The Cutest Kid on the Block

About a month ago, we had Hanna's 1 year pictures taken. We decided to do them a little before she actually turned one because I knew it would be getting HOT soon, and we definitely wanted outside pictures. I contacted an old friend Liz Myers with Zil Photography (http://www.facebook.com/zilphotography)  and asked her to do the pictures. One word to describe her......AMAZING!!! We headed down to Riverfront Park, and it was the perfect spot! Hanna was all over the place---picking up grass, crawling away from us, and was much more interested in the people and things around her than smiling for the camera. Liz was so patient with her, and we all had so much fun, and definitely got our workout! If you know Hanna, you know that she has quite the personality----Liz was able to capture this in her pictures! Her facial expressions are priceless, and I had the biggest smile on my face looking through the pictures. Thank you Liz for a fun and awesome afternoon!!!

I'm in Heaven!!

So, I am seriously LOVING summer vacation so far! I sit back and think about how different this summer is compared to my previous summers. I think back to the summers where I slept in, watched several hours of television, shopped, made several road trips, went riding on the boat every weekend, and laid out in the sun all that I wanted! But, I must say that I'm loving my days now so much more!!! We've only had 5 days of summer vacation so far, but I'm really in heaven! So far, we've had a pretty relaxing couple of days. We've completely taken away Hanna's bottles, so she seems to be waking up a little earlier. We're definitely working on stretching that out some in the morning, but even if it is 6:30, seeing that bright smile makes getting up so much better! We take it easy in the morning----eat breakfast, read some books, walk around the neighborhood, watch some cartoons, and then it's nap time.....for both of us!:)
After her first nap, our day really begins. So far, we've been to movement/song class at the library, played in Hanna's new swimming pool, gone on several BRIEF shopping trips and lunch outings, and today, we even had our first play date! Hanna's sweet friend Becca came over to play. These two are absolutely too cute to watch! They've been together at Nat's since they were only a couple of months old, and it has been so amazing to watch them grow up into the precious little girls they are becoming. They had so much fun playing with all of Hanna's toys, and splashing in her swimming pool. It was also good to have some adult conversation and interaction!
I am really looking forward to the next two months with my sweet girl! We have so many fun things planned, and I'm just so lucky to get to spend this time with her!

Mommy's Little Fish

A little skinny dipping

This picture was too cute not to share! Her look is priceless!!

She sure does love Becca!!!!

The Big ONE!

It's so hard to believe that my sweet baby is ONE! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was holding this tiny baby in the hospital thinking, "Oh my goodness! She's really mine! Now what??"

Over the past year, I have learned so much by being a mommy. It is definitely the most difficult, but most rewarding and amazing job ever. I love watching her grow up into the beautiful little girl she is becoming. Each day, she does something new and I learn something new! At the age of ONE, here are some of her favorite things to do:

• shaking her head no
• dancing and clapping to every song she hears
• pointing at new and interesting things
• walking holding on to anything and everything (and a few steps by herself!)
• playing in the lake, kiddie pool, or any type of water
• Riding on the boat
• playing in Dixie's food and water bowl
• Opening every drawer and cabinet in the house
• Chewing the coffee tables or other wooden pieces of furniture (she's my little beaver)

As you can tell by reading this list, she is definitely very active and keeps me busy! That's one reason I haven't updated this blog in almost a month!
Yesterday, we were able to celebrate her birthday with our closest family and friends. Hanna is such a lucky little girl to have so many people who love her so dearly. She had so much fun playing with all of her friends, and her favorite thing of the entire day..........EATING! I think she ate her weight in pizza and cake. Here are a few pictures of her special day: