CELEBRATION!!

I'm not sure that every 1 year old gets to celebrate their 1st birthday for 4 days. We started on Thursday, the 21st (because that was her REAL birthday) and continued throughout the weekend. We learned that "Happy Birthday" is definitely one of Stella's favorite songs. She would grin ear to ear and dance along whenever anyone sang it to her. It was a birthday to be remembered. Grandma and Grandpa Freeman arrived on Wednesday for a nice, long visit. We had a birthday lunch out with Stella on her big day. That night we had our baby-sitter take Stella for the evening while we went out to celebrate our first year as parents and grand-parents (respectively).
**Speaking of being a parent for a year now...Nicholas once again went above and beyond his "husbandly duties" and had a dozen GORGEOUS roses sent to me on Stella's birthday in celebration of the anniversary of my being a mom for a year! It was a fantastic surprise!!**
Saturday was the big party, attended by 16 family members from all over the state of Ohio, plus my parents in town from Minnesota. Nick contributed in an extra fun way by picking up a pink feather boa, balloons and a blinking tiara to decorate for the big event.
I'm still in awe of how many wonderful people in our life celebrated Stella's 1st year with us. We had phone calls and emails and cards and packages from friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even other babies about to be year old! We are SO blessed to have such dear people in our lives.
Now that the dust has settled for the big bash on Saturday, we are cleaning up, organizing toys, writing thank-yous and sorting through photos of the fun times! Here are just a few:

Getting the hang of opening presents

Playing with Grandma!

Getting ready for the party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

The cake was a hit!

PRESENTS!!!

Enjoying the party

This one's for you, Grandpa Larry!

We are still in a bit of disbelief that we have a one year old child. But, I can say for sure that this is definitely the best year we've ever known.
Thank you Stella for the great joy you bring to our life. You are a blessing to us!


***an added celebration...we learned that our friends, Adam, Katie and Avery welcomed a baby boy, Brady Allen into their family this morning! CONGRATULATIONS! We can't wait to meet him!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STELLA!!

Just a glance back at the wonderful little girl we met one year ago!
What a great joy to have her in our life...we are so thankful and SO blessed!

a couple more...

Nick with the girls

"Daddy, is this really what Ohio looks like? No palm trees like Florida?"

"Too bad for them! ha ha ha"

SO CUTE!

My best friend and her baby girl! It's wonderful to be able to watch her as a mother!
(Amanda, you're doing an amazing job, by the way!)

Bella & Stella

Amanda, JP & Bella visited us this weekend (actually they're still here, but they're packing, so I'm taking a moment to post this photo of our WONDERFUL weekend with them)!!!
I'm sad that they're leaving in the morning...but, Stella and I already have plane tickets to visit them in Jacksonville, FL in July!! 5 months until we're together again!!! YEA!!!

Bella almost 8 months old (born 6/23/07) and
Stella almost 1 year old (born 2/21/07)!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

LOVE YOU!

Best Dad/Husband EVER!

Real quick...I have about a million other things to be doing than writing a blog entry, but I'm back in town and have to take a second to make a public THANK YOU to Nick. I left last Wednesday evening to spend a long weekend with Nick's mom, sisters, his sister's sister-in-law and mother-in-law in Captiva, FL (which was AMAZING by the way). Anyway, this is clearly the longest stretch that Nicholas has been "on duty" solo. He did a fantastic job! On Thursday and Friday he got all of Stella's gear packed up, before heading to work for the day, to go over to my dear friend, Lauren's house.
**I must take the time to thank Lauren as well, as she has 3 children of her own all 3 years of age and under and was willing to take Stella for 2 days so that Nick didn't have to miss work. WOW! We have great friends.***
So, then Saturday and Sunday were left for a special Daddy-daughter weekend. Nick took Stella to Cosi (the science museum) here in Columbus on Saturday and out to lunch and then even brought her to church on Sunday! I am still impressed! Not only did he entertain, feed, clothe, bathe, style hair and play with our daughter, but he also cleaned the house and organized before I got home.
Hmmm....maybe it won't be long before I jet off for another weekend away!? I sure am blessed.

More Walking Footage

(sorry the lighting isn't great)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

My dad is 29 today and I decided to model my new hair-do for his birthday. He's my stylist...he better keep his day job!