A Bump in the Road

Just when we think the weather was going to turn and the nasty germs of the cold & flu season would be zapped with sunshine, Miss Lila comes down with a doozy of a cold. We had swimming lessons yesterday and had both mentioned how strange Lila was acting, very quiet and almost lathargic. Even when her friend Jozie came over to play, she just didn't seem all that into it. We chalked it up to teething and the new changes going on in her life aka: weaning from the bottle!

Boy were we wrong! She woke up this morning with a low grade temperature, a runny nose, she was sneezing and wheezing and had a thick cough. So, we loaded up and headed to the walk-in clinic to have her seen by a doctor. Surprisingly we got right in and the nurse and doctor were so good to Lila. They made sure she was comfortable while examining her by letting her stay put on Mommy's lap instead of getting up on the exam table. They determined that indeed she has a bad viral infection and gave her a nebulizer treatment at the office and then came back to monitor her after her treatment and thought that it helped, so back home we went with a nebulizer in tow.

Using a nebulizer is a first for Mike and I and we feel so helpless. We hope and pray that she gets better. She will definitely get lots of snuggles and lots of hugs and kisses...just what the doctor ordered!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!

There really are no words to express how we feel about our little Lila turning one! We started our celebrations on Friday evening at Grandma and Grandpa Eddins' house! We had a nice dinner together while we celebrated both Mike's birthday and Lila's, equipped with a cake!

At 7:00 on Friday night I leaned over to Mike and said, "can you believe a year ago today we were walking into Mercy Hospital...anticipating our induction?!" That is how it all started, we went in on the 16th to have cervadil placed that evening, hoping to meet our little girl the next day. Boy o' boy, we were in for a surprise! A year ago, that Friday we were expecting to meet her came and went and at 11:40 am on Saturday, April 18, 2009 we greeted our beautiful daughter Lila Louise!


Which brings us to today our baby's first birthday! We got our first message from family this morning! Celia and Ruby wanted to be the first to officially wish Lila a Happy Birthday!

We invited our family and closest friends to join us in celebrating the big day! We put together brunch and with the beautiful weather had the ingredients for a great party! Mike and I were overwhelmed at how wonderful it was to have our family and friends with us and how gracious they all were with their gifts. We will have to build a bigger wing on the house so Lila's toys will all fit!

Opening Presents!

My Grandma Harvey makes amazing cakes and has since before I was a little girl! We had decided on cupcakes for Lila's cake, but low and behold she put together a masterpiece with a bear holding a balloon to go along with her amazingly decorated cupcakes!

We ended up having around 35 people with us at the house today. Lila tends to get really quiet when there is so much going on around her and even more quiet when it seems as if all the attention is on her! After everything settled down she was able to sprawl out on the floor with her puppy, her best friend, and tell us how she felt about her party! We got an earful, according to her, she had a great time!

Thanks Everyone! I had so much fun!

After the last of the guests left it was Daddy's turn to start assembling some of Lila's gifts! She got a lot of great toys that she can use both indoors and outdoors! She was so little last year we didn't have many outdoor toys, so a lot of new, fun things to start off her collection!

We spent a little time this afternoon letting Lila open up her gifts from us. We were most excited to have her open a baby named Stella and the stroller that doubles as a walking toy! She thought Baby Stella was pretty neat. She has a pacifier that she can take on and off and it sticks to Baby Stella by a magnet! We spent quite a bit of time taking the pacifier off and putting it back on...amusing!

I have had some time to reflect back to a year ago and think about all the anticipation that we had for this specific day, the day our daughter was born. No one could have told me how absolutely wonderful it would be. We get so wrapped up in the party aspect of birthdays and never, until now, had I thought about the fact that it is really the TRUE celebration of life. Of course I knew that the day she was born, but to celebrate a year later, I am there celebrating for Lila, but the real gift is the gift she has given me/us by being in our lives.

Happy Birthday Lila Louise!

We look forward to the many birthday's to come and to watch you grow into the amazing person you are destined to be! We love you more than words can say!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My Daddy is the greatest

'cause he's strong and brave and fun.

He makes me really proud

of all the special things he's done.

He tells exciting stories,

and he takes good care of me.

With him, I feel as lucky

as a little girl can be!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! WE LOVE YOU!

Some BUNNY Loves You!

The Easter Bunny had no trouble finding Lila this year! Her Easter celebration started on Tuesday when she brought home an Easter basket FULL of goodies from Connie's house! When Mike went to pick her up she was anxious to tell Daddy all about the Easter egg hunt that had ensued that day! The kids were sure to share their eggs with Lila which of course warmed our hearts...they really do love her!

Look! Candy!

On Saturday, our first stop on the bunny trail was to see Celia and Ruby! The Eddins Easter bunny didn't forget about them! The girls had all sorts of fun opening their baskets and of course helped Lila open hers! Lila was thrilled to receive a plush bunny that had teethers for ears! Good thinking!

After our stop at Jason and Jen's it was off to Grandma and Grandpa Eddins' house for a big Easter dinner and yet another Easter basket! This time Lila's basket was full of clothes, a fun plate, a book and a giant pink bunny! Lila also got her first birthday present...an adorable pink table and chair set that looks like miniature mission style patio furniture! I can already envision the millions of tea parties that will be held there! Mommy and Daddy might have to sit on the floor...not sure that the chairs will support more than 30 pounds!

As if you didn't guess, we were thrilled to see that the Easter bunny paid a visit to our house Sunday morning! Lila was so much fun to watch opening up her basket full of goodies! Including a bright bunny named Blossom!

Even the puppies wanted to get in on the Easter festivities!

We spent the afternoon at my Dad and Laura's with the Smith side of the family. The afternoon started off with an Easter egg hunt! All the kids, including Lila, with the help of Dad and Cade, got plenty of eggs. These eggs were special, they didn't just have candy in them...they had money! Lila was able to put her Easter money in her piggy bank when she got home! For now, it is better than chocolate!

The hunt is on!

A new Easter friend!

Opening another birthday present!

My Aunt Mary & Uncle Jeff got Lila this old school clock that Fisher Price has brought back. The true meaning behind it is that my Grandpa Smith was a clock maker. If he were still with us today, Lila would have received one of his beautiful hand crafted clock. Mary saw this toy in the store, remembered them from when she was little and decided that for Lila's birthday she should have it, in remembrance of my Grandpa. Thanks Mary & Jeff...a very thoughtful gift that she already loves!

We had a busy Easter weekend, but we were surrounded by lots of love! A year ago at this time we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little girl and the days were counting down! We are so thankful she is here with us to begin our own holiday traditions! We couldn't be more blessed!

Mmmm...Waffles!

Every day brings NEW adventures in food with Lila! Someone told us to try giving her a frozen waffle to help with her teething and then she can enjoy the treat! We thought it sounded like a good idea so we thought we would try it out! Lila LOVED it!

I got some good laughs out of it too while feeding her...whipping a soggy waffle all over the kitchen was a good way to celebrate Easter morning!