You Are My Sunshine

I am not one to throw parties, but I couldn't let my first baby turn 1 without celebrating.

Everyone pointed out that she wouldn't even remember it but I admit that I did this party more for me than for her! I needed it to help me accept the fact that she is now a 1 year old.

I didn't go all out, we just had a small little party with both our families.

FYI - The banner is hiding our address from any creeps out there.

I based it loosely off of "you are my sunshine" and made everything pink and yellow and made Londyn's smash cake a sun.

I chose that theme because Chris used to sing that to my belly when I was pregnant with Londyn and now she absolutely loves that song. And of course she is our little sunshine too!

Londyn was pretty excited for her party! 

The food tables. 

We had lots of fruit (not put out yet) on the yellow table and desserts on the pink table.

 I made lemon crinkle cookies, oreo pops, and funfetti and red velvet cupcakes in regular and mini size.

The mini cupcakes.

Londyn's cake.

It was a pain in the butt to frost those sun rays!

The birthday girl!

Opening presents is serious business.

Most of the guests:

Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Bob.

Amanda, Justin, Stain, Katie, and Liam.

Great-Grandma Patsy, and Great-Grandma Miriam and Great-Grandpa Ray

Grandpa Brooke, Weston, Nikki, KK, and Nana.

 

Londyn was pretty eager to touch her cake but wasn't too sure what to do after that.

I ripped off a piece and fed it to her which got her started digging in! 

Londyn ate 2 (or was it 3?) whole sun rays.

The party was perfect except ONE thing!

We forgot to sing Happy Birthday to Londyn!

I was really bothered by this so the next day for Sunday dinner we lit a candle in the half of her cake she didn't touch, sang to her, and let her have some more cake!

Thanks to our families that came and brought gifts!

It was the perfect party and now I can say "I have a 1 year old" without freaking out!

Londyn is 1!

My baby is 1!

I don't really have adequate words to describe how I feel about this other than the cliche "bittersweet."

Those 12 months went by so much faster than I ever expected and I feel so sad that my baby is no longer a baby!

But at the same time I am absolutely LOVING the stage she is at right now.

 Londyn came into this world as a very calm and very good baby.

It was the thing that stood out most to us, how little she cried and how quickly she calmed down.

And for the most part that has been very telling of how she really is.

Everyone swore she would be a redhead and we have been so surprised that she is not! 

She is the spitting image of her dad but as the year has gone on more and more people say they see a little of me in her!

It's crazy to think back to what was happening right now a year ago...

how painful showering was, trying to figure out nursing, getting completely winded after slowly walking up a flight of stairs, trying to figure out how to wake up before 11 am.

Can't say I miss those parts but it was all worth it!

We tried to recreate this picture below...

But our big 1 year old wasn't having it...

As a 1 year old, Londyn:

Is in the 95 percentile for height and 50 percentile for weight.

Is finally walking all over!

Shakes her head and says no.

Says dada, mama, da (for dog), Sa (for Sadie, the dog).

Waves and gives the biggest smiles.

LOVES ice cream.

Eats everything. Seriously everything.

Loves patty-cake and "if you're happy and you know it."

Is the best self entertainer ever.

Has started throwing some tantrums where she flops on the floor or kicks her legs if you pick her up.

Gives kisses, more to Nana and Grandma than mom and dad.

Stomps her feet in excitement.

Shakes her hips while dancing.

Jabbers like CRAZY - she is definitely telling us something.

Still only has hair growing on top.

Is pretty unsure about males, except daddy.

Takes 2 good naps a day.

Has 3 teeth, 2 on bottom and 1 snaggle tooth on top.

Has lived in 3 different states and visited 4 (soon to add 1 more to both).

Is very playful and loves to be chased.

We are seriously loving her at this age!

Her little personality is blossoming and she has become SO smiley and happy around everyone, even strangers!

Proof that she has my eye shape...and that may be about it.

I can't believe how much she has changed over the past 12 months!

I have always wanted to be a mom and I loved every second of this last year (plus the 9 months before).

