AB CB

Eek! I'm how late posting this? Sheesh, this girl has been one year old for over two weeks already!

She turned one. She had a really fun party. We had a really fun time visiting with old friends and grandparents and watching our little baby girl roll around and get her birthday dress dirty.

Betsy had a great time. She loved having lots of people at the house and playing with her toys and toddling around with her little fluff of red hair following her everywhere.

There were so many pictures taken and I'm sure I'm leaving out a bunch of great ones. I'm sorry they are not in much of a chronological order, but you get the idea.

We got lucky with this girl, because she really is the sweetest little thing.

Happy Birthday Betsy Marie! You make our hearts so happy.

Eleven months and just look how cute! Wowzers. It's almost birthday time. One year ago she was busy growing in my belly, pushing her little elbows and knees all over and making waves beneath my skin. And we were busy getting excited to meet our new little one. Washing baby stuff and setting up a crib (that she still doesn't sleep in..), and convinced that she was a he, but kind of hoping it was a girl. Either way I was excited to have a new sibling for Curtis, a new addition to our family unit, a new member of our team. A little brother for Curtis would have been so special and now that I am a boy-mom veteran of 5 years, I know how truly awesome and great boys are. And maybe because I grew up with a sister, I was hoping to give Curtis that kind of forever friend a sibling of the same sex can be. But we got a GIRL and I feel like I'm still learning what girls are all about. I mean it shouldn't be too hard - I am one, after all. I mostly grew up in a house of just girls. We had pink walls and pink tile and even a pink couch at one time! Seeing the way the boys and girls are in Curtis' kindergarten makes me realize how different the two of them could end up seeing the world.

But for now she is just a funny little baby, learning new stuff every day. She stands up in the middle of the room and realizes she is doing it now and is just so impressed with herself. she even takes a tiny step once in a while. She talks quite a bit, experimenting with new sounds. If we play music, she will dance. And if she is excited, she kicks here little legs like crazy. One of her nick names is KiKi. She loves shower time and will try to get in with all her clothes on if we let her.

But man-o-man, I think these two are pretty lucky to have each other and the sister/brother bond is pretty incredible. Curtis tells us he wants to marry Betsy when he grows up. I know it's because he loves her like crazy and she is just part of him now. Like she is part of all of us. She is exactly what we were waiting for the whole time. Hooray for brothers and sisters and hooray for GIRLS!