Soleil's First Birthday Party!

Walking into a new year....

Serious birthday girl.

Is is me, or is Lloyd coming in for the kiss?

Gorgeous Kara, age 4 weeks!

Sharing a snuggle with dad.

Beautiful Brody, age 5 months.

The fathers played frisbee.

Check out ladybug capris that Aunt Jen sent!

A LOT can change in a year! Kids: Ricky, Kaylee, Kara, Soleil, Lloyd, Brody and Owen.

Ricky chasing bubbles around the park.

Many people came to share in Soleil's special day!

Daddy preparing for the party at Alderman's Ford Park.

Bubbles make the world go round. Ricky, Soleil, Lloyd and Brody.

Proud as punch!

I'm a whole number, now!

Soleil and Jovany seriously considering the cake.

Laughing lady and her bug!

No idea here - love the animated faces, though.

This is a REALLY good book! Thanks, Micah!

This present thing is fantastic! YAY!

The dog that Auntie Krissy (and family) gave Soleil was a huge hit!

Soleil loves to read and she received many fantastic books for her big day.

Soleil had her birthday party yesterday and we had so much fun. It was a perfect day at the park and all the babies were well behaved. We played with lots of bubbles and balls, and enjoyed the great outdoors. Uncle Brian took many fantastic photos, which are displayed here. Titi Diamar did so much to help with the party. She has stated she doesn't care if she ever sees another ladybug again in her life! Surrogate grandparents Tom and Jane drove an hour and half to attend the big day!

We are so grateful to have such great friends and family in our lives. Thank you for making our daugther's day so special! It means more than you know.

Soleil turns one!!!

This is the birthday gift I chose at Toys'R'Us. It is an animal train that sings and makes animal sounds. I have to admit that I am a little frightened when it races across the tile at break neck speed.

This is what the end of the birthday looks like...exhausted!

The ladybug cake that mommy made- she even made two. One for me and one for the party!

Mommy and Titi Diamar spent the day making my ladybug cookies and cake.

Ricky brought me a sunflower for my birthday...and then forgot what to do with it. How romantic!

Have you ever seen someone so excited to sweep in your whole life?

On Saturday, March 29th, Soleil turned one. It was a fantastic day! We hung out with Ricky all day while preparing for the party and played many games which involved stealing binkies. We even walked around and fed the donkeys some fruit. Later, we took Soleil out to Sweet Tomatoes to eat dinner. We often joke that they should charge her-the kid eats a full plate every time. She consumed her fill of mac and cheese, corn, peas, bread, melon and much to her mother's disgust, pickles and tomatoes! Later, we went to Toys'R'Us where she chose her own toy to play with. It is hard to believe she is already one, walking around everywhere. This precious time goes by way too fast...

First Easter Egg Hunt!

Eggs everywhere! How am I going to get to them all?

Oh, so many speech bubbles to go with this picture!

Nathaniel (left) is thinking: I know I am NOT a chicken, but how did all these eggs get here?

Lloyd III(second from left) is thinking: Who needs the Thighmaster when you can just squeeze 5 eggs?

Micah is thinking: Hey, those are really nice shoes...Mind if I try them on?

Soleil is thinking: Oh my gosh! These boys don't even walk yet....Like, really!

Okay, tell me why I'm collecting these things again.

Crawling cuts down on bending time...I think I am in the lead!

Carefully collecting my eggs!

Soleil and her buddies from church (l to r: Nathaniel, Lloyd III and Micah).

Today we went to our church Easter egg hunt. This was Soleil's first egg hunt and it was so much fun. She crawled around on the grass and walked some. She wasn't quite sure what to do with the eggs, though. A couple of times she passed up eggs for leaves-she likes to be one with nature!

Happy Easter, everyone! May you find beauty in this fantastic time of year...a time of renewal and love!

I'm mobile...crawling is for babies.

Watch out, people! I'm walking now!

The original orangutan walk!

1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4.

Look, ma! No hands!

Now that I'm walking, I'll push!

Soleil began walking about 4 weeks ago. She has mastered the orangutan walk -hands above the head to help balance. She is still practicing every day, but it is a whole new world out there. We cannot take our eyes off her for one minute....I have caught her in Bella's bed, pulling all the shoes out of the closet and cleaning out my drawers! Oh, but it is so much fun!

Bahamian visitors and Downtown Disney

Kristina and Angela came to visit for a few days. We had a lot of fun spending time with them-even if we shopped til we dropped! Both ladies spoiled Soleil rotten.

Soleil and one of her favorite people, Auntie Kristina.

Soleil and Auntie Angela formed a tight bond!

Taking my first carousel ride.

Giving Minnie a kiss!

The look of sheer concentration while transporting Nemo from one place to another..while walking.

Unusual collection of pictures

Soleil loves to climb on her push. So much so, the other day she got stuck...twice!! Her legs were stuck over the foot rest! I was laughing while she grunted continously!! She got her self free...both times!

Hugging or smothering the baby...

A genius...who said you had to put the binky in horizontally?

No, we didn't go to baby happy hour! This is after WeePlay, our exercise class!