It's My Party!

The invitation:



The cake:



The church decorated:















Although it was stressful, the party really could not have turned out any better! We all had a blast celebrating Mallory's 1st birthday!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl

Today my baby is 1. I don't know how a whole year has gone by since she came into this world. So tiny and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my entire life. I will never forget how bad labor was, but I would do it over and over and over again for her. Every day I think about how much she changes. It amazes me to no end how it wasn't long ago at all that was was an immobile little person who could only communicate through crying. I do not want to call her a toddler...I do not have a toddler, I have a baby. However, my baby is walking more and more each day and is not slowing down. I know I will have to take her bottle away and her paci at some point, but what's the rush? I know those things will not keep her a baby, but she loves her bottle and paci and the people who would criticize do not have to know about it.

Tonight, we had a little family get together to celebrate. We ate at Two Dogs Pizza and of course, Grandma Louise gave M sweet tea and it went all over her new birthday outfit. I kept my cool though and was pleasantly surprised at how well the night went.

I have heard many mothers say that they love their children more and more each day. It is true. As a mom, there are no words more true. There is no other love that can compare. I hope this was the first birthday of many, many more to come that we celebrate Mallory's life. She will never know the joy she has brought her daddy and I.

Here's to many more birthday's my little boo. We love you.

July 4th Blowout

Granny Pat had her annual 4th of July party and there was a huge crowd that consisted of her whole family, my whole family and the entire neighborhood of Pleasant Hill. I always have a good time. Patrick does an amazing job with the fireworks and I was looking forward to it again this year. Last year I was VERY pregnant and miserable and didn't enjoy it much so that was more reason to look forward to it.

It ended up stressing me to no end.

It was not enjoyable.

There is only one Mallory.

There are way too many family members who want to get their hands on her and it becomes a 'competition' of sorts to see who is the favorite.

Grandma Louise is the most negative person I have ever met in my life. I really think she stares me down to come up with new ways to criticize my abilities as a mother.

People LOVE to give my baby sweet tea. This is something I have struggled with since day one of becoming a mother. I have lost count of how many times I have kindly asked to not give my baby sweet tea that has sugar and caffeine in it and they do it anyway.

Because it doesn't get dark until so late this time of year, the fireworks started after Mallory's 9 pm bedtime. Therefore, I had a cranky, whiny baby who everybody and their mother wanted to know 'what was wrong' and 'did I want them to take her?'

Okay, enough of being Debbie Downer but this is an accurate description of my feelings after the cookout and all I could think about was how I was ever going to survive Mallory's first birthday if the 4th party was this bad?!

We did get a family picture first thing upon arriving and I love the picture. I also loved Mallory's little red and blue Kelly's Kids dress she wore. She's had it a while and I've planned on her wearing it for the 4th. My boo has an awesome wardrobe, if I must say so. Not many toys, but way cool clothes. She is her mama's daughter afterall.

Visit with Grandma Weezy

For our Friday night, we went to Pink Hill and ate supper at Two Dogs. We splurged and got the yummy chocolate chip pizza for dessert :) After we ate, we stopped by Grandma Weezy's for a visit. Mallory had a good time walking outside and picking flowers. Before we left, she had a chocolate chip cookie and some sweet tea. I am sure Mallory is ready to go back!!

Disgusted

So here I am, 2 weeks before my baby's 1st birthday and I am disgusted with my body and the way I look. Today has just been one of those days. I am training at the gym twice a week and it is VERY CHALLENGING to say the least. I would never ever push myself the way my trainer pushes me to keep going. The thing is, I don't do my homework like I should. I should be doing cardio on days I don't train and then there's the diet. The diet needs some serious help. UGHHHH....I need willpower!!!

On a happier note, Mallory has been good the past two days. She stayed with Grandmother and Grandaddy today and will stay tomorrow too. I love it when she stays with them. We just ate a great supper with them with lots of fresh veggies and fruits out of the garden. Mallory ate so good. That girl loves steak like her mama! It was a nice break to not have to cook and the best thing about it is Mallory went to sleep on the way home. She was so out that I was able to change her diaper, give her a bird bath, and put on her pajamas without her waking up. She drank 4 oz of milk and is down for the count. Now that's a good night! Very rarely are they this easy. Mama is not far behind because I am pooped too!