First Birthday

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, my baby is ONE year old!!!!!!!!!  Well, actually she turned one almost four weeks ago.  I am still in shock that she is over twelve months old.  This has definetly been the best year of my life.  I am daily amazed at the beauty and joy a child can bring to one's life.  My world feels so complete with this little girl in my life.  She has given me more direction, ambition, and joy than anything I have ever known.  She has made Brent and I a family and brought us closer together! 

We had a super busy month, traveling to Atlanta one weekend and to Tennessee another.  Our trip to Atlanta took place on Samantha's birthday.  The entire family, from grandparents to aunts and uncles to cousins, all traveled to Scott and Amanda's house to celebrate Samantha.  It was a fast and furious weekend but much fun was had and priceless memories made. 

I guess we were all in a "pink" sorta mood.

I made Samantha's birthday cake, it was nothing elaborate.  It was, of course, a sourdough chocolate cake with chocolate icing made from coconut oil.  She wasn't sure what to think of it.  She had a couple bites but didn't go crazy.  I think if I would have given her a spoon she would have enjoyed it more, and made much more of a mess.  She really likes to use a spoon to feed herself, well, attempt to feed herself. 

Samantha got lots of cards and gifts from her family.  Lots of pink stuff and fun girlie things.  Aunt Amanda got her this adorable tutu.  She didn't keep it on long but it looked cute while it lasted. 

I was really impressed that most our relatives from Mississippi were able to make the journey to Atlanta for the event.  It was great to have Samantha's great-grandparents and grandparents all together.  And I was especially grateful to Aunt Amanda for housing all ten house guests! 



Great Grandparents Jordan, Amanda, Pamela, Dale, Mary Alice

A couple weeks after that trip we traveled home to Tennessee to spend the weekend with my parents.  It was actually Labor Day weekend so Brent had a little extra time away from work to make it a long weekend.  My parent drove ten hours from Oklahoma to see us all.  It had been six months since my parents had seen Samantha so she wasn't real sure about them at first.  She warmed up to them eventually but never really let them hold her to long.  By the end of the weekend she was giving them kisses though!

We took one day to travel to Chattanooga and spend the day with Cassie and her family.  Cassie had wanted to see my parents and had planned on driving to the house but I thought it'd be fun for mom and dad to see Chattanooga.  My parents had never been to Chattanooga and it was only a short one hour drive south.

We ate at a great little hamburger joint.  I can't remember the name but Cassie picked it because they focused on local and organic foods, which I thought was super thoughtful of her.  She always remembers the details!  Anyway, after lunch we headed to downtown.  Cassie's daughter, Georgia, loves the carousel in the park.  Actually, she loves anything horse and so we all had a great time riding the carousel.  Samantha wouldn't sit on a carousel pony but she had fun riding around in Brent's lap.  I can't remember the last time I rode a carousel, it was quiet enjoyable.  Kinda makes you feel like a kid again. 

We did a little bit of walking around downtown, including the bridge that crosses the Tennessee river.  But since it was a little on the warm side we eventually walked right into an ice cream shop.  It was a lovely afternoon and so much fun to spend it with so many wonderful people. 

    





Cassie with Waylon, Samantha and I.

I'm still in shock that my little baby is over a year old already.  Looking back on this first year is a blurr, it has been so fast and furious that its hard to remember all the details.  However, that is my main reason for doing this blog . . . so I can remember most of the great memories.  
As of now Samantha is not walking on her own yet.  She will walk around furniture and hold my hands so I can help her walk but not quite sure of herself enough to let go.   I looked at a couple of walking toys that she could use but I wasn't going to pay $30 for plastic junk.  I did find some wood toys online that I think I'll have to order.  Anyway, before I know it she'll be running around this house. 
I know she's ready for some different foods too so I'm hoping she gets more teeth soon.  She currently only has two bottom teeth and about half of a top tooth.  We keep finding new foods all the time but she's really ready for more finger foods.  She enjoys feeding herself and will use a spoon most of the time.  She still makes a nice mess though.  I think I need to invest in a portable hand-held vaccuum! 
Some new foods we have tried include chicken, chicken livers (she loves), peaches, strawberries, blueberries (all fruit mixed with dairy kefir), dairy kefir cheese, soaked oatmeal, peas, carrots, and a few other standby's.  I try to add raw butter or coconut oil to every dish I put together, and lots of unrefined sea salt.  They're aren't to many things that she'll spit out.  If I get the texture right she will eat almost anything.  I'm just thankful she is a good eater.  And of course she is learning how to use the sippy cup, she likes to dump it out on her tray more than she likes to drink from it at this point.  But alas, must start somewhere right? 

getting every last bite of avocado!

And like every new mom I got some one year pictures taken.  I knew that going by myself was a mistake because I had nobody to tell me "you don't really need all those pictures."  So, I got to many pictures but lesson leanred.  She was just to darn cute and I couldn't decide!