The Birthday Party

I was a little bummed that we couldn't have a big family party for Addison's first birthday like we did for Arilyn, but I bought some party plates, balloons and cake and we had a little party with just us. It was pretty fun and Addison had a good time with her cupcake.

I saved the sign from Arilyn's first birthday, so she helped me hang it up for Addison.

This isn't the greatest picture of Addison, she's walking toward me, but it was the only picture I got that you can really see what her shirt says- It's my first birthday!

Arilyn was so excited to celebrate Addison's birthday. She loved the party hat and couldn't wait to help Addison open her presents.

Doesn't Shawn look handsome in his flower party hat??

This was Addison's cupcake to get messy with. She wasn't sure what to do at first. There is a plastic bottom underneath the cupcake that she picked up and the whole cupcake went on her bib at first! 

Getting ready to get messy- are you sure I won't get in trouble??

She figured it out and got really messy. I spent the rest of the night cleaning pink icing and cake out of every nook and cranny of her high chair!

No more cake- I'm gonna puke! 

I really don't know what she was doing in this picture!

Present time! After a little help from her big sister, she got the hang of it pretty quick.

I think Arilyn had just as much fun as Addison. She had to try the toys out first and "show Addison how to do it"

I got Addison her own baby doll because Arilyn freaks out if Addison plays with hers. It came with a little blankie and toy, bottle and pacifier. As you can see, the baby is going to be hungry! Addison wasn't about to share!

Of course we had to include the pups in the celebration, although they weren't too thrilled about wearing the party hats!

Happy Birthday Addison!

Everyone tells you to enjoy the time when you're kids are little because it goes by so fast. I never understood what that meant until I had my own children and I am amazed at how fast time goes by. Our baby Addison turned one year old today! I can't believe it! She is such a sweet little girl. She is walking, not perfectly, but she can get around pretty good walking. Although crawling is still faster. She babbles all the time and can get out mama and dada. She gets along with her big sister...most of the time and my favorite part- she loves to cuddle! I put together pictures from birth until now. What changes they go through in a year! Addison is certainly a joy and blessing! Happy Birthday Addison!

This was the first time Arilyn met Addison in the hospital!

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

Eleven Months

ONE YEAR!!

The Forest Park Zoo

There is a small zoo not too far from us, so we decided to check it out this weekend. It was pretty small and did not have the most exotic animals, but it was really fun. They really let you get close to the animals, most exhibits had signs on them that said "I bite" or "I may bite." They had a lot of farm animals that you could touch and feed. The girls loved it. I was really surprised, but neither of them were scared and wanted to touch everything, including the black bear! Arilyn said- it's so cute! Here are some of the highlights...

Can you tell that she's my daughter???

Arilyn petting the camel. This was the nicest camel I've ever seen- every other camel I've seen has been mean, but he was so nice!

Addison enjoyed the camel, too. The camel even snuggled with her.

We spent a lot of time with the camel!

This alpaca was in with the camel, but no one was paying attention to it. Everyone wanted to feed the camel. It was just standing beside the camel with this look on his face. I felt bad for it, so I had to post a picture. It really was cute.

The leopard's cage had the "I bite" signs on it, although you couldn't get close enough to touch it. 

This little guy wasn't an exhibit, but Shawn took a pretty cute picture of it.

This hawk wasn't part of the zoo either, but it was pretty neat. You can't see it in this picture, but there was a smaller bird that was really mad that this hawk was there. It kept flying into it and pecking it, trying to get it to leave. Finally the hawk did leave and the smaller bird went flying after it!

We actually got to see the zoo worker feed the alligators. I didn't think it was all that spectacular considering they were eating dead chicks, but Arilyn & Addison thought it was the neatest thing ever!

Another nice picture from Shawn. He's quite the photographer!

This spider monkey was waiting for the zoo worker to bring his lunch. He also had a "I bite" sign on his cage. You could get close enough to him if you wanted to find out!

Snack time! 

It was getting kind of hot by this time and Addison's hair gets even curlier in the heat. She looks like she has wings!

This swan was hilarious. Shawn was taking a picture of it and every picture he would cock his head to the side, like "what is that noise??" It was pretty funny.

I was amazed at how close you could get to the bear. You couldn't touch him, but he was really close. Arilyn really wanted to pet him though.

Arilyn wasn't afraid to touch anything. She's a smart girl though. She wouldn't go for their head, but took the safer side route. She didn't want to find out if the signs were true!!

Addison's First Hair Clip

Addison's hair is so different than Arilyn's. It is a lot thicker and much curlier! It's finally getting long enough to put in a clip to keep it out of her eyes. Surprisingly she left it in all afternoon! We'll see how long that lasts!

The Double Decker

We bought a Little Tikes playground for the girls called the double decker slide. I am very proud to say that I put this thing together (with much frustration) by myself! Arilyn was SO excited when she got up from her nap and saw it in the backyard. They played before dinner and I have never seen Arilyn eat dinner so well so that she could get back outside and play before bedtime!

Arilyn woke up from her nap to the playground in the backyard. She said- Oh my goodness. Can I play on that playground?

Addison trying to climb the big slide.

As you can see, Arilyn was SO happy to play!

Uh oh! The slide standoff! 

Addison is our little monkey! She climbs on everything!

Arilyn on the slide...again!

Addison really liked the hideout.

Peek a boo!

Ellie loves playgrounds. When she was a puppy, we'd take her to the park by our house in Dayton and she would run everywhere, up and down the slides. She was dying to try this one out. She jumped up and ran down the slide. I've never heard Arilyn laugh so hard. She thought it was hilarious! Addison thought it was pretty funny, too!