Pictures with Papa...I mean Santa

We heard that Papa (hubby's dad) was playing Santa at work so we had to stop by! Oh what fun it is to see Cupcake love on Papa, I mean Santa....I mean Papa. 

It's highly likely she will now call every Santa, "Papa". I guess there is only one way to test that theory...by going to a mall Santa and see if we get this same loving reaction or one more like last year.

"Papa, is that you?"

 "Let me get a better look"

"Does this mean I get twice the gifts?"

Little Words by Cupcake

Words Cupcake says and their pronunciations by her. Not in any particular order - 

Stop ("top" with hand motion)

Baby ("beebee")

Hi

Bye

Dog

Puppy 

Nap ("bap")

Bath

Poopoo ("papi")

Diaper ("bi-bee")

Please ("pls")

Snack ("nack")

Potty

Sweets ("shwwts")

Asia ("assha")

Kitty Cat ("ki-ka")

Duck

Mama (previously "bob")

Dada

Grama ("ama")

Grampa ("gampa")

Nana

Papa 

Hot ("hhhhh - hhhh")

Water ("wawa")

Juice ("jcsh")

Down

Up

Book

No-no-no (with finger shaking)

Strawberry ("rarara")

Banana ("nana")

I love you ("Alala")

More ("mmmo")

Yes ("ys")

That ("dat" in reference to - what's that?)

Orange ("errrnge")

Laptop ("taptop")

Stuck ("tuck")

High five ("hi fi" with hand up then low five)

The Magic Word

Just one little word, the magic word ...

I taught it to her when she wasn't more than 10 months old. She actually said it before she could say "mama" and even then, she called me "Bob". 

Please or pls is said in the cutest little voice you'll ever hear. With not one vowel pronounced and with a sly little smile. 

Oh the joys of teaching my Cupcake to be polite. Although...in reality, I'm creating a monster. A monster that need only ask nicely to get exactly what she wants ❤

Cupcake's First Sentence!

"I want Mama" Best possible first sentence ever and I got to hear it!!

Its even better because she didn't call me Bob! Ahhh....Life is Good! 

The Happy Birthday Song Crier

When Cupcake cried at her first birthday party, I was surprised. Shocked really. She doesn't cry spontaneously. It was very out of character. So, I thought maybe she was hot, hungry or overwhelmed. She had cried the day before, on her birthday during our family dinner, when we sang to her. I did think it had something to do with the singing at her and being the focus of attention, but left it at that, until this past weekend. 

Grama Eli turned 81 and we celebrated as a family at Chuck-E-Cheese. Awesome idea! The kids had a blast and Great-Grama enjoyed watching them play! Cupcake had a GREAT time playing at her first Chuck-E-Cheese event. Until....the HBD song. 

All attention was on Grammie and her huge yummy carrot cake while we sang. A few words in, my mommy-ears perked up and behind me just a little, where my mom was holding her while she cried such big tears! She reached for me and wouldn't let anyone else console her while we all kept singing. She was so upset....with the song, or group performance,  I'm not sure. Maybe we were "too pitchy". Whatever it was we now know why she cried at her own celebration! That and because, well, you can cry if you want to!

We may have to find an alternate course of action for future birthday parties including stepping out and returning for cake-cutting. When it comes to our own events we might be skipping right to the good part. 

Cupcake Turns ONE

Just saying the word one makes me think, hum or sing "ONE, singular sensation..." And that is precisely what we got and made of the event.  Such a big day for my little Cupcake...with a big party to follow.

I can hardly believe it came so quickly. The seconds, minutes, hours and those 365 days went by so quickly. Her birthday itself was bitter sweet - happy, sad, excited. I was nostalgic the entire week. Remembering every detail of the day my heart grew and began to love much more than I ever knew possible. HOW had it already been a year?!

We celebrated on her special day with our immediate families, God-Mama, BBQ and of course a cupcake for her first taste of sweets!

The party was a long couple of months in the making from struggling with a location that was cool enough but offered enough space to invite over 100 people. Settling on a pool party with shaded outdoor space was the right choice since it was 108 that day! 

She looked like a princess and had a great time. I'm sure she won't remember the day at all....but I will and have great pics from the momentous occasion. Planning a First Birthday party is serious business and I'm glad it turned out so well, we had lots of loving friends and family present to enjoy the celebration with us. We are blessed!

Cupcake with baby Ella

Post swim, post cupcake sprint to Mommy.

