1st Birthday Planning...

I still cannot believe that my baby girl is going to be ONE in just a few short weeks! We have started the party planning process.

I am not a regular on the bump (a baby website for mamas to chit chat) but do occasionally like to glance at the 9-12 month board and see if Hailey is doing things that other kiddos are doing. For obvious reasons, the subject of birthdays is a HUGE topic for this board. Everyone has a different idea about what a 1st birthday party should be like. Some say GO BIG, and have as many people as possible, while others say keep it small. I fall somewhere in the middle. I do not want an overwhelming amount of people because I want it to be fun and casual. I want for Hailey to enjoy her day, as well as let Kyle and I enjoy it with her. However, I do want to include some of her baby friends. This is where it gets tricky. How many "baby friends" is too many?

When I first started to think about her birthday party, I honestly thought of the pink pretty princess party birthday. Then the magazine came, one ALL about 1st birthday party themes. For those of you that don't know, Hailey LOVES anything to do with Elmo. So of course, I start looking through the magazine and first thing I see is a baby Elmo first birthday party theme. How could I not have an Elmo theme for my 1 year old who LOVES him. It was perfect. There are some pretty neat decorations, including a full size Elmo balloon that we will have to have I am sure. So away with my pretty pink princess party, and on with Elmo.

This is the plate from the Elmo beginning theme.

On a side note, Hailey started swimming lessons last Saturday. She was a pro already and LOVED the warm water. We are taking her to a therapy pool so it feels like you are getting into the bath! She gets to play with two of her buddies all morning too! She had her face in the water all morning and was trying to get a nice taste of the pool water. Looking forward to this Saturday another swim adventure. :)

Till next time!

Chelsea

2011 Begins...

As I look back at 2010, I am left in amazement at all that this year has brought for our family. It is still hard to believe that I my sweet little baby girl is almost 1 year old! Boy what a year of firsts for her.

I have been thinking lately about the blogging world and all that it can be. When I first started to write a blog, I mostly read friends blogs and was excited to begin writing all about motherhood. Working full time and being a mom, and wife seemed to be my excuse, and I let it get the best of me. One of my goals for 2011 is to become a blogger, and by become one I mean actually post frequently instead of the every several months that I am doing right now. I want to share my experiences as a mother and the special moments in our lives.

So here is my start:

Hailey has grown up so fast, and continues to leave me in amazement. I have been home for two weeks and am headed back to work tomorrow. It was a wonderful to spend the time with Hailey, and be a part of her life 24/7. Sometimes as working mothers, we feel like we are not present enough in our children's lives. I feel blessed to have a career in which I am given time off throughout the year (mostly summer) and able to soak up every moment with her.

She is already a social butterfly and babbles all day long. She is so interested in her surroundings and points to anything that happens to catch her attention. Hailey has become an expert crawler and her favorite activity is to dance to any music she hears. She rocks out!

I have started to think about her 1st birthday. Makes me teary-eyed at times, but mostly excited for all of her milestones! I still cannot believe my baby will be 1 in early Feb. She loves Elmo, so we are planning to have a small get together with a sesame street theme of course!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from Christmas and our 1st snow!

Hailey and Daddy playing in the snow for the first time.

Never would have known she didn't like the snow at all!

Grandpa made her a rocking chair. She is a pro, and knew how to rock from the beginning!

All the kiddos on Christmas Eve. From Left, Makenzie, Hailey, Shane. and Blake.

Hailey hanging out in her wagon from Grandma and Grandpa!

Hope you have all had a great start to your 2011 year!