It has been the craziest, fastest, hardest, happiest, best, most fulfilling year of my life.

I love my little Londy-lou more than anything!

I can't wait to see what this next year brings as we finally settle down for a whole year with our little toddler!

*Helpful Hint - if you hold out on purchasing the Bella Baby photos for 9 months you can get them for 60% off. Because the original price is the biggest rip off in the world.

Graduation - the ceremonies

Chris graduated!

He graduated as valedictorian with a 4.0 and gave an amazing speech!

Graduation was spread out over a few days with the Welcome to the Profession (aka Hooding Ceremony) Friday and the Graduation Commencement on Saturday.

I was SO excited for Chris to graduate and it was even sweeter to see Chris' hard work being recognized with him as valedictorian. 

I was one very, very proud wife!

*As a quick side note - Chris is not a fan of all the attention being super smart brings to him, so being valedictorian came with a few things he wasn't so excited about... i.e. having to give a speech, lots of attention on him, etc.*

**double side note - pardon all my gushing about how awesome Chris is, I just can't help myself **

At the Hooding Ceremony (where they receive their doctoral hoods) Chris got to sit up front next to the Dean and keynote speaker.

 

Giving his amazing speech. 

It made me laugh, cry, and burst with pride for my incredible hubby.

After the speakers they gave out awards to the students.

Chris got a couple (go figure), one of them being for getting the highest score on boards part 1.

  

After each student received their hoods (over their arms only!) there was a dessert reception outside.

 Poor Londyn didn't get a nap and was SO exhausted.

I was a little stressed about her melting down over food and lack of sleep so I didn't get any pictures with our friends :( I will have to steal some later.

With Chris' proud parents.

With my (also proud) parents.

Saturday was the Graduation Ceremony and guess what?!

It was outside...in the pouring rain.

There were ponchos galore!

Bob, Minnie and I sat through 3 hours of rain just to watch Chris get hooded, walk across the stage, and get his diploma.

It would have been totally miserable if I wasn't so excited for Chris to graduate.

My parents stayed at the hotel with Londyn and watched the graduation online since she had a cold and we didn't want her outside in the rain.

The academic attire the professors wear is so odd and made me feel like I was at some cult (or Harry Potter) gathering.

All the devoted people sitting through the rain.

Chris headed to his seat with all the students.

Standing and being recognized as the valedictorian.

Being hooded.

Walking across stage.

 *Please note the wilting corners of some of the graduation hats due to all the rain!*

Getting his diploma.

Love this Doctor! 

Dr. Lowe holding all our rain gear after the ceremony.

Dr. Lowe and his HUGE diploma.

I guess the higher the degree, the bigger the diploma?

Wonderful parents who raised a wonderful son!

 Londyn and I are very lucky to have Chris!

He is such a hard worker and I don't think I've ever seen him fail at anything.

I know our future is in GREAT hands because he never settles for less than his best.

I love Chris more than anything and was BURSTING with pride for him the whole weekend.

I am so lucky he has chosen me to be by his side through all of this!

Congratulations Dr. Lowe!

little things

I'm posting all the latest pictures to get them out of the way for all the BIG events coming up!

Visiting dad at work! Londyn was very fascinated with all the equipment.

Today is his very last day working for freeeeee!!!

Packing with an 11 month old . . .

"Mom! Someone put all this stuff in a box. Here, let me pull it all out for you!"

I have repacked every open box at least 3 times.

 Oh boy, we have a sensitive Sally on our hands.

When I heard the elbow macaroni that she was playing with come pouring out of the bag, I let out a huge gasp of surprise and it made Londyn burst into serious tears, while I laughed.

The best sleeping position.

Scoping out all the unpacking she needs to do.

We had a little photo shoot with balloons in her crib for her upcoming birthday.

It went well.

Laundry baskets get the same treatment as boxes.

Warming up!

Getting the mail is at least a 20 minute outing.

Reading.

There ya have it. 

Those are the little things that have been going on in Pocatello.

So long windy city of boring-ness!