today you are one ~ a birthday letter

my beautiful baby girl.  today you are one.  today is the day our lives and family became complete.  today is a day i'll hold special in my heart forever.  before you were born i couldn't imagine that i had so much love to give.  before you were born i didn't know what i was missing.  before you were born ... i slept.  just saying.  you are more special to us than we could ever begin to tell you.  to show you.  you are loved with all our hearts and then some more.

you are amazing everyday.  your happiness brings us so much joy, as does your smile and laughter.  you are in awe of your brother, despite him pushing you around.  he's just teaching you how to be tough.  you are a quick learner and our little copy-cat.  i love how you try to mimic what your dad, liam and i do.  i love that you say uh-oh at everything. that you blow kisses and say mu-wah.  i love that you place "chase me" at bath time and that you love to climb the stairs.  i love that you play with cars and trucks and make noises as you drive them around.  i love that you fight me every time i change your diaper especially because you think its so funny.  i love that you throw your food on the ground when you don't want to eat anymore.  i just wish we had a dog to clean it up.  i love that you give your lambie hugs all the time, it appears she'll be your favourite of your stuffed animals.  i love that you snuggle and that sometimes that's all you need to settle down at night.  i love that we had a whole year to be together all day, every day.   and i love that we are starting a new adventure.  because today you are one.

last night you went to bed my tiny wee babe.  and this morning you woke up my one year old daughter.  i cried a little, because i know these years will go by too quickly and one day you won't be my baby girl anymore and i'll wish all of these years back.  but for now you are still my baby girl.  and you still love to snuggle with you momma.  and today you are one.

i love you averie girl.  more than ever.  happy first birthday.  happy first year.

love mommy
xxx

almost a year ~ eleven months old

averie girl you're almost a year old.  in a few shorts weeks you will have one year under your belt and will start making your way into toddler hood.  i know that i say this every month, but i honestly don't know where time is going.  it seems like a couple months ago i was complaining about getting you outta my belly.  and now you're almost a year old.  crazy!  just crazy!

our time of being together all day, every day, is quickly coming to a close.  in fact, as i write this post you are currently at your second day of daycare.  daycare!  what the what?  you are so not old enough to go to daycare.  and further more if you're in daycare that means that i must be going back to work.  in like a week.  again, it's crazy!  seriously blow your mind no effing way crazy.

your eleventh month was pretty exciting.  a road trip, the stampede and your first steps while holding mommy and daddy's hands and so much more.

eleven month highlights

~  you're our little copycat and such a chatter box.  your current favourite is saying uh-oh.  all the time.

~  you pull yourself up onto everything and you started furniture cruising.  you'll be walking soon i'm sure.

~  went to the stampede for the first time

~  i started weaning you this month and you took 6-8 oz bottle of transition formula three times a day like a champ.  almost ready for milk.

~  you're sleeping a little better, only waking once during the night (around midnight) for a bottle and then again in the early morning (between 5 and 6)

~  you weigh 18.2 pounds

~  you're wearing size 6-12 month clothing and in size three diapers 

~  favourite toys are the fisher price little people farm and noah's ark, as well as the non-adopted ugly dolls from liam's birthday party.  you love your handsome panther.

~  you've learned to blow kisses and say "mmmmuuuuaaaahhhhh" when you do it. i die.
~  went on your first road trip with stops in penticton, seattle and ocean shores.
~  moved into your "big girl" cow-moo-flage car seat, still rear facing though.
~  first time playing in skaha lake and loved splashing around in the water.
~  you ate sand for the first time, surprisingly you didn't do this when we were in hawaii.
~  still climbing the stairs, this is something we do over and over and over and over.  all.  day.  long.
~  you've become a bit of a picky eater.  some days she'll love something and the next she spits it out.  but you love your fruit.  all varieties.  not so keen on the veggies.
~  you also love to throw your food on the ground when you're all done.  this drives mommy batty.
~  you are starting to show your frustration when liam takes things away from you.  it's good to see you already asserting yourself with your big brother.  but you still love love love him and follow him everywhere.

i'm looking forward to your first birthday.

i'm looking forward to our next year with you.

i'm looking forward to all the new adventures, milestones, and fun we're going to have.

happy eleven baby girl.

you're almost a year!

life {lately} ~ v. 16 vacation edition

we're back from our summer camping road trip vacation.

two weeks of camping, beach and ocean fun, and lots and lots of driving.

almost 3000 kilometres.  

our trip included stops in penticton, seattle and ocean shores.

we had a blast hanging out and exploring washington state.

loved driving up the coast.

absolutely beautiful!

here's just a snip-it of our trip

i'll definitely have more posts and photos coming later this week.

stay tuned.