Before the hoards of birthday pics...we can't forget about Valentine's Day! Here Marli's using the stool as her "walker"...she is SO CLOSE to walking, and I'm SO conflicted about how to feel about that!
Roses from Daddy for his girls. Red for Mom, Yellow for Marli.
Plus a chocolate bar for each of us... (Evan ended up eating most of Marli's...he just happened to pick one of his favorite chocolate bars to give to Marli...hahaha!)
Sharing some See's chocolates from Grammy and Grandpa! Grammy even hand selected ones that she thought we'd like. This one had pureed strawberries especially for Marli!
AND Grammy got her some strawberry flavored applesauce to try...Marli miiiiiiight just start believing everything has a strawberry flavored undertone...
Marli figured this out ALL ON HER OWN. Evan showed her how to blow raspberries in the bathtub...why not the couch?!
Celebrated her actual birthday with shots! Brutal, I tell ya. Just brutal. She finally stopped crying and looked at a book while we drove home, and when we walked in the house, Grammy asked Marli in a sympathetic voice if she got her shots, and Marli BURST OUT crying all over again! If only they could make all vaccinations into a strawberry flavored drink or something...
Happy birthday from Grammy and Grandpa! SO SO CUTE!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND her party!
Strawberry spinach salad, rolls, pb&[strawberry]jelly sandwiches, strawberry yogurts...
So many beloved friends and family came to celebrate. We all felt so spoiled!
AND CAKE OF COURSE! Think we captured this okay? Hahaha she was a bit hesitant at first, but then our friend recommended handing her a spoon, and that cake was HISTORY from there! SO GOOD!
Nana got her an actual walker! It sings and lights up and does about 50 more things I haven't figured out...
McKenzie's sweet little one stuck an extra toy of HERS into Marli's present from them, and I want to remember that because I think it's the sweetest thing ever. I love her.
Our dear friend Teresa from church got Marli a little gift, and DIDN'T EVEN KNOW the theme of her party was strawberries! WHAT?!
First video is of her first 6 months, second is of the rest. I sure have set a precedence, huh?! Not sure how often a slideshow to this degree with happen again, but I have so enjoyed looking back through this past year. I don't shy away from being in pictures as much as I used to, and I don't feel the need to take perfectly poised photos.
So what if I haven't showered in a week, and my head is FULL of hair horns and my makeup isn't done and I'm still wearing the sweatpants I meant to wash 3 days ago?
What if no one is looking at the camera, or the picture reveals the mess of laundry behind me?
I don't want Marli to grow up thinking that we only show up when it's perfect, or when we feel totally put together...I don't want to avoid documenting this time in my life because it's not "just so." These moments are WORTH REMEMBERING.
These are the days and the people I NEVER want to forget!
My sweet Marli - I'm beginning to think that YOU are raising ME into the person - the mother - that I was always meant to be. You have brought your dad and I more joy and love than we thought possible. We love you so much!!!!
Such a nice way to remember life's events. Cute little girl.
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