The Big One!

One year has come and gone and I can hardly believe it. To think that last year I was in the hospital, swollen like a balloon, with my precious little angel by my side. I don't often get mushy but I just want to say this for memory's sake. I really didn't know how I would take to motherhood since you're all aware of my previous dislike/fear of most children (not yours of course!). But every night in the hospital when the nurses wheeled Oakley away to the nursery, I felt like it was Christmas Eve. I couldn't wait to be woken up at 3am to nurse my tiny, sweet baby. I know that sounds a little crazy and the feeling wore off quickly once we were home but I remember the excitement I felt every time I held her. I still go in her room at night just to watch her sleep and sometimes pick up her sleepy little body and just rock her. And then I breathe a big sigh of relief knowing that I won't have to get up until 7:30 the next morning! Alright, onto the party!

Birthday Party Part I: May 7th, 2010

I decided that Oakley wouldn't mind if we combined her party with two boys and invited everyone we knew to a huge BBQ. Despite being more of an undertaking than I anticipated, the other two mommies and I managed to put on a pretty sweet party for 72 adults and kids. I absolutely loved being able to have a big outdoor party with all our Pittsburgh friends. It was also a great opportunity to get together with some of our friends who are moving:( Onto the pictures!

Here's the unsuspecting birthday girl, waiting to head over to her party. There's something to be said about her green blanket, its her favorite thing in the world and she must have it with her everywhere she goes.


Here are the two birthday boys, the party, and me with my new do.



The Cake- it would've been better had I remembered to take a picture before cutting into it.


More pics of the party, the decor, and just two members of the Pittsburgh baby boom.



Isn't her birthday hat adorable?!? My exceptionally talented friend, Carlee made it just for Oakley.


Needless to say she loved the cake. She ate two entire pieces then rubbed the rest in her hair which resulted in us having to leave her party early for a birthday bath.




Thanks to everyone who came to help us celebrate! It meant a lot to me to have so many of our friends there for Oakley's first birthday. We are lucky to live in a place with many great friends who have been there for us through the last three years. Thanks to Rachelle and Jamie for letting me talk you into throwing this big ol' party for our kids! It was a piece of cake!!

Birthday Part II: May 9th 2010

Oakley's real birthday was on Mother's day so we decided to invite some friends over to celebrate both. After Oakley discovered her new love of sugar, she was pretty content to sit on our friend Tiffany's lap while being spoon fed chocolate cake. Quite unusual for a little girl who never sits still!



Oakley didn't care too much about the presents, good thing she had some helpers show her the ropes!

Grandma's visit

Get ready for whole lot of bloggin', I have a lot to catch up on! My mom came out to visit at the end of April. We went to Time Out for Women, listened to some really great talks and beautiful music. We also managed to do some fun "Pittsburghy" things.

Here we are at the West End Overlook.


Oakley had a blast with Grandma! (That's her SUPER EXCITED smile)


We made a trip to the zoo, turns out Pittsburgh has a really sweet zoo.


This was the first time that Oakley insisted on walking by herself. This is something I've been so excited for because I no longer have to carry her. It turns out that she never wants to go in the right direction so its quite counterproductive. Sorry if my white legs temporarily blind you. And I have no idea why everything is now underlined and I don't know how to change it.


Oakley LOVED the aquarium, she's just like her mommy:) Okay not underlined anymore- hmmm.


The aquarium has this really cool underwater viewing area for the shark pool and the polar bear habitat. Da-dum...


Next my mom, Oakley and I headed to St. Louis to visit my brother, Mike and his family. Oakley did really well during the 12 hour drive. Thank goodness for TV and Baby Einsteins!! I actually didn't take one picture there so I'm using pictures that Jessica, my sister-in-law, took. You will most likely notice how much better her pictures are, she's very talented.

St. Louis was a blast! This was taken in the beautiful botanical gardens.


We went to the butterfly house which is just about the coolest thing EVER. Its an enclosed garden full of HUGE, beautiful butterflies that just flutter all around you. Oakley was completely fascinated with it. To the right is Mike with baby Charlotte, isn't she a cutie?!


Here is my mom with her five granddaughters. Right now the grand-girls out number the boys by one, making nine grandkids total.


Thanks Mike and Jessica for the fun visit to St. Louis! And thanks mom for taking Oakley on her first girls trip, it was awesome!!

11 Months 2 weeks and 4 days

That's how old Oakley was in this picture taken by her very talented Aunt Jessica. Oakley, Grandma (my mom) and I just got back from a trip to St. Louis to see my brother's family and meet one of her newest cousins, Charlotte. Oakley has three cousins that were all born before her first birthday. I can't wait to see what great friends they end up being. Oakley was supposed to have fourth cousin born right around the time she turns one but sweet little Jaycee wasn't meant to stay on earth and died in utero a month before she was due. We were all very sad to miss out on meeting this little angel and I have to think that she and Oakley were good friends up in Heaven.

