Ruthie's First Birthday, Part 3

We didn't open presents while everyone was here for the party because Ruthie started to get tired and needed another nap. So, we held off and opened them later that night with just our families present for the presents...

Here are SOME MORE PICTURES so our loving and gracious and generous friends who brought her wonderful gifts can be a part of the "presents!!"





















We tried to get a picture of everything but we inevitably missed a few. We're so sorry if your present isn't on this post. Know that we appreciate all you did and gave to our sweet little girl and that we will be thinking of you every time she uses it or wears it!! You all can be looking in the mail for your thank you... they'll be on their way in a couple of days!! :)

Ruthie's First Birthday, Part 2

Saturday morning bright and early started my day making 30 "uncrustable" style PB & J for her party later. The theme was "Ruthie's Backyard Birthday Bash!" and we invited about 50 of our closest friends and family! We had about 20 kids from church and a few cousins that were helping us celebrate along with their parents! We had baby pools filled with water and a 16 foot slip n slide for the kids pleasure (believe me when I say 16 feet sound much longer when reading on the box then when stretched outside... but they enjoyed it none the less!) We also had "the game" for the big kids (aka adults!) That is a horse-shoe style game played with these PVC stands and two golf balls attached by twine. I'll show you some pictures below.

It went off with out a hitch. All my planning and praying paid off. No Rain. That is a miracle. It's summer in Florida. It rains in the afternoon EVERYDAY. You can set your watch by the rain. But, no rain on Ruthie's party day!! Also, she napped at the exact PERFECT time. Just enough before that she would be a ray of sunshine at her party! I don't know what everyone else is talking about.. this party thing is EASY! Or at least that is what I was thinking until 15 minutes before the party!

I had the food made ahead of time. BBQ pork sandwiches and PB & J. My mom made a fruit salad, and Aunt Holly made her prize winning potato salad. My mom-in-law brought the veggies, chips, and dip! I had been collecting soda and water every time it went on sale. And I made the cookies that go in the treat bags a few days before. Everything was running smoothly.

Tony and my brother set up the outside. The pools, the slip n slide, the pop-up pavilion. Decorated with streamers and balloons... it's all set. Ruthie woke up, I dressed her in her fancy party dress, and sat her on the couch with 4 adults and a cup of juice while I ran around doing last minute things....


This is Ruthie BEFORE she took a dive OFF THE COUCH 15 minutes before the party!! Yes, she did. Yes, all the adults felt so bad. They said it was in a blink of an eye and they couldn't even react fast enough to catch her...even though they tried.

I don't have a good picture of AFTER because we were too busy trying to get her to stop crying, putting frozen peas on her forehead where this BIG red goose egg appeared, and generally trying to calm down from the traumatic experience. Although it was scary then, because she is alright now, I can kinda laugh at the thought that I had it all together... Just another reminder that the LORD has everything in His control. And, without him we are nothing...

But, other than that... everything was PERFECT. Such a wonderful day, as you'll see from the pictures below!

The food table


The party scene - along the back fence were pictures of Ruthie through out her first year. The guest had to guess how old she was in each picture!


The cookie treats!























The hubs playing "the game"




My bro playing "the game"


cooling off w/ cold water!!


Her beautiful cake!!




She picked off all the pink polk-a-dots before diving in... deja vu!








Her friend Kylie found her own private spa during the party... the juice bucket!!


Winding down...


Almost out!



We had a wonderful day. I hope you were able to enjoy it with us through this picture fest!!! (sorry about all the pictures, but I took over 200...so think of all the pictures I spared you from!! :))

Ruthie's First Birthday, Part 1

We spent Ruthie's actual birthday together as a family. After we had prepared for her big party the next day, we spent some time at the splash park at the YMCA. I don't have any pictures because I wanted to enjoy every minute, not worrying about getting the perfect shot...

Then later that night we went to my mom's house where our extended families came together for a wonderful dinner and Ruthie's first cake!



Ruthie is such a dainty eater that she picked off all the candy flowers FIRST then started tasting the cake!








After cake we opened a few presents from family and although she got some really good stuff, she was most happy with this little scrap of paper that kept her busy all night!! Oh, the money that we waste...But, the "birthday fairy" (aka my mom) left this sweet choo choo for Ruthie to keep at my mom's house! I can't wait until she's a little taller and can reach the floor!!

Ruthie is ONE YEAR OLD!!!

In a blink of an eye, this year has flown by. Tony and I have spent the day reminiscing on "last year at this time" as in "last year at this time we were..." I can't believe my little girl is a year old. She is such a happy, joyful, and easy going child. We love nothing more than to spend our time watching the delight in her eyes as she plays. Or hearing the sweetest giggle as we chase her and she crawls away. Or watching as the world around her becomes bigger and bigger. She is the light of our life. She is such a joy. And we can't even remember life before Ruthie... Through a few shed tears (because my baby is one year old) I plan on soaking as much as I can today and this weekend as we celebrate the most wonderful gift from God, our baby girl. We are truly blessed. I'll update everyone on the festivities after this weekend, but for now, here is a sampling of what she accomplished while she was 11 months old!

* First airplane ride

* Enjoyed new foods such as organic animal crackers, pizza, & grilled cheese

* Last week started on cows milk. We're beginning to wean her. At first she hated milk. She would get this really funny look on her face as though she'd tasted something awful. She'd push away her sippy cup and refuse to drink. After a while, and a very persistent mommy, I'm happy to report that she drank a full 4 oz today at lunch!

* Ruthie is very content to stay in the family room and play with her toys. She doesn't give much attention to the other things around her. Until recently. The last couple of months she has really started noticing the things around her and has really started to get her hands into things. (although most of the time if she knows it's not for her she doesn't touch it.. once we've convinced her of it!) But this month she crawled out of the family room and discovered the rest of the house!

* She blows kisses

* When you ask her how big she is she throws her arms up and waits for you to say "so big"!

* She LOVES to turn circles while she's sitting on her bottom. She's done this for a couple of months too.

* She does patty cake now. It's so cute to watch her "roll it and roll it" then she waits for the big finish and throws her arms up again for "throw it in the oven for Ruthie and me"

* Says "Hi Daddy" I was so amazed when Tony walked in the room and she put two words together!!

* Drinks from a cup (not a sippy, a regular cup!) But no without spilling! LOVE water bottles. If she sees you with one she won't stop until she has it!!


* Did her first art project... finger painting. She painted a picture for a friend of ours from church who is in the hospital after a very serious car accident. Please keep Jim Lancaster in your prayers. We are praying for a miracle and a full healing of his body.

Finger painting


Her Masterpiece


Playing with Uncle Matt


Mommy and her sweet girl


Ruthie and Carson at HIS first birthday!


This clip is Ruthie showing off "so big!" She also puts her pointer finger up when we ask how old she is. But, She only does that when she wants to, and apparently, she didn't want to for this video!






This clip is Ruthie showing off her "peek-a-boo" Don't mind the towel around her neck (I forgot to take a bib to my in laws house that day, or the pizza on her face. As I said, that girl can really get into some pizza...