always been a pet peeve of mine. 

For as long as I can remember. 

I don't enjoy it when someone brings their child for a visit

and they let them play with the curtains and/or sheers. 

I figure, how can I expect Piper not to play with other people's curtains 

if she's allowed to play with ours at home. 

So, Piper is NOT allowed to play with the curtains...

until one day when she REALLY wanted to and I REALLY needed a blog post!

And yet again, I eat my words...

Tomorrow! No more playing with the curtains!

xo

Where is Piper?

Anyone see Piper?

Send in the hounds!!

Here I am Mom! 

Don't worry.
I'm not playing with the curtains.
I'm wearing them!
Like in the Sound of Music,
you know, your favourite musical!!