Oakley turns one this weekend and we're kicking off the celebration with a triple birthday party tonight. More pictures on that, St. Louis, and my new haircut to come:)

Wanna be

Yes I am a follower. I have no capacity to be inventive on my own so I copy the ideas of other people and I'm about to do it again. But as a true follower, I can't do this without the approval from those whom I usually follow. You see I'm having one of those moments where I want to cut my hair- just like Katie Holmes. And I'd like to say that the idea for copying Katie is at least mine but its not. My friend Megan originally copied Katie's hair a week ago and so I'm going to do the same thing... I think. But I need all you original people to approve. SO vote on my pole- you have one week. I need this done before I'm heading out to Utah-- land of the well-put-together mommies.

Oh and I need all you hair stylists/experts to tell me if this haircut is easy to style in the AM. I mean 10 maybe 15 minutes max!!

Beware the Toddler

My little baby turned into a toddler overnight! Here's a little video montage Dave put together of her first day of becoming an upright mover.



A few things to note about Oakley. She can sign 'more'. I'm pretty sure she's saying "mama", "daga" (doggies) and "dada" but I'm not completely convinced. She is such a drama queen, she gets offended very easily when a toy is taken away or if she has a little tiny fall. (Probably because she knows momma reads her a story to calm her down.) She'll eat just about anything including dust bunnies. And she's seriously attached to me right now which I love and hate at the same time.

Playin' Hookie

Easter weekend Dave and I convinced our friends Darren and Tiffany to skip conference and come with us to the cherry blossom festival in DC. We weren't the only ones who decided to enjoy the beautiful weather and take in the sites. The entire city was packed! Despite the crowds, missed naps, and a cranky baby we had a pretty fun time. I feel guilty that Oakley's first Easter was spent being dragged around in a stroller but I guess its better than being ignored while your parents watch TV:)

We checked out the awesome blossoms.


Saw the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin but didn't quite make it there.


Walked a little more through the cherry blossoms with these guys.


Saw this place but didn't get an invite to the Easter egg hunt, lame.


Oakley's first day of wearing her hat. She wasn't amused.


Unfortunately this is the best picture of the two of us and Dave's eyes are closed. A role reversal for us, I'm usually the blinker. This is taken in the National Gallery of Art, my favorite place to visit in DC. (But I still haven't been to the spy museum...)


My attempt at a artistic picture in the art museum, seemed fitting.


My favorite artist of all time, Monet. Dave's least favorite, he doesn't like impressionist art.


You may recognize this one if you've ever seen my kitchen. Another impressionist artist I like, Degas.


And if you're still reading and haven't dozed off yet, here's another one of our chubby little bunny.


And here's one of her eating paper while watching TV. I know, my parenting skills are something to admire.

Blah Blah Blog

Wow, has it really been a month since the last time I blogged?

Okay quick update: Oakley is EVERYWHERE!! Walking along furniture, knee crawling, pulling herself up and standing by herself but NOT walking. Kind of a bummer because I'm not really okay with the idea of letting my child crawl just anywhere and she is just so busy/hates being held. She's been doing all sorts of new tricks. She can wave, clap, and throw her Binky at least 15 feet across a room. (She almost clocked someone in church with it the other week) She's finally sleeping through the night and has been for a couple months and *sniff* just stopped nursing. I'm a little sad but enjoying my new found freedom.

Little Miss Skeptical...


Not a carrot fan.


Dave and I have been LOVING this amazing weather and have taken Oakley for several bike rides and runs. I love how the minute that spring begins everyone has such good intentions. Everywhere you go you see people running, biking, etc. I always wonder at what point do we start taking the good weather for granted and end up spending summer days shut in our homes. (At least I do!) Tangent...sorry.





Little trip to the Carnegie Science Center with some friends.





I have finally fulfilled my new years goal of volunteering for a better cause, at least for this month. After a month of delays I was able to help the Pittsburgh Food Bank distribute food to those in need last Saturday. The whole experience was fun, interesting and definitely eye opening. After being on Food Stamps and Medicaid, I'd thought that I had seen my share of poverty. Well, it really doesn't compare. The place we went to was the most run down, ghetto place I'd ever been to in Pittsburgh. The people that came were all different types but most were in good spirits and made the whole experience rewarding. Its going to be a tradition for me every 4th Saturday of the month. I'm looking forward to being a part of something outside of being a mom.