Fiona's First Birthday Party

Traditions. I very much like the idea of family traditions and we are slowly building our own.  Both Kate and Alice had a first birthday party.  I realize that this is something that is more for the parents - and now older siblings, than for the child, but it is a fun excuse to have a get together!

We had a small party.  The Lim-Andersons came, and half of the Garcia's came.  (Shawn and Cooper were unable to come - sad.)  The kids played, the babies toddled, we enjoyed good food and great company.  Fiona and Griffinn were really cute. 

Lauren and Fiona had some pretty cute moments too!

Baby games - RECYCLING!!

Fiona + sugar = Funny faces

Piano Playing

Around a year, they each found the piano.

Kate

Alice

Fiona

A Bridal Shower

Ken's niece Meagan is getting married on July 11th.  Laura and Maureen hosted a bridal shower for her today.  I thought it would be really fun to take all the girls to a girl party. In my head it made sense to bring a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 1 year old to a party where there would be no games for them, no activities for them, no entertainment for them.  My head is not serving me well these days!

It turns out they were hooligans.  I'm not sure if they were entertaining or annoying.  They did have fun with their cousins and I suppose I didn't die of embarrassment, so all's well that ends well?!

After the shower we had a picnic at a park with Laura, Joaquin and William.

I suppose it was the day that it should have been.  I fun family day with small children!  July is going to be filled with both sides of family fun!  Yay for reunions and weddings!

A Year Ago

When we did the pregnancy shoot and Emily had this cute idea with the balloons in the suitcases, I almost didn't want to take the pink balloon pictures because  I was so convinced that we were going to have a boy.  But at Emily's behest, we took the pink... good thing we did!

Today I wanted to recreate, so we did!

Fiona is One!

What a wonderful day.  I can't remember exactly when I booked the photo shoot, but it was several months ago.  I love doing photos with my girls.  LOVE.  I love planning what they're going to wear, what I'm going to wear, getting hair done... I just love it!

Now back up a little further.  When Kate was four months old we were in New Hampshire visiting my sister and her family.  Suzanne and I did a photo shoot, just the girls: Suzanne, Anna, Kate and me.  It was so fun.  I loved the pictures, I still love the pictures.  When Alice came along, I planned to do the same thing.  An in studio session, just the girls.  And we did.  And I love those photos too.  With Miss Fiona, I thought about an in studio session too, but then I decided against it.  I wanted instead to re-create some of the photos we did in the maternity shoot.  And so today we did.  The girls weren't completely cooperative, but it was still fun and beautiful and Emily as always was awesome.  She's shared several photos already and I'm excited to see them all sometime!

Now back to the star of the show, FIONA!  I can't believe it's been a whole year.  There has been so much joy this year.  (Lots of crazy too..., but so much JOY!)  I love my little flower.  I am so grateful to be a Mom.  I am grateful for all my beautiful, intelligent, strong, funny, cuddly little women.

The last month Miss Fiona has cut two more teeth - the top two middle.  AND most exciting to me, in the last week, she has started taking steps.  She is now going from a seated position to a standing position without the assistance of anything.  The persistence of little people is amazing.  They try and they fall, over and over and over again.  Sometimes with a smile, sometimes with tears, but they keep going.  (That is one of the attributes of little children I'm sure our Savior would have us emulate.)

Today was family day.  Pictures, then home to make cupcakes and pizza.  Kate and Alice helped me make cupcakes.  I found a recipe online and I must say the cupcakes are dangerously amazing.

From the photo shoot with Emily...

My birthday-shirt shoot at home...

And the cupcake shoot...

We really did have a lovely day celebrating our sweet Fiona.  (I won't mention that her big sisters call her the baby monster...) It's funny how knowing that she's one makes me look at her differently.  She isn't a tiny baby anymore, and she won't be a baby at all for much longer.  However, she will always be my sweet flower, my Fiona.

Happy Birthday from Grandma and Grandpa

I asked G and G to come up and watch the girls so I could go get my hair cut, and it turned into happy one day early birthday to Fiona.  Alice had lots of fun helping Fiona go through her packages.  Thank you Mom and Dad for watching the girls, thank you for showering them with love, and, thank you for the book, shoes, dress and soap!