What party would be complete without a Princess bouncy house!?

Mommy made nearly 100 cupcakes from scratch!

Piñata Fun!

She doesn't even know what candy is and she was in the candy mayhem with the big kids! Cousin Ty was most likely giving her a little elbow love ;-)

Such a great day!!

I blinked....

Last year, at this time I was 36 weeks pregnant. I had no idea how much my life would change, for the better! I swear I merely blinked and now here I am with an 11 month-2 week old baby who is on the verge of her first birthday. I can think back and remember those first weeks and months with her, the sheer joy, sleepless nights and smelling of spit-up. 

But it is all just that, a distant memory in time that went by far too quickly. I wouldn't change a moment of it. I did the best I could to give plenty of tiny feet kisses, memorize every baby-fat roll, took way too many pictures, watched each curl grow and made a few rookie mistakes. All in an attempt to soak in every second and memory while Cupcake is a baby.

I have to admit, today I am living a little in the past as I reflect at hers and our many accomplishments. Life, though it has seemingly whipped by this last year, is exactly as it should be. And though I'm happy, excited and and looking forward to the big número uno on the 28th - I can't help but want time to stand still just a little. 

Counting my blessings today and always for the last year I am fortunate enough to have experienced as Cupcake's Mommy.

You Are My Sunshine

This pic was taken by our friend Jessica during a play date. Just an ordinary day with my girl and a small display of how happy she is all the time! She is our sunshine and she lights up our lives!

11 Months and Growing

Our sweet Cupcake is growing like a weed vs a pastry! She's finally grown out of her 6 and 9 month clothing and though she is thinning out from all the walking she is doing - she's still holding onto some of the baby rolls that I love so much! 

In the last month she has finally gotten two top teeth and another lower tooth has snuck through the gum line. Her hair is growing and though its still relatively short, it's got the cutest tiny curls. I'm okay with however long she decides to take to get a full head of hair, since I'm the one who will be in charge of managing it.

Words have started rolling off her tongue like - Book, Baby and Hi :-) Still no "mama" yet. So I am still eagerly awaiting the day I get to hear the sweet little sound my mommy heart has been waiting for. 

She is smart, so smart....she amazes me every single day with the little things she knows and learns. Its so exciting when she hands me a book asking me to read it to her or sits and "reads" one on her own.

I love spending each day as her Mommy and can't wait to see what she'll learn tomorrow!

A Typical Morning

It's a typical Sunday morning on the cusp of becoming 11 months old and we are doing our typical morning routine - Morning playtime. Cupcake sits in my lap for a breakfast snack, then eagerly slinks down our of my lap to play with her toys. She can be entertained by her own room, simple toys, books and sometimes dirty laundry for hours. I do my best to act like a fly on the wall, watching her play and interact in the room and all it has to offer. She pushes a shopping cart, explores drawers, opens books to read and sometimes eat their pages. I sit and watch on these seemingly ordinary days and count my blessings for yet another.  

The Little Fish called Cupcake

We started swim classes in early April. Cupcake had just turned 8 months and she took to that first class like a little fish. So far she has loved every minute. Amazed by the drills we do as a class, she's always so bright eyed. 

We've been every Monday afternoon since, and she truly enjoys it. Mommy and me swim is great for social skills, especially since my sweet girl waves at and claps for the other babies in her class. It's a great opportunity for socializing and she's learning so much from week to week. I'm so glad we did this!

First Steps

Our Cupcake's first steps came on 5/11/13 and we barely caught them. I only got to see the second set of two steps without holding on. We finally got it on video 5/12/13 providing me with the perfect Mothers Day gift! Feeling excited and nervous.

Time flies!

The last 10 months has absolutely flown by! A week into being 10 months, I know she is on the verge of walking. She stands and lets go, holds onto toys and manages to step forward with one foot before falling at times. I'm certain she isn't aware of her little victories, but I am! I'm doing my very best to let it all come on her own time and not push her too much to walk. But regardless of when she does, I am in absolute awe of her every single day. It's amazing to watch her grown and learn.

10 Months

My baby girl is 10 months old as of yesterday! Happy, healthy, smart...with dark olive skin and dark brown eyes. She has minimal curly dark hair and not one tooth. Oh, but I love that sweet toothless grin! I am blessed every single day to wake up and get to be her Mommy. I never knew my heart could love so much :-) She is my heaven on earth and I am blessed more than I deserve.