Amelia's First Snowman

These photos are NOT from this insane "polar vortex."  It has been way too cold to take my baby outside to play in the snow this week.  BUT, seeing as snow is all around, it made me think back to a couple of weeks ago when it snowed here, and wasn't in the negative temperatures.  

I have never been a fan of the snow.  Even when we were little my sister was racing out the door to go sledding and I was asking my mom if I could stay inside and help make the hot chocolate.  It's just not my thing.  I think it's beautiful for about 30 minutes, and then Im over it…I can't help it.

Fortunately, my east-coast husband was more than up for taking Amelia outside for her first snow play experience.

I mean….how cute can one little snow bunny be?

They shoveled our porch together.

Threw snowballs at each other.

And built her very first snowman together.

It was so sweet and I am so happy to have been able to snap some photos of it!!

But seriously, enough already with the snow and cold…no bueno.

xo

Janel

Amelia's First Haircut

Amelia got her very first haircut last week!  It was such a cute experience.  If you are local, we went to The Hairy Elephant, which is specifically for children's haircuts and first haircuts.  We decided to "the first hair cut" experience and also a "Curly Hair Cosultation."  Amelia's hair is amazing, seriously, like curls for days but it's also a completely different texture than my own hair so I needed advice on how to care for her hair properly and how to make her curls looks their very best.  Like I said, the whole thing was adorable, Amelia was so good and had a blast, PLUS I walked away feeling like I finally knew what I was doing with Amelia's hair.  

My favorite part of the day was when the hairstylist asked me what  type of video Amelia would want to watch during her haircut. 

Hairstylist:  "What kind of video would Amelia want to watch during her haircut?"

Me: "I don't know, she loves princesses."

My mom: "Oh she loves Yo Gabba Gabba"

Amelia: (hands the lady a video from off of the shelf) "Guys, I like Elmo."

She's so insanely smart and grown up and she's only 22 months.

She's growing up way too fast I tell you.

xo

janel

one year

This post is late coming but it's here :)

Amelia's big one year birthday party!!
Being that Amelia is a Leap Day baby, we decided to celebrate her birthday on March 1, every year that doesn't have a February 29.
This year it was perfect because I had the day off of school so we were able to spend the whole day together as a family.
The theme was "You are my sunshine" and the decor was all pretty much DIY :)
Here are some photos from the day:

We of course, had to do a Smash Cake :)

Our BIG eater had no problem going crazy with the cake.

It was such a blessed day full of family and friends and love for our sweet little Amelia.

It is unreal how fast this year has gone.

She's talking, has teeth, and her hair is out of control in the best way possible.

I love her times infinity.

xo

janel

Amelia's Valentine Cards-2013

Amelia has some sweet little friends at her babysitter's house, at church, and some adorable online friends as well.

Since Valentine's Day is next week, and we had these amazing Valentine photos from Fresh Art Photography, I thought it would be fun to make a few cute valentines for her friends.

I used one of the photos from Jodie, and then set to work on wording.  I had bought a little pack of chapsticks for this project so I wanted a nerdy Valentine style play on words. Naturally, I started with "Let's STICK together" but I just wasn't feeling it.

Pinterest supplied me with the "Read my LIPS valentine."  I was telling Adam about it and he said are using Lip Balms and "You're the Balm!" came to my mind.

Like, you're the bomb!

I cracked myself up.

So, after adding words using Photoshop Elements, I used a little adhesive and stuck the lip balms onto the Valentines.

Easy, personalized, and cute :)

What are some cute Valentine DIY's that you have seen around lately?

xo

janel

11 months.

My little sweetie pie turned 11 months yesterday!

Next month she will be a year old.

Crazy.

11 months

* the best 11 months of my life

*  you are eating everything, EVERYTHING.

*  whenever we eat anything we always let you try it and you always love it.

*  you are saying all kinds of little words now

*  you like to repeat our actions and our words

*  you think you are so funny (and you totally are)

*  you still sleep like a champ at night, and during your naps.

*  you are soooooo close to walking.

*  you stand by yourself a lot 

*  your favorite word to say is "uh-oh"

*  you squeal with delight every time your daddy walks in the room

*  you are the most amazing little girl I know

Seriously, I can not believe she is getting so big!

She is the most precious gift that I have ever been given and each day with her is a blessing.

xo

janel

a year ago today...

A year ago today, we got THE CALL.  This was the call that would change our lives forever...

