Milla Jean is one!

So my baby girl did it - she turned one! Without my permission, actually, but she went right ahead and did it anyway. How does this keep happening to me? My babies growing up? When thinking of Milla's party, the decisions went like this:

• {1} Make a peg-doll-Milla cake topper.
• {2} MUST make a ruffle cake.
• {3} Pink, pink, pink!

Am I ever thankful for the internet where all of my inspiration and how-to instructions come from. I was pretty intimidated by the ruffle icing, but just had to give it a shot, and you know what? It was so easy {and fun!}. If you are curious, find the peg doll tutorial here and a ruffle icing how-to video here.

And a shout out to super Anita, who took these lovely photos of the cake and decorations. No photoshopping here, folks, just talent. {I  did get a bit photoshop happy down there on the birthday girl pictures, but I just have so much fun with actions.} But that Anita, she just worked magic with these up here all by herself.



Of course I have to thank my mom for lots of help {lots!}... she made raspberry oatmeal bars, arranged flowers, and helped clean. {Thanks, Mom!}



And here is the precious birthday Milla Jean! She really wanted to grab hold of the candle or the flame or something, so aside from a little danger, she enjoyed us singing happy birthday. Well, she wasn't bothered by the actual danger, but by how I wouldn't let her get her little hands on that candle. We actually sang twice because her big bro Miles accidentally blew out her candle with the party blower thing. {What are those called?}



She needed a little help trying the actual cake and not just the icing. Some people like the icing. Some people like the cake. I like both, and I think she did, too!

The whole family at our {last} first birthday party. This picture will be hanging on my wall soon.

Happy birthday to my sweet Jeannie-girl! It's been a precious, too-fast, wonderful year of loving you, though I'm sure I've loved you forever. I'm so happy you've been given to us.

flashback friday

Soon, all too soon, it will happen. My baby will turn one.

31 weeks

36 weeks

She had quite the presence, even before she lived a single day.

Isn't it amazing, how I've loved her forever?

wonder

Here goes another five minute friday: the topic is wonder.

GO.I wonder how it is that I deserve the gift of you. How it is that you were knit together in my womb. How it is that every day was recorded before one of them came to be.

I wonder how it is He decided to make your ears flop over sweetly, to make you look so like your little big brother, yet be so perfectly dainty.

I wonder how it has already been more than 10 months of you, my sweet little baby? How has it passed so quickly? Weren't you just inside, stretching me further than I thought possible? How is it that you now stretch the heart further than I imagined could be - making me a momma with enough heart for four.

And I wonder, how is it that we ever lived without you, Milla Jean?
STOP.

those feet get me every. time. we love how you hold onto us with them.

hey ladybug, whatcha looking at?

oh, I see.

sharing.

Jeannie-girl,

this has been a big time for you! You are officially on the move. You can get to the far reaches of the house all by yourself. Although this is an exciting development {since six weeks ago I was worried you'd never crawl!}, it's also troubling due to my {less than} desirable house-keeping skills. So far we make it work by shutting you out of certain rooms, and constantly looking for those tiny choking hazards, which reminds me of having to do a modified heimlech on you recently. Not. Fun.

You are working on cutting four top teeth. Seriously? Must you cut four all at once and all too soon look like a grown woman? Well, not really a grown woman, but still, older than I'm ready for in such a short time. Slow up on the teeth sprouting a bit, ok?

Since you are now independently mobile, you have no time or desire for the exersaucer or the walker. And wow, do you display that temper if we try. Only occasionally do you humor us briefly on this matter. That's ok, places to go and things to do, right?

We love you, you sweet and spicy little thing. Forever and ever.

big yawn. cutting four teeth and crawling all over creation will make one tired I suppose.

counting gifts

{36} Seeing His goodness in the wake of tragedy.

{37} Hearts going out to others, help given, prayers said.

{38} Growing love among the oldest of friends.

{39} Busy husband fixing my lunch.

{40} Singing.

{41} Sunday lunch, new place, not crowded, kids eat free.

{42} Help for infected ears.

• {43} A serious boy can sometimes be silly.

See what others are listing this week at A Holy Experience:

milla jean at 8 months

Hey, can I tell you something exciting?

I am 8 months old!

It's going by so quickly. {As least momma says so.}

As promised, I'm {pretty much}on time with this post. My baby girl is eight months old as of yesterday. How the hands of the clock spin faster and faster I'll never know. I do know that Milla is no longer a little baby, although as if to spare me from too much {it's going too fast!} sadness, this girl is doing things on a bit of a slower time-line. Fine with me, baby girl. Actually, all of my littles have been late to walk: Elijah and Ella were both 14 months while Miles was a true late walker at 16 months. {Finally! I was 6 months pregnant with Ella by then.} I suppose Mil could surprise me and get to walking sooner, but she might need to start crawling and pulling up first. For now, she's just pleased as punch to be sitting up on her own!

and watching leafy shadows in sunlight

and dancing to musical toys

and having eyes on that cat

and playing some more

and eating and enjoying both yellow and green veggies equally, but the nose is turning orangey. 

And using some consonants in her babble, mainly m and d, with her favorite combination being ma! That's my girl. {We both love you, daddy!}

 

 I'm pretty pleased with how things are going right now. Momma is too.

Before you go, look how far I've come in 8 months:

See you next month, and between now and then if you're lucky I'm sure!

just because

{big girl sitting up!}

{photographed by Ella}

{Miles eyes make me swoon. Just lovely. But don't tell him I said that.}

i'm late, so what's new?

People, the magnitude of my self-diagnosed ADD is at an all-time high here lately. If the medication for it wasn't horribly and ridiculously expensive, I'd find a way to sign myself up for some.

This very moment, I am supposed to be sewing. I need to be sewing most moments between now and Easter, but what am I doing? Blogging. And why am I blogging? Because for three weeks {3!} I've been meaning to post Mil's 7 month pictures. So, let's make this quick so I can get to that... or should I do the dishes next? The next loud of laundry? See what I mean?

{those eyes}

Miss Lou,

I hope you can forgive me for being very late on your 7 month post. As I hope you know, I'm doing the best I can. I'll make it up to you very soon when you turn 8 months.


{maybe a sweet bath photo will make you feel better.}

By 7 months you were able to get yourself somewhere by a combination of rolls. Very efficiently, but thankfully not {too} far! That will come soon enough. Your nose was also becoming a nice shade of orange by that point, although you do enjoy a fair amount of peas and some green mixes. Hopefully we can curb the orange glow before too long when we add some meat and finger foods to your menu.

Loving you even more,

momma