1 Year Check Up

Ok, so no birthday pictures yet because I didn't take a single picture the entire day, and Jess hasn't gotten the cd to me yet- she's bringing it this weekend. But let me just tell you that her party was a BLAST... so lots more details to come, when I have some time! :)

We did go to her 1 year appointment today, and the doctors said everything looked great. She had clear ears (PRAISE GOD!) and they were impressed by how well she walked.

The stats...
Weight: 18 lbs, 15 ounces, 20th percentile
Height: 28 3/4 inches, 40th percentile
Head Circumference: 18 3/8 inches, 90th percentile

So, it can definitely still be said that our daughter is a petite little girl with a big ol' head! :) But we think she's beautiful!!

She did have to get two shots today, and has been kind of a cranky mess the rest of the day. I'm sure she'll wake up happier tomorrow, and I'm just thrilled to know that she is a healthy little girl.

And I am so excited to know that I have actually made it to a full year nursing. That' something I really wanted to do, and I made it! Of course, it helps that Elena LOVES to nurse, so she hasn't started weaning herself at all. I will be sad to stop nursing her, whenever I finally do get her weaned, but I DO NOT miss dragging that horrible pump around with me EVERYWHERE I GO... I tell you what, I grew to despise that thing! But it was worth it for my little girl... she is happy and healthy!!

Happy First Birthday!!

Wow, at exactly 9:55 pm Elena turns one year old!! It's hard to believe... the big party is tomorrow, but she's already had a pretty busy birthday!!


We dressed up for daycare today, because Aunt Jess brought Elena this really cute dress, and the birthday girl should always look special! First thing on Elena's schedule this morning... a nap! :)





After we finally got her to wake up (no small feat, she wakes up like her mommy), and got her dressed, she got to open her first present from Mommy and Daddy! She loved tearing the paper, for awhile, but then got bored.


Mommy and Daddy got her a LAPTOP!! She loves our laptop, and is constantly pounding on it, so we thought she should have her own. She did think it was pretty cool! We also let her open a present from a guy at my work, and he gave her a school bus with big legos in it, which was also pretty sweet!

At daycare, Elena got to have her first little party! I didn't get to go :( but I left my camera, and they took some great pictures!!

I did get to take off work at noon, so we went to lunch with Aunt Jess and the whole family... Laney had a lemon! :)

After lunch we went to Sam's to finish shopping for the birthday party, then back home to get ready.

It's amazing to me that it was a year ago today that we went in to the hospital and came out parents. There's nothing like it in the world, and it has been a true blessing to watch her grow up in the last year. It is such an amazing miracle to see this tiny baby grow and develop into a toddler with personality. The littlest things point so clearly to God's sovereignty and His ultimate design. It's just amazing, and I can't wait to watch her life unfold over the next 18 (and even more) years! We are blessed to be trusted with the upbringing and care of this amazing little girl.

Week 50 & 51

I find it hard to believe that the title of this post is actually 50 and 51 weeks... it doesn't seem possible that a week from now our little girl will turn one! It doesn't seem possible. It's kind of like being married... it doesn't seem possible that it's already been a year since she was born.
But, at the same time, I can't imagine (or really remember) life without her.

Anyway, the last two weeks have been really busy, and full of fun new tricks- like talking on the phone and walking!! The two weeks ago we had the Fall Kickoff with the youth group, which really turned into a huge water fight! I took some great pictures of Elena playing on the playground equipment at Cosmo Park, but I think they're on Aunt Ruthie's camera, so I don't have any to put up.

Over Labor Day weekend we headed to Illinois to visit my grandparents. We had a great time. We just relaxed on Saturday, hung out and goofed off around the farm. Then, on Sunday, Josh got to preach at Grandma & Grandpa's church because they don't have a pastor. Afterwards, the whole family came to Grandma & Grandpa's house for lunch- we had 36 people there! It was crazy. Elena had a great time re-meeting all of her great-aunts & uncles, cousins, etc. Monday we went to Grandma & Grandpa Hook's house. They are my great-grandparents, so they are Elena's great-great grandparents. Elena LOVED Grandpa Hook's walker, she just pushed it all over their living room. I took some great pictures of that... on Ruth's camera, so those will have to come later. But I did take GOBS of pictures on my own camera, and here are a few of my favs...

Hanging out with Great-Grandpa Price. Check out the shoes!! Daddy decided that, since she was walking now, she had to start wearing shoes. So we stopped at the Carter's outlet on the way to IL and bought these ADORABLE brown and white tennis shoes. Doesn't she look like such a big girl?!

Driving Uncle Davids new zero-turn mower... all the guys in the family were salivating over this thing... Aunt Jane, not so thrilled! :)
Elena spent lots of time helping Aunt Ruthie with her physics homework!
At lunch on Sunday Elena got to hang out with her cousin, Addyson. Addy is actually 2 months younger than Elena, despite being quite a bit bigger! Guess Elena really is just that petite. She certainly doesn't fit in with the Price side of the family when it comes to body type!
Elena and Addy weren't too sure about each other at first... but they warmed up to each other pretty quick!

Long weekends require lots of naps... and what better way to take a nap than with Daddy?

We got to ride the Mule around the farm to look at all of the animals. We saw pigs and cows, and Elena LOVED them all!
We stopped at the lake and fed the fish, which meant there were massive catfish jumping all over the water. Elena thought that was pretty cool, too!
Hanging out with Grandpa again... she DESPERATELY needed a nap, but she wouldn't go to sleep for anyone, not even Grandpa!
ted This is back at home... apparently she wasn't done with her cereal! She has become fascinated with her bowl and spoons, trying to eat out of them and pound on them after I finish feeding her oatmeal.

Now that she has started walking so much, I'm finding that I LOVE these pictures of her walking with somebody. Poor thing, nobody loves her enough to walk with her, but I've managed to capture a few shots...

Walking with Daddy...

With Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Charlie at church...

Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Charlie again!

Grandma Price and Aunt Ruthie

I just think there's something so sweet about seeing the little girl walking with the grown ups.

Anyway, there has been much planning and preparing for the big party next weekend! I get the feeling it's going to be a big ol' party! I hope you all are coming!! If not, stay tuned for pictures in the next big update next weekend!!

What A Difference...

...a couple of weeks makes!!!

So, Elena's been learning to walk. This first video is from August 22nd.

And this second is from tonight (2 weeks later).

Amazing what a difference a couple of weeks makes!!

Stay tuned for an update (with LOTS of pictures) from the last 2 weeks! Hopefully tomorrow, maybe Saturday...