Natalee's 1 Year and Family Pictures

Are you ready?  I am mean seriously, are you ready to see the most beautiful and adorable pictures taken???

These are Natalee's 1st Year pics and also some fantastic family shots. Funny how this all worked out....we were planning on having the pictures taken at the Botanical Gardens on a Monday morning; however, when I saw that the temperature for that day was supposed to be a high of 42, I thought we needed another plan. So Jamie, from Tru Photography came to our house a few days earlier and she took all the pictures either in the backyard or the living room! Thank goodness we did this because that Monday Natalee was so sick with a cold and an ear infection...there would have been no smiling from her had we done them then!

With 1 year old pictures comes the tradition of capturing the birthday girl devouring a smash cake, so  of course Natalee got her first chance to eat cake here.  She was so unsure of what to do, but before long she had had the biggest mess right in our living room.  The floor, the little chair we used, of course Natalee and even myself were all covered in pink icing!  She actually had so much cake stuck to her hands that she eventually got mad at the fact that it wouldn't come off!  Jamie got some incredible shots during the cake session and once Natalee let us know she was done with that, it was straight to the tub for this little girl!

Enjoy the pictures, they are just truly beautiful...just like Natalee...just like my family. I am so blessed.

You're One Natalee!

Natalee, I can't believe you turned 1 years old today!!!!  This has been the MOST amazing year, and I thank you for that.  You have brought so many people a great amount of joy and happiness. Your beautiful smile can always cheer anyone up and your sweet demeanor can brighten anyones day!  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow from a precious little infant who entered our lives one year ago, into a beautiful little girl who now has spunk, is funny and loving, determined and has an overall sweet personality!  I love you more than there are word to express.  You are a precious, miraculous gift from God who has blessed our family in every way possible. You are truly an amazing little girl and I am proud and blessed to be called your Mommy (or Ma-ma).  I love you Baby Nat-Nat!

Little Lady's 1st Birthday Party!

After months of planning, yesterday everything came together for Natalee's first birthday party! Yes, it has actually been a year; the best year of my life! It took many hours of decorating and shopping to prepare, but thanks to so many people pitching in, we were able to transform the house into a pink and purple girly wonderland! Thanks to Daddy, all the guests had plenty of good eats to munch on, and thanks to Lisa and especially the decorations looked like they hopped right off of Pintrest!

Natalee had just gotten over a bit of a cold so she was still taking extra long naps, so we were luck enough to get her to catch up on some of her beauty rest before the party. Overall, she was in a great mood during the party, but after almost 2 hours, she made it very clear that the party was over and a nap was needed again!

The highlight of the party, at least for me, was the incredible video/slideshow of our baby girl growing up throughout this first year that Ed managed to put together in spite of his very busy schedule....That's love! The songs and pictures....well, it was all so touching and needless to say, I cried quite a bit!

Although the video is now posted on it's own separate page, I am going to post it here too...



Natalee was very interested in present opening time, but maybe not so much of the presents as she was in the wrapping paper! She was blessed with so many wonderful gifts from our family and friends, and With a little help from me and Nico, Natalee got all her wonderful gifts opened.

Cake time for a 1st birthday is always a highlight! Natalee had already had a smash cake the week earlier for her 1 year old pictures that were take, so it was not quite as intriguing to her as it was the first time, but never the less it was still fun to watch her. She was just like a girl when digging into her own little smash cake...careful and not wanting to get too messy, but she managed to eat a good amount. The remainder of the smash cake....ended up on Nico's face after Daddy chased him around the house with it!

I originally thought that after the cake eating session, Natalee would head to the tub and the party would be over, but neither Natalee or our guests were ready for that! So after a mini wash down, Natalee was ready to socialize once again.

Here are all the pictures of the party and another video we shot during cake time at the end...Enjoy! 

Almost all the decoration ideas came from Pinterest! 

The cake couldn't have turned out any better!  I was so impressed when I picked it up!

This is the smash cake for Natalee.

This ceiling decor was all done by Gigi!  It took her all day up on a ladder.  What a trooper...she will do anything for her little granddaughter...that's love!

It really turned out pretty and was a perfect touch for the party!

 

Pops and Nat at the party.  I had to go pick up Pops from the airport just hours before the party was set to begin and then take him back immediately after it ended so he could get home to Ninny.  I give him MAJOR props for making Natalee's party a priority....that's love!

Big Sis and Jeremy came all the way down from Oklahoma to come to Nat's party; and to top that off, Big Sis gave Natalee a beautiful Mud Pie outfit for her birthday...that's love!

Daddy was in charge of all the food... Even on one of his few days off of work, he managed to handle all of the food and the layout of it all by himself...that's love.

 

I mean seriously, who couldn't love this precious girl?!

Nico had been waiting this day for what seemed liked forever!  He was so excited to celebrate his little sister's birthday!

Lisa was also such a big help. She came over the day before the party to help Gigi and I decorate.  She also found all the platters and bowls that we used from her and Ed's work...thank you Air Force.  Lisa also came over early on the day of the party and put together a very tasty punch for the party...that's love.

 

My friend Melissa and her girls came to the party; Addie and Nat are only 2 months apart.

 

Tara and Mike came up from Houston to the party! That's love!

Pops and Nico wrestling a little!  Lots of love here.

This is the best I could get! Thanks for smiling Pops!

Time for presents!

Yay Big Sis!!!!  Thank you!

A beautiful coat and precious sun hat from Tara and Mike!  Thank you!!

Nico hanging with his Big Sis and Jeremy for a little bit.

 

Yay...Natalee loves pretty clothes! That's my girl!

What a great little suitcase for Natalee from Pops....and inside the suitcase were more goodies!

 

Natalee was not sure what was about to happen here...

 

Cake time!!!!!

Daddy cutting the cake!

Natalee with her sweet Gigi who is always there for her and Nico!

Nico really loves babies....

Natalee and her Daddy!  Daddy did a great job being the primary camera man for this party!

 

Nat is always ready to give her Daddy kisses!

Getting more smooches...this time from Lisa!

Mommy kisses!!!!

 

The kids playing in the play room.

Pops wanted to take Natalee back with him...look she fit in the suitcase he bought her!

 

This is the picture from Natalee's birthday party invite...we put this big poster on the door!

Good day...happy girl!

Melissa and Addie!

Poor Nico was the victim at the end of the party. He got the remainder of the smash cake in his face!

 

Here is a short video of everyone at the party singing happy Birthday to Natalee while I was bringing her the cake.