Ayla's First Year

Happy 31st Birthday to Uncle Justin!!!

This posting is a bit out of order, but I'm not sure how to re-order my postings. Ayla's birthday posting should come after this one.
Justin's birthday is August 4th, so we had dinner and cake and ice cream at Sarah and Justin's house. When Justin and I were kids, Justin use to make me so mad when he would have his birthday and he'd say, "Now you are only a year older than I am." I would try to tell him that I was still almost 2 years older, but he'd still say, "Nope, I'm 8 and you're 9." Now that we are adults, I'm perfectly fine with just being a year older... even if it is only for 21 days. ;+)

Ayla was perfectly content to help Uncle Justin celebrate by sharing his cake and ice cream.

Grandma reading Ayla a book.

This is the stroller Sarah got Ayla for her birthday. However, she made the mistake of bringing it in their house, and Jackson fell in love with it. She kept telling him it was Ayla's stroller, but he wasn't convinced. When she brought it over the night before Ayla's party, she still had to convince him that it was Ayla's and that he had to share with her. He did, but he wasn't happy about it!!!

Here she is explaining the "ownership" of the stroller AND doll to Jackson!

Ayla gets a turn and Jackson impatiently waits to dive in and take over. :+}
It was pretty funny to watch!

Justin and Mom, playin' the Wii! This was a birthday (and Christmas, and everything else) ;+} gift from Oma. It's a gift that gives to many! :+)

Jackson, the stroller, and the Wii hat!

Ayla and her Wii hat! I'll have to wait until she gets a bit older to put her Wii shirt on her that her Aunt Kim got her. It's really cute, but it's still a bit too big. I don't think it will be too long though. :+}

Ayla's 1st Birthday Party

Well, it was a hot August Saturday, but Ayla turned one, and it was a special celebration. It started at 3, so it wasn't the hottest time of the day. We put up a few sun shades, which gave some relief, and I think everyone had a pretty good time. Of course, 1st birthdays aren't just for the honorary kid. Prior to being blessed with Ayla Grace, I kind of thought it was silly to have 1st birthday parties, but now that I have a child, I don't care what anyone says, having your baby turn one is as much of a celebration for you as it is for them. After all, I was the one who actually went through the pain to get her here a little over a year ago, so each birthday really will be a celebration for her, and a "silent" celebration for me, too!

We had all our family (Florida family) and friends there, Brett grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, Sarah made several fruit bowls, and we had cake and ice cream. Ayla got lots of thoughtful gifts, but mostly, we appreciate everyone who came over to help us celebrate our babies 1st birthday. I truly have enjoyed each and every day with her, and in a strange way, although it's gone by fast, I feel like it's all been in slow motion because I've tried to treasure each stage and phase.

Currently, Ayla's new word is "No no no!" She'll say it to random objects, like the hymnal at church this morning, but she really likes to say it to Baylie. I think it started while we were in Texas, and she'd say it to George (Oma's dog) when he'd get near. So... now she says it to a lot of things and at various times. She does know what a question sounds like... because we can ask her something and she'll politely say, "No." However, it's "No" to anything we ask from, "Do you want your diaper changed?... to Do you want a million dollars?" Brett has got her saying "Yes" a little too, but it's not as pronounced. She's also started repeating things we say. She started saying "Oh, no!" with my mom, and tonight on the floor she was saying, "Oh, no!" when she'd drop something. She sure is becoming expressive, and she can give some looks that have attitude written all over them. I have no idea where she gets that!?!? :+}

Aunt Sarah got her this cake cutter set. It's got her birth date engraved on it, and the plan is for Ayla to use it at every birthday... and then at her wedding. It was such a thoughtful gift, and Aunt Sarah is very good at trying to think of the sentimental part of things.

Ayla's cake table... we had 30 more cupcakes for everyone, decorated with butterflies, flowers, and bubble bees.

She is NOT a fan of shoes, and right here she's telling the shoes "No...No!"

What a ham!

Sarah and Liberty Jayne!