(Adam had just had Lasik, hence the sunglasses)

Dear Amelia's birth mother,

Thank so much for initiating that phone call.

Thank you for loving your daughter so much.

Thank you for allowing us to be her parents.

Thank you for giving us the biggest blessing we could have ever asked for.

Love,

Janel

I can remember this day, one year ago, so vividly!!

I was at school, eating my lunch in my classroom, by myself.

The secretary came over the intercom and said that I had a phone call, that it was my husband, and she would put the call through.

I remember begin really scared that something bad had happened since Adam would NEVER call my school to talk to me.

(I can easily answer my cell phone at anytime during the day)

I remember he sounded nervous.

I remember feeling nervous.

He asked me if I was sitting down.

That made me even more nervous.

He told me that we were chosen by a birth mother and that we would be able to meet her later that week.

He told me what he knew about her and that the social worker was 98% sure that she was going to have a girl.

I cried.

I danced.

I called everyone that I knew and ran around the school to tell everyone that I am close to.

I remember thinking that 98% sure wasn't 100% sure but I knew in my heart that we were going to be parents to a little girl...

Today is a great day.

xo

janel

the weekends

The weekends are the best because they are filled with Amelia.  I get to spend the whole day with her, and seriously, it doesn't get any better than that.  Here are a few shots from my morning thus far...

This girl is a mover and a shaker.  We played kitchen, we wrestled with Catalina, we read the sweet love letter that her grampy sent her, we had a dance party to Florence and the Machine, and we practiced climbing onto the couch.
Has it really almost been a year?
wow.

xo
janel

10 months.

Little Miss Amelia turned 10 months today!

Time is flying by for sure.

I can't believe that, in two short months, Amelia will be a year old.  

These monthly photos are getting more and more fun to take.

She is definitely a mover and a shaker and it's so hard to get her to sit still.

The above photo took about 15 minutes to get :)

Here are some of my favorite outtakes.

This last one is what she looked like when her daddy walked into the room :)

She loves her daddy so much.

Alright, here is her little monthly run-down:

10 Months:

* the best 10 months of my life

*  your first tooth is making it's way out! Yay!

*  you are walking around while holding onto things

*  whenever you hear music or singing, you wave your hands like a conductor

*  you wave hello and good bye

*  you give us high-fives

*  you added "nigh nigh" to your growing little vocabulary

*  you are still the happiest, sweetest baby in the world

*  you love playing with more complex toys

*  you are eating real food now, like a big girl, that we grind up

* your hair is finally growing back out and getting so curly!

*  you are very adventurous and brave.

*  we love you so much

*  you are the best.

I need to start planning for her first birthday!!  That is super exciting :)  Our little girl is growing up.

She's amazing.

xo

janel

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 came and went so quickly it seems.  Life with a baby is a blur.

I can also say that, for me, Christmas is so much more amazing with a child.

The present buying is definitely WAY more fun.

Starting new traditions is more fun.

Taking a million photos and home videos is way more fun as well.

I also love that on Christmas Eve I was able to snuggle Amelia and really picture and feel a little bit of what Mary felt as she was "treasuring all of these things in her heart."

Amelia was spoiled this Christmas by our entire family.  We received a ton of amazing gifts for her to grow with and learn from.  

We spent Christmas Eve Eve with our family, at my sister, where we had two first Christmas' to celebrate.

We had two very special deliveries from our Massachusetts family.  

Christmas morning was spent, at home, with all of my favorite people (Adam, Amelia and Cat).  Here are a few photos from that.

We opened present to "She & Him's" Christmas album and ate pancakes and turkey bacon.  It was heavenly.  Adam spoiled me a bit as well.  We have been so good at saving money this past year for the adoption that he wanted to treat Amelia and I to a couple of exciting things :)

*  a new wedding band!!  I lost my wedding ring last February and absolutely hate not having one to wear everyday.  I wanted something dainty and simple and meaningful and he gifted me one of these:

I have the initial "a" on mine for Amelia.  She is a perfect symbol of our love and of love in and of itself so it was just the most perfect gift.

I also got a gift card for my Nikes and a promise to order the Seafoam PL kit, as soon as it comes in :) Plus a few other little fun things.

I'll be back, later this week with a post on Amelia's gifts.  Like I said, she was definitely the most fun to shop for.

To say the least, we were so blessed this Christmas. I hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday season as well.

I'm off to fill in my new planner now!! Yay!!!

Good Night friends.

xo

janel