Alaska, here we come!

Another check mark on my list of things to do during my short visit to earth. 8 hours on a plane with a one year old was not on this list but I suppose its inevitable and worth it for this amazing experience looming on the horizon. There is so much to celebrate; Aliyas first birthday just passed, maas birthday on the 6th, fui and fuas 19th wedding anniversary on the 8th, maa and bapas wedding anniversary on the 13th, Georgies 16th birthday coming soon after our return, and the king of all celebrations bapas 75th birthday on the 8th! For these auspicious occasions, especially bapas 75th birthday, maa and bapa have treated the whole family to a Alaskan cruise. We leave tomorrow and shall return on the 16th. Wish us safe travels. Updates when I return!

Weaning Woes

You bring your mouth to my body asking to be nursed while piercing your eyes into mine. How can I not give you something that is rightfully yours? God provided this blessing just for you and here I am not allowing you to indulge in your gift. And while you loose your gift I have been given one. Freedom. You no longer need me. Though we haven't left you for more than a few hours at a time you could potentially survive without me long term. I have this overwhelming sense of relief and sadness. Sadness because nursing you has been pure bliss. We were connected in such an intimate way. Over the last month we have slowly pruned nursing from our lives one leaf at a time and with the final cut I step back and see the beauty of the masterpiece we have created. A bond that has grown. A bond between mother and daughter. A bond that can not be weakened weather or not you are still nursing. So even though my life is no longer sustaining yours; my life is yours. I am so proud of us both, we made it a whole year and now you toddle around with your sippy cup of cow milk. I love you my baby calf.

Hat Ladies

Daytona Beach

Pic by Adam

Kevin and Katie

Congratulations Kevin and Katie on your engagement!

Ped Appt

Ali's one year appointment stats:
Weight-  20 lbs; 50%
Length- 29.5 in; 75%
She has a small ringworm infection on her arm
She received 2 immunizations
She has met all her one year milestones!
Happy Health Baby!
Thanks God for that!

Toddler Times

Not that she was ever very baby like but from the instant she turned one she became this full on toddler. She runs around without a care in the world. Climbing mountainous obstacles is her new way of life and heart stopping terror is mine. Today she decided to first climb up a castle then promptly walk off the edge, after a four letter word and sprint I was able to catch her as if she were Lois Lane, she smiled up at me not knowing I had just saved her life or at least a bump on the head. My adventurous spirit is definitely embedded in my daughter which has always been a source of internal glee for me until today, today I wish she were more cautious, like her dad or uncle, instead she plans on topping Evel Knievel at his own game.

Rob socred in the top 30% in his step 3 boards!

We are so proud of you! Never had a doubt but proud none the less!

Birthday Pics

Presents

The first of many

Ali,
When I think back on my life I can't remember a moment without you in it. It is as if you have saturated yourself into every crevice, past, present and future. How we ever made it though life without you is beyond me because you are our life. You are it.
365 days of loving you and how have those days past so fast. I can barely remember what you were like as a newborn, I search and reach into my mind and it comes up with small glimpses into the past year. The cheeks the drooped down have now shrunk into a modest state. My shark baby disappeared a long time ago and the bald head is now covered in hair.
The small stuff went by so fast, its such a blur, the cooing, the rolling over, the tummy time, the pacifiers, the scooting and crawling and now the orangutan walk and obsession with books.
Its your first birthday and you are so beautiful. Your sweet innocent face. You have no idea where you came from or where you are going. You don't know how lucky you are to have so many people who love you. Or how lucky we are to have you. You do know that when you call out 'mama' to me I will be there and that your dad loves to rescue you from your crib at night.
All day today I have been thinking about last year, the day you entered our lives and changed them forever. I was holding you trying to snuggle as you pushed me away and I thought about how you hate to be smooched, how traumatic 21 hours of labor must have been on you. Everyone thinks of the experience the mom goes through, and mind you, it was no picnic but, you sweet innocent babies go through such trauma to enter this world. You have no idea what is happening and I see that even though you don't remember the pain of that day the scars are still with you. You were occiput posterior, meaning your face was up and pressed against my pelvis for so long, you still cant have anything covering your face. Before you were born I always thought that birthdays should somehow revolve around moms, they are the ones who go through the birthing, I was wrong. You. You are all it is about. Your birth. Your life.
Aliya, Thank you for coming into our lives. This last year has been the best we have ever had and it is solely because of you sweetheart. We thank God for you every day and pray for your happiness. May you have a blessed second year in this world. Happy Birthday.
Love,
Mama

First Birthday Party

Aloha! Short of a roasted pig we had everything a Luau should, grass skirts, hula dancers, pina coladas and a guest of honor, Aliya. She toddled around in her grass skirt and it swayed as her baby hips moved in an exagetrated side to side motion thanks to her little diaper. The skies were blue and the air was warm, it was a perfect day for a birthday. All these people there to celebrate her life and she knew it. Sugar highs combined with unlimited attention would have most kids in a frenzy but not Ali, she played and laughed and hammed it up all day.