Wiley-12 Months-1 year Old!

Can it be that it's been 12 months already? A whole year since I woke up knowing you were going to arrive? Then after just a few short hours of labor and 3 quick pushes they placed you on my belly, seeing you on the outside it was love at first sight. I remember such great joy of meeting you, of knowing you, of finally holding you and seeing all the goodness that had grown inside of me. 

Oh Wiley. We love you so much. We call you "smiley Wiley" and you live up to that name each and every day. You are so relaxed and easy going. You appease your siblings and only squawk when they overstep and take things a tad too far. You love to bop around to music, walk and climb most of the time and just be near people and interact with them. 

Lately you like to bend over and "stand" on your head...a few times it's even led to a somersault. Everywhere we go people comment on how easy going you are, how good natured and happy you always seem to be. I just keep saying you're that perfect 4th baby, the baby God knew we needed to complete our family. Love you little man!

You love to read books, love to snuggle, love to pick something up and pretend it's a gun...I know, seems crazy, but you watch your brother do it and you try  your hardest to make noises just like he does. You really try to mimic the way the older kids play and they think that's a blast. 

You love clapping and smiling. Love sunglasses and phones. 

You still have your 4 teeth on top and 4 on bottom with quite a few more sitting just under the gums...I can see patches of white lining your gums waiting to break through. 

You love to eat. You're loving all the summer fruits and berries, really enjoy peas and carrots, but your absolute favorite food is chicken. Yum, you can not get enough. You'll eat spicy things and then rub your tongue and yell until you get a drink. You're very adventurous like that. 

You're growing bigger and stronger. Weighing in at just over 20 lbs. 

I can't believe it's been a year. Happy Birthday little man. We love you always and forever and are so thankful you are ours.

Evangeline Kate

Look how she's grown!



(start in the top left corner and go down then back up then down until her final 1 year picture at the bottom right corner...sporting a USA diaper for the olympics.)
It's amazing to see how much she's grown in a year! 

Evangeline Kate - 12 months old

I'm sitting here in a moment of quiet just a few days ahead of schedule and I can't even type the words {1 year old} in the heading. I just can't believe it. I'm in denial. 

I can however think back on this year and think how beautifully and perfectly you arrived into our family, how much you've grown and I can't imagine life any other way. Shortly after you were born I realized my life would never be the same. I was a mom before you came, but little Miss Evangeline you changed the way that works. I've learned so much being a mom to 3 Ginny, with your arrival I've learned to slow down and enjoy you, your sister and brother for who they are at this very moment...because the moment doesn't last long! I've learned to plan ahead and organize so I'm ready for all the surprises that could arise, and when something I didn't plan for happens, we laugh and figure it out.

In this past year I've snuggled you countless hours at any time of day. I make sure to check your ears and your toes regularly...I've watched them slowly grow from tiny newborn ears to toddler ears that check the acoustics of every room. I'm certain as well that your sweet baby toes will take their first steps soon and you'll be off and running leaving me behind and chasing Lucy and Murray. 

You're 1. ONE!!! 

It's hard to believe. 

You have a mouth full of teeth. Four on top and four on bottom with more ready to poke through. 

You play with toys now...pushing cars, flying planes and making noises as you "drive" them around. 

You laugh at pillow fights with Lucy and Murray. 

You stand at the play kitchen and try to cook food. 

You lay on the floor with your ear to the ground and kick to hear/feel the vibrations. This is a favorite activity on every new floor we go to. 

You're going up the stairs and working on going down...you've caught yourself from falling once or maybe twice. 

You're eating lots of big kid food and drinking lots of water from a sippy cup. You love any fruits and cheeses. You like cubed ham and rice and always eat chicken. You're warming up to ice cream, but love to suck on freeze pops (you can tell you're the 3rd child by the treats you've tasted already).

You're laughing and giggling with Daddy more...proof that one day you won't just be an extension of me, but your own person. 

I look back on this year and it's such an amazing thing.

It's hard to remember when Murray was the youngest or Lucy was the only. I can't imagine our family without you. Your sweet smiles, your silly tricks or your gentle hugs. 

It's a bittersweet day, but I'll hold back my tears and celebrate. Just thinking about the day you were born and how much you've grown makes it a day worth celebrating. You're 1...yes 1 Evangeline and I can't imagine it any other way. Soon you'll be a full fledged toddler, but for today I'll hold you close, snuggle you and let you eat cake...because today is the only 1st birthday you'll get and I'm thankful to be here to share it with you!

Ginny on her 1st Birthday in Cable, WI...covered in sand and enjoying being 1!