The Birthday Girl

It's my birthday!!!

The much anticipated birthday weekend finally arrived, despite sweet girl having teething pains and a cold all week. I woke up at 4am Friday morning, which is not unusual for me in this pregnancy. Lucy Mills was born at 3:10am and I thought to myself "Happy Birthday...we had just met you for the first time a year ago around this hour." I got up from my cozy comforter and walked down the hall into her pale pink nursery to just rock in her chair for a while. It seems like so long ago that I used to drag my aching, sleepy self out of bed to go tend to a crying newborn in the middle of the night. And now I just sit in silence in her room remembering the moments that made up her first year.

Being a mom is the most wonderful gift I could ever ask for.

I few short hours later I heard that sweet voice on the monitor, ready to rise and shine and start her birthday.

Lucy Mills received lots of thoughtful cards in the mail Friday and she helped Mommy open them and read them.

She especially liked the one from Aunt Shirley because it played a fun tune. When the music started she would throw her arms up and dance to the rhythm.

Suggie came over to give her namesake a present and card...

"Suggie, you expect me to read this?"

"Oh, you mean I get birthday cards AND presents!!!"

Mommy thinks I am tutu cute!

Sitting pretty. Patiently waiting for her party day.

"I am finally getting brave on my push toy and Mommy thought that it would be a fun surprise to Grandmother and Granddad if I could walk at my party..."

"But I decided that I like crawling just fine. I mean why rush these things when I have parents and grandparents who want to carry me anyways?"

It's party time!

Lucy Mills' very first birthday cake.

Her decorated high chair...

And of course everyone was anticipating what color the inside of the birthday cake would be...

"The secrets out...I am going to have a baby brother!"

I gave LM a lick of icing to start with and once she realized it was sweet she immediatley put her hands in it.

Hmmm...not bad.

In fact, she decided that her cake was so yummy Daddy needed to try it...

And then it was time to open presents!

"Can I open this one next Mom?"

"Score! My very own PINK cell phone!"

All in all, I would say that this little angel had a very happy birthday.

Lucy Mills is Going to Have a...

baby brother!

We are thrilled to announce that we are adding a sweet boy to our family. Lucy Mills' birthday party was a special day for us in so many ways. I felt blessed to be able to celebrate BOTH of my children.

Thank you to our family and friends who supported us this weekend. It is a memory I will always cherish.

More party pictures to come...but for now this mama is tired!

The Days of August

Life. is. good.

I say those words to remind myself because in the midst of 100 degree temperatures and coming through my second summer in a row being pregnant; I know that despite the discomfort I will one day look back on this time with fondness. For example,

everything my little girl is doing is brand new and exciting to her. Whether it's splashing in the swimming pool, testing out walking with her push toy, or mimicking words I am saying, she is so proud of herself for trying new things. We are totally interested in toys right now. When we go to friend's houses or to the gym nursery, she makes a bee line for the pile of toys beckoning her name.

She loves balls and whispers "baaa" when she sees one

{notice her amazing eye lashes!}

The funny thing is that you don't even have to give her a traditional toy to make this child happy. Any old thing will do. Discovering Mommy's make up drawer and hair rollers satisfied us for hours one afternoon...

Another thing we have adjusted to this summer is Travis' work trips away. And not the fun kind, the conference kind. As he pulled out his suitcase last week to pack, this is what occurred...

Take me Daddy!

I have to say that while Trav is away, Lucy Mills really pulls her weight around here. She even helps me fold and put away the laundry.

Always setting a good example for her pal Lindsay.

We are counting down the days until somebody turns the big O-N-E around here!

We can't wait to have our family and friends come to celebrate this special day with us. And in about four months (yikes!) we will be celebrating another new birthday. I am almost 21 weeks pregnant now with Baby Mason #2 and many of you have asked if we know what the sex is. Yes we do and I will tell you...

in two weeks!

We had an ultrasound about a month ago and discovered what this sweet baby is. We are keeping it top secret until Lucy Mills' birthday party. We wanted to tell our family all at the same time and in a memorable way. So at her party the inside of the birthday cake will be pink or blue to reveal the big surprise.

Boy or girl?

Do you think Lucy Mills will have a baby brother or sister??