Happy Birthday Allie!

One year ago today I became mom to a daughter. Since that day I have learned many things. I have embraced my inner pink. I have gotten misty eyed watching my daughter lovingly carry her baby doll...upside down. I have learned much about footwear fashions and gone to great lengths to squish her little feet into cute shoes. I learned how to polish itty bitty toe nails, and have not yet repeated this feat. I have mastered the "sprout" hair do. I have been delighted to come home from work and see the ponytail created by my stylist apprentice of a husband. I have watched a little face transform into a myriad of pouts, puckers and grins. Thanks, Allie, for being such a great sleeper those first three months. Thanks, God, for giving me something I didn't even know I wanted (a daughter).

This ball toy was a hit. Tyler just had to get it for her. It uses air pressure to blow the balls up in the air. My 10 and 5 year old neighbors want one for Christmas!

First Snow

Today we had our first true snowfall. The boys woke up and declared, "Get the boots, Mom, we are going sledding!" Well there wasn't quite enough snow for sledding but we did get out to make our first snow bunny of the year. How fitting that our last snow creature of last year was also a bunny, due to the fact that we had a blizzard on Easter. Allie did very well for her first snow experience, except for the falling flat on her face part. She recovered quickly though and was quite the little snow bunny herself. Danny whipped snowballs at me, though I was forbidden from retaliating. No fair! Tyler helped roll snowballs for our bunny and added the finishing touches. I would love winter if only it would stay like this. Snow but mild temperatures and no wind. I guess I will take it while I can get it.

Allie

Peek-a-boo! Allie has a favorite hiding spot. When I lose track of here this is where she can be found. Hiding among Tupperware. She is at a great age. She will be one year old in just two weeks. She dances, locates missing people and objects, gives high fives and hugs her baby dolls. She is climbing on everything and has started to protest when we tell her NO! Her favorite thing to stand on is Daddy's subwoofer next to the TV. She tries to sit on it and keeps falling behind the entertainment center, feet in the air. She also can play "Baby go night-night" which is quite adorable. Note the last picture.

Halloween

Halloween was a big success this year. Great weather, cute costumes and loads of candy. The boys went as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Sorry the image is a bit dark. It was night time after all. Tyler didn't want to wear his mask but Danny wore his the whole way. He nearly wiped out on all the front steps because he couldn't see a thing! Allie crawled up on all the front porches and sat next to the pumpkin and smiled expectantly and waited for her picture to be taken. She was the very cutest CareBear we have ever seen. The kids brought back their candy after an hour or so of meeting neighbors and dumped it on the living room floor. They started sorting it. There were piles for Tyler, for Danny, for Grandma Nancy and for Silly Grandma -but to my horror- no piles for Mommy and Daddy!! Halloween with three kids and the only candy we got was lollipops that were already licked and rejected for flavor! Luckily though we only had 7 kids trick or treat at our house and so I have a whole bag of candy left for me.