Happy Birthday Baby!!

Time warp, time warp, time warp! The last year has flown by and we just celebrated our baby girl's first birthday! I cannot believe she has been here for a whole year. There are so many memories we have already made as a family and I just cannot wait for the years ahead.

And so, happy first birthday to our wonderfully sweet little girl. What a joy it has been watching you grow!

Elizabeth's birthday was on a Saturday this year. It was really unseasonably warm - almost 50 degrees. Last year it was snowing, blowing, and very cold! Our birthday girl woke up to a new tent and couch from mommy and daddy. When she crawled down the hall, she crawled right to it and went right into the tent. She was a happy girl all day. Grandma and grandpa Z came early to help finish decorating, so Lizzy had a good time playing with them.

Here's my birthday girl getting ready for her party!

All ready for the guests to arrive!

So girly!

A quick family shot before the party.

When her guests arrived she went into shy mode and stuck pretty close by mommy. All of her aunts and uncles and cousins, and all of her grandparents were able to come to the party, which was so special! Even her good friends Caden, Asher, Alexis, and their parents came to have a good time with all of us. Lizzy got lots of good stuff and she liked opening her presents, especially helping with the tissue paper. Her less favorite part of the party was singing Happy Birthday and eating her cake. When she realized everyone was looking at her, she wasn't so happy. She ended up "eating" her cake on mommy's lap a little later with a smaller audience. :)

All in all, everyone had a good time celebrating Lizzy's first year!!

Opening presents

A new rocking chair HAND MADE by gma and gpa Z. So special!

The most adorable cake, made by gma J.

...And this is when she realized everyone was watching her. Poor baby! And she wouldn't let go of that carrot all afternoon. Funny girl!

She was a bit more comfortable digging in when everyone wasn't watching.

Lucy, Caden, and Paul trying out Lizzy's new couch.

So happy!

Another shot of the yummy cake!

It was a FULL house!

More cake "eating".

Lizzy and Paul sharing nicely :)

This is now just a step-stool to get on furniture :)

As I look back on the past year, lots of emotions come up. Our lives are just so much more full now with Lizzy in them and she amazes us on a daily basis. Motherhood is definitely a roller-coaster, but it's one I don't ever want to get off of!