Saturday, July 14, was a bittersweet day.  Laura turned 1!  It was a really good day and we had a whole lot of fun.  We had a birthday party where Laura got to eat cake!  She had a good, old time mashing up the cake in her fingers.  She also got lots of nice presents.  She got toys, clothes, a kiddie picnic table, and a pearl necklace.  Now I know you all probably think the pearl necklace is a little strange for a one-year old, but....  Uncle Jeremy bought her the necklace.  He is going to buy her another pearl for it every year.  Someday, she is going to have a beautiful necklace that will really mean something to her.  After the party, some friends hung around and we had a barbecue.  It was a lot of fun after the excitement of the day!  Laura got to play with her new toys until bedtime.  She was very much ready for bed when the time came.  Yes, we took a bunch of pictures for you all to see!

 

We took Laura to the doctor on Monday for her one-year checkup.  She now weighs 21 pounds, 4 ounces and is 28 3/4 inches.  She has tripled her birthweight and has grown over 10 inches!  She is right on target - 50th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for height.  She still has a big head (90th percentile), but that is just fine!

 

As I look back over the last year, I'm overwhelmed.  She changed me so much in such a short time.  I love every minute that I spend with her.  Andy and I went a long time without children and we always used to say that we didn't want them...I'd just reached a point in my life that I was going to be truly okay if we didn't have kids and then Andy dropped the "baby bomb."  When he first told me he wanted a child, I truly thought he was kidding.  This past year has been amazing.  A lot has happened and I've learned a lot about myself.  I know now that I can do things I never thought I could before.  I also know that I've made mistakes along the way and there are many more to come, but I can't imagine my life without Laura and Andy.  They are my reason for getting up each day.  I love you, my favorites.