Spaghetti Oh My!

This week we gave Courtney some spaghetti (well, penne noodles) and she LOVED it. I kept putting more and more on her plate and she kep gobbling it up! This was the first day and while it made a mess, she kept it pretty well contained to the plate... But after the third day of spaghetti, she found out how much fun it was to get it alll ooovvveeerr! And she was a little mad I was taking pictures and not getting her MORE SPAGHETTI!

Look really close and you will see some little pigtails! It is kind of a mess, but still cute!!

I am also a little sad that these are the only 3 pictures we took this week...last week being off for spring break, I took about 250. Wow. I will get more in gear this week.

A Wonderful Spring Break!

What a great spring break! We had 9 days off with Courtney and it only made us so anxious for the summer break we will get to have with her. We did a ton of outdoor fun becuase of the great weather and we put her birthday toys and clothes to use! We went to a park in Lee's Summit with Brian, Lyda and Ashley for a picnic and to play on the playground, flew kites, painted with her birthday paints - sort of, went out to eat, celebrated my birthday, went to Kaitlynn's 1 year birthday party and played outside in the wagon every chance we got! How sweet is this picture?
First swing! She had a lot more fun than it looks here.

The girls loved the kites' tails.

Courtney loved to eat her afternoon snack in her wagon. In and out. Take a bite. In and out. Grab a drink.

Attempting to paint. Courtney mainly wanted to put it in her mouth. She did manage to stick it right in her ear. I was concentrating on her mouth, so I missed that!

I love how fat her tummy looks here!

Helping mommy open her birthday presents. Dan got us both gardening tools so Courts can help me this summer:)

Blue-eyed girls playing!

At Kaitlynn's birthday party! Courtney just walked around and took in the sights.

Kaitlynn got a new car (that seats one) but everyone wanted courtney to ride too.

This was the split second that both (little) girls kept on their party hats:)

Courtney's cute ice cream dress - thanks aunt Deanna!

We went out to dinner for my dad's birthday (yes - a ton of March birthdays around here). Courtney is pretty good in restaurants, but spends most of her time like this watching everyone else.

Birthday Party!

Courtney had a great time at her party on Saturday. She had a lot of friends and family here to celebrate with her. We ate, watched a video of her first year, opened presents, watched Courtney eat cake and played outside. Our house was full of people, cute little girls, food and love for little Ms. Courtney! Courtney's cute party clothes!

Our only family pic of the party!

All the party decorations!
Beautiful cookies made by a friend from Stewartsville. Thanks Marilyn!


Courtney's cake later to be destroyed:)

Courtney and Ashley were getting a little restless waiting on the party...so we had to get some books to stay occupied! Everyone watching a video that Dan and I made of Courtney's first year. Opening presents...a skill Courtney needs some practice at! She was not that much into it!

Lyda and Ashley (but probably not Brian) made Courtney a picture book! The pictures are Ashley and Courtney and the story is about 2 friends - wonderful! If I was by myself, I might would have cried! Yum! The cake! At first, Courtney was daintily licking the frosting, but then dived right in!

Here is Courtney's audience as she ate her cake!
The weather was so wonderful that we got to play outside in another of Courtney's presents - a big wagon!

Courtney's gifts! All these springy gifts gets us excited about the spring and summer she will get to enjoy them in!

Happy Birthday Courtney!

Courtney is 1 today! I can't believe my baby is now a toddler! She started really walking everywhere yesterday. It was like her little walking lightbulb went off and she said, "today I will walk." I get weekly emails titled "your baby this week: 3 months, week 1" for example. Today I received my weekly email and it said "your toddler: 1 year". WOW. My toddler? It is bittersweet to feel like your little baby is growing up, but with it comes so many wonderful changes. I will miss the cuddles, bottles, cute way her mouth moves with a giggy (pacifier)...but I will also love her running in the grass, saying first words, playing, singing, dancing and all those wonderful toddler moments.

Here is Courtney on her first day - one year ago...

And here is Courtney today!

Here is Courtney walking all the way across the living room, through the kitchen to her drawer!

I love you Courtney! I can't wait to see what this next year brings!

First steps and reading

Last week Dan and I were playing with Courtney when she took a step! It was one of those things we will remember forever as we started laughing and hugging our girl. Then, of course, we had to see it again and again. We have some grandparents who are dying to see those little steps even though she is a long way from being an independent walker.

Here is another video of Courtney reading her books. I know the book is upside down, but it is a wordless book so it shouldn't matter:)

Courtney turns 11 months tomorrow and this past month has been all about exploring her world! She has found many new play places around our house (which led us to finally have to babyproof the kitchen). Once we put a gate up to prohibit her from the front hall, she made a beeline for the kitchen. Take a look at what she found! The pantry...

The table and chairs...

and a draw of her very own! We created this drawer for her a while ago and it only led to her exploring all the other cabinets...

We left this cabinet "unbabyproofed" since it was just tupperware and she thinks its fun!Ashley came for a visit (in her cute hat!) on a beautiful January day! Can't say that very often!

We visited grandma and grandpa in Joplin. It must have been a quick visit since this was the only picture I got.

We visited Megan at MU for dinner and a little playtime at Meg's apartment.

Courtney is eating a ton of table food now and I gave her a whole strawberry just to see what she would do. She gnawed on it for quite a while, but would also shudder every now and then from it sourness - but went back for more!

Last weekend was GORGEOUS weather for February so we had a meal outside. Courtney just sat on this blanket and munched on her food for about 20 minutes. I wish she would sit that still inside!

We have had this car toy for awhile, but it wasn't getting much use so I stored it in the basement. I just got it out thinking Courtney might start to practice walking on it. This is literally her second push around the living room and we grabbed the camera. I thought it was hilarious how quick she had to walk to keep up! You might also notice our barricade into the kitchen and tv of the coffee table, ottoman and carseat:)