Sara's 1st Birthday Party

Ok...it's taken me long enough....I don't recommend having a birthday party the day after returning from vacation and then a photo shoot the next day and then back to work. It made for a crazy, but wonderful, weekend.

You always hear that the 1st birthday party is for the parents. I totally buy into that theory. Brian and I poured over pictures from her first year in preparation for the party. We were amazed just how small her 1 month onies really was. We marveled at what an amazing year this has been and just how lucky we are and how much we love this girl. We cried the happiest of tears.

We celebrated our little starlet with family and friends. We were happy....she could have cared less...but she did love splashing in the water, playing with the frosting on her cake, and playing with the tissue paper. It was a great day...

Tahoe Time

We spent last week in Sunnyside. It's a special place to Brian and I since we spent our honeymoon there. It was a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary, my birthday, and Sara's birthday. The house that we rented was perfect for us. It was located on a cul-de-sac, so it was super quiet. It had an enclosed deck that Belle enjoyed lounging on. To the right of the house were great walking trails. To the left and down the street was a beautiful clearing that opened to vistas of the lake.

Heather came to spend the weekend with us and then my mom and dad came up for a couple of days. With the house, we had access to Lake Tahoe Park, a great homeowner's beach. We went there just about everyday to hang-out, watch Sara swing on the swings and play on the beach, and soak in the gorgeous weather and the beauty of Tahoe in the summer.

We spent one day around Homewood and toured thru the Tahoe Maritime Museum . They have a great collection of Gar Woods....or "woodies". These beauties are iconic to the Tahoe culture.

The high-light of the trip was our trip to Sugar Pine Point State Park. We took a picnic lunch and then playing on the beach. It was Sara's first time playing in the sand and she loved it. We are so lucky to live so close to such a beautiful place. I'm thankful that we can bring Sara here. I am glad that we can give her this gift - these lazy glorious summer days, and the hope that she will love this place as much as we do!

We shot a ton of pictures...so I've included a link to the entire album via Snapfish

This just in.....

Jenny, who took our maternity and newborn photos of Sara, took Sara's 1 year pics yesterday. She sent this one over tonight. She was awesome with Sara and I can't wait to see the rest!

Letters to Sara: 1 year

Dear Sara,

Today is your very first birthday! I remember so clearly meeting you for the first time, which was one year ago today. I remember following the nurse into Labor and Delivery Room 7 and seeing the warming bed and being hit hard with the realization that this was the bed my baby would be lying in. I remember looking at the folded receiving blanket and a little stretchy cotton hat lying there...and I remember smiling at your daddy and saying "we're going to have a baby!". It was just so...real. and happening. I remember the anticipation...the excitement...the waiting. I remember chatting about names with the nurses and if we thought you were going to be a boy or a girl. I remember Dr. Wells saying we were going to have a baby today and I remember breaking down and crying tears of joy when the nurses wheeled me down the hall...for I was finally going to become a mommy....something I'd been waiting for all my life...

The doctor pulled you out and held you up, and when I saw you for the first time, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! You cried and it made mommy cry because your daddy and I had waited so long to meet you and hear your sweet cries. When the nurse handed you to me, it was the most magical moment of my entire life. In that moment, I knew I was your mother and you were my girl and you had forever changed my life. I stared at you in utter amazement and said "it's so nice to finally meet you". And is was....so nice....

And now a year has passed since that amazing day. In this incredible year, I saw your very first smile, heard your first giggles, and I cheered you on when you began to roll for the first time. I cheered and cried as you struggled to crawl because I was so proud and amazed at how far you’d come. You came into this world, 6 lbs and 14 oz…a tiny little baby, so pink and soft, so innocent and dependent and absolutely perfect in every way. And now, you are a little girl…24 lbs, laughing, "talking", waving…charming every person who is lucky enough to meet you.

You are one today, but beginning a journey—A journey that will take you in many different directions and teach you many things. As I sit here and reflect on this most amazing year, I can't help but think of the woman I hope you’ll become and that I will do anything under the sun to be a good mother to you and help guide you in your journey through childhood and into adulthood.

I know in my heart there are big things ahead for you. You have a gentle and wise spirit already…my little “old soul.” You have made this world a better place for being in it and I feel so honored to have been chosen to be your mother. You melt my heart every time you smile, and when you lay your head on my shoulder after a long day…it helps make the world right again. Words cannot express how much your daddy and I love you. You are our sunshine, our heart, our purpose for being—our everything. I’m so very proud of you and honored to be your mommy. This last year has been filled with priceless memories and I look forward to so many more to come.

I love you Sara and nothing will ever change that.

Your Mommy

Giddy...

1 year ago today I was giddy with excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. Right around this time, Brian and I were in our hospital room and the nurse had started the Pitocin that hopefully would set into motion contractions to bring our baby to us.

Tonight, I'm giddy with overwhelming emotions of happiness and gratitude. For today, we celebrated our girl's 1st birthday with family and friends. A perfect ending to the most amazing year.

I'll get pictures posted soon of our Tahoe trip and Sara's birthday. But, for now, a big THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who came to celebrate our sweet Sara girl today.

4 years....

Four years ago today, we made a promise to each other in front of family and friends. Hand in hand, we vowed to love each other through thick and through thin for years. Four years ago, we walked hand in hand towards our future. We dreamed of house projects and babies; places we wanted to go and things we wanted to do for years and years.

Some of the dreams were harder to make come true than we ever could have dreamed. Some are a little further away or changed altogether. But, one dream did come true and it is one hundred times better than anything we could have ever possibly dreamed...

I love you, Brian and I love our family....our dream come true. Happy Anniversary!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

We traveled really far to downtown to view the parade. It was perfect for Sara's first parade. It wasn't too crowded and super shady to make a hot day comfortable. Brian and I loved watching her celebrate her last 1st holiday...sigh.....We're planning to go back next year and attend the pancake breakfast hosted on the side streets before the parade.

Ready for the Parade...

Family Pic...

Yeah....the parade is starting

Sara loved all the action....kids on bikes

A group from the Scottish Games in Pleasanton

Waving the Flag

Old cars for Brian....

I was a little disappointed that there were no marching bands.

But, Sara loved the bagpiper that escorted the Masons.

Water Fun

It was HOT, HOT, HOT this weekend....so we had lots of water fun!

We spent the day at Grammie and Gramp's house on Saturday. We broke out Sara's birthday present early. She loves her Water Table

This girl loves the water, so Brian picked up a wading pool at the Walmart. Heck, it was so hot that we all had fun in the pool