Okay, everyone clap...I finally figured out how to once again upload pictures on our blog...successfully! Alexa is officially one year old as of yesterday! She's walking great and even almost half running! She's even started to say a few words like "ball" and today I got her to say "Thank You", granted it wasn't perfectly clear but I still think my kid is a genius!
We had a blast at her first birthday party here at our house last Sunday. I def. went overboard for a Sesame Street first birthday party that she'll never remember but it was still fun had by all. My oh so sweet family traveled from far and wide to spend the weekend with us and attend her birthday party! It was crazy but it was fun! I can't believe how big my neices and nephew have gotten!
It was a big day for Kyle and I because we took her last and final scoop of formula! Yayyy! That stuff is worth it's weight in gold but now we've made the switch to whole milk!
Alexa's personality is shining through more and more! She automatically goes to whatever she's not supposed to at all possible chances! She loves giving kisses and loves, especially to her stuffed animals. She's a very loving and happy baby and loves to be the center of attention! And just like her daddy she knows how to work the crowd!
So we celebrated her birthday early because it was actually on a Wed. I tried to make it special as we drove down to Springfield for our family pictures at Portrait Innovations! I don't think she even knew anything was different...except she did get to turn her car seat around and go forward facing! She didn't know quite what to think she just kept starring at Kyle and I and the road ahead of her like something wasn't right. I also didn't make her do anything on her birthday that she didn't want to...that means no brushing her total of 5 teeth and no vitamins that morning! But then I kicked myself in the butt the next day because apparantley she thought that it was her new routine! Oh well!
I am anxiously awaiting Saturday because my swee husband got 4 box seat tickets to the Rob Thomas concert in St. Louis. Granted it's on Halloween night but Alexa needs some Grandma time anyway :) I also have the pleasure of my big sis Shannon and my good friend Jill and my husband to share the joy of the concert with! Don't worry we're changing Halloween to Friday night (because we're just that cool) so we can still dress up our babies like furry little mammals and parade them around to show them off...which is what it truly is because Alexa & Addison can't even eat candy!

So I understand this is a long post but I did have a lot to catch up on so surely you guys can understand...and hey I'll never know if you skipped through everything just to see the pictures!...unless you have a guilty conscious!

Here are some of the many family pictures we had taken yesterday...

I know, I know. There's still no pictures but no one had any suggestions with my little computer problem and I can't handle the frustration of doing all the work of loading them and it not working out again! So you'll just have to make do with my words!
I can't believe it I am seriously planning Alexa's 1st Birthday part! Just thinking about it makes me get a little sentimental! She has grown up so fast and she just keeps getting more and more fun everyday!
She's walking now and getting better and better! She's also quite the little flirt! She has learned how to wave..but she only does it on her terms! The other day we were at the mall and this little boy her age walked up to her stroller and she waves at him and then leans in a gives him a kiss! She's startin' way tooo young! My heart can handle this yet! I thought I was safe at least until she was a teenager! I guess not!
We are anxiously awaiting her Sesame Street Party and I am putting a lot of energy and effort into something that she won't even remember but that doesn't seem to stop me. She loves giving kisses and so far she does it on command..except her version of a kiss involves just leaning in and touching faces! She loves hugging her stuffed animals and kissing them! She has also gotten quite attached to her water baby (one just like I used to have) and she will push her around in the stroller and sometimes stop and lean in for a kiss. However, she isn't so quite of the vacuum still. She doesn't cry (gratefully!) but she will shimmy over to the tallest peice of furniture for safety, only if she can keep her ! Last time though her baby and stroller were right in the path of the vacuum and I could tell she didn't really want to but she summoned up the courage to run over frantically and push her baby to her "safe" spot out of the way of the vacuum! What a good little protective mommy, and she's only a year old!
Along with her first steps came the urge to get into more things she's not supposed to! Kyle & I recently purchased a new front loader washer and dryer and she loves sneaking into the laundry room and just watching the clothes spin around and around! She likes toys but even more than that she likes wobbling through the house and finding random things and making them her treasures which creates a big mess sometimes but oh well she's too cute! As long as she's having fun and safe I really don't care! She loves buckets and purses and just bags in general and even if they're too big she's still determined to carry them around the house...even if they don't belong to her! I could go on and on about her and all the cute little things she does but words don't do her justice! You'll just have to come visit and see her in action!