Ayla and Luke. Luke turned 1 two days after Ayla did. We sat them on the ground to get their picture, and we couldn't believe how still they were. They just sat there. Neither one of them tried to crawl away or fussed. It was almost weird. So, we took advantage of the moment and took about 40 pictures of them. I would have liked to include all of them, but only Aimee and I would probably really appreciate that slide show. :+}

Here Luke is grabbing Ayla's hand. He did it so sweet and calmly. Again, it was almost strange how content they were being.

How sweet! This will most definitely appear in a video later on in their lives!

Wesleigh Shell!

Sweet Libby!

Taylor Dodd... I think Taylor and Jordan's (Taylor's younger sister) favorite part of the party was playing with Baylie. We're going to keep trying to talk their daddy into letting them get a dog. Every kid needs a childhood dog!

Justin, Jackson, and Sarah

Gettin' ready for cake time!

Jackson in the Bumbo! I'd gotten it out for Ayla to sit in, but Jackson loves this seat. We actually borrowed it from them when he got too big for it, but he loves sittin' in it still... unless of course we want him to sit (and stay) there, and then it's another story! :+}

Braylon and Jackson... they both helped blow out Ayla's candle. It's funny to watch little ones at other kids birthdays. They just can't understand why it's not all for them. Oh to be a kid again. The world truly does revolve around you...and why shouldn't it!

Ayla was not sure what to make of this pink and white pile of stuff in fron to her.

Not that Jackson did either, but well prompted, he obliged and decided to assist his cousin!

Once she got good and busy, I slipped her birthday crown on her that I made. I knew she wouldn't even notice it was there.

Jackson had a good glob of pink and white icing on his finger, and he turned around and got it right on my mom's nose. He thought it was pretty funny. He just kept saying, "Ma ma," which is what he calls my mom. Yes, he calls Sarah that, too, but although it sounds bizarre, both have two different intonations. We can tell the difference. :+} Currently, I am "Anny!"... and it's one of the sweetest words I am blessed to hear.

She thought it was funny to feed her daddy the cake off her hands, and I think he actually got more cake in his mouth than Ayla did.
She wasn't really wanting to eat it... just explore in it.

Daddy, Ayla, and Mommy!

Baylie licking up Ayla's "exploration," which DID NOT turn out to be such a great idea. Let's put it this way... the cake DID NOT agree with Baylie's system. :+/

I figured this was the best way to get her clean, so she got a "Grandpa Jack" shower as Sarah would say... and did say on video. :+}
Present time!

This was the "Happy Birthday" book Luke got Ayla. :+} It's to place a photo for each birthday, which will be so special to have in years to come!!! Mommy really liked this one, and I bet Luke's mommy helped him pick it out!

Ayla loves books, and that's what Jordan and Taylor got her.

Ayla's new found love of baby dolls made this gift perfect for her. It's still not all the way together, but it will be in the next few days. Now Ayla and Jackson won't have to fight over the stroller Aunt Sarah got Ayla. :+} That boy needs a stroller of his own, but I'm not goin' there just yet. ;+)

The card Kari made for her. The Lewis' gift was a bunch of bath toys, which have been a big hit. Ayla especially likes the light up toys she got. We haven't tried the bath crayons yet, but we will soon. Kari has 4 kids of her own, so she's a pro at picking out good bath toys.

The sign from Aunt Sarah, Justin, and Jackson!

The blocks Olivia and Makayla got Ayla. She loves taking them all out of the bag one by one. She hasn't quite gotten the hang of putting them all back, but hopefully that will come.

This is a doll my mom got her. It's is one of the cutes things I've ever seen. She's a farm girl, and there is a button for each animal, and they say something related to being on a farm. It really is adorable.

My mom has missed her calling. All of these pictures were taken by her while she was keeping Ayla this past semester. They are pictures I'd never seen before. This was truly a precious gift. Not only did my mom make it, but the pictures about take my breath away looking at them. It was a great reminder of how much she's changed in just the past 6 months.

These last two were taken while we were all trying to clean up. I know the first one looks like Ayla is about to strangle Jackson, but I'm almost sure it's really a hug she's about to give him. However, attempts to strangle one another may come in our future. They both have pretty defined, strong personalities. It should be a joy to break up their future fights! :+}