New Word

Aubrey has a few words now, some of which are more discernable than others. "Buuh" is balloon, which isn't really even very close, but she has been consistently pointing at them and saying that so I guess that is as close as she can get. Isn't it cute? I love her little baby voice.

Speaking of voices...she just woke up from her nap and is hungry. Know how I know that? Her little baby voice coming over the monitor saying "yum."

Saturday evening we had a hailstorm

It is very surreal to see ice balls raining out of the sky mid-summer. They weren't big enough to do any damage--only about blueberry to dime sized.

Party, Party.

What a wonderful week of celebration we have had. We started with a family party in Connecticut as you already saw from the pictures I posted then we had a friends party here in Virginia yesterday. I am so overwhelmed with thankfulness and joy that so many gathered and marked Aubrey's first birthday with us. It has been so fun seeing everyone, enjoying catching up, laughing at the antics of the kids, and eating a lot of good food--especially cake! Everyone was so generous as well--Aubrey received so many fun new toys, books, and pretty much completed her late summer and fall wardrobes.

Aubrey decided to give us a special treat at her party yesterday--she walked across the entire living room! Yep, that's right, let go of Bill's hands and took off. We were all just staring at her with our mouths open. Here I was thinking late crawler would equal late walker, but it looks like I will have to rethink that.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's party:

How old are you? That's right! ONE!

Aubrey, Charlotte, Hayley, and Karis playing with balloons. Miraculously none of them popped.

Opening presents.

Everyone singing Happy Birthday (sorry, I know singing pictures are not flattering.) We had 14 adults and 5 kids in attendance!

Yummy cake and cupcakes.

sharing birthdays

I was wondering if Aubrey shared a birthday with anyone famous and so upon googling it I found out she shares it with--Benito Mussolini! What! Okay, nevermind, I think I rather my daughter didn't share her birthday with an Italian dictator. Not many others of note except Clara Bow who was the "it" girl of the silent films.

I on the other hand share the day with Teddy Roosevelt, Nicolo Paganini, and James Cook (you know, the British sea captain and explorer who was the first to fend off scurvy by feeding lemons and sauerkraut to his sailors. He was also the first European in New Zealand.) I am in good company there.

How about you? Who do you share your day with? www.famousbirthdays.net

Birthday Party in Connecticut

Eating watermellon!

My brother John, sister-in-law Alisa, and their new puppy Jamie

Eating dinner down by the lake

Opening presents with Aubrey's cousins Ellie and Noah.

Eating birthday cake, yum!

Four Generations of Blue Eyes

Happy First Birthday, Aubrey!

A year ago today our little princess made her debut. She was a sleepy little bundle then. Aubrey sure has changed over the course of the year! A lot has stayed the same though: loves to eat, loud, chubby cheeks, button nose, and no hair.

Now she is getting to be such a big girl. She has ten teeth, has taken a few steps, and eats all "grown-up" foods. Aubrey waves, claps, dances, and says bye-bye, hi, doggy, yum, thank you, daddy, mama, that, and yuck. She also loves to kick, roll, and throw balls. We have been enjoying every minute of being parents to our big girl with the big personality!

the gang

Clockwise starting in lower left corner: Charlotte, Aubrey, Karis (crouching in toybox, you can hardly see her), Noah (sitting behind Peter), Peter, and Jocelyn who is sitting down front. Thanks to Kelly for the picture--it was hard getting a shot with all the kiddos in it because they were all in motion!