Celebrating Maryn's First Birthday!

Last weekend we celebrated Maryn's first birthday with a big party up in Atlanta.   We chose to go back to our prior home since so many friends and family are there - and they were the ones who supported us as we transitioned to a family of four last year.  And let's be honest, a first birthday party is as much about the adults as the birthday child!

Which is why we chose to celebrate at White Hall Tavern.  JUDGE ALL YOU WANT, but Maryn spent more nights at White Hall than any other restaurant her first year of life.  They were the neighborhood pub within walking distance that welcomed our crazy circus (double stroller, 2 under 2, and wild vizsla) on their patio.

PLUS, they have really good food. And really good space.  And TVs for all the Daddies since the Georgia game was on!

The birthday girl had a blast, too.  Although a little hesitant with the cake, she quickly warmed up to the idea of homemade frosting that her Gia and Auntie Wyllene made for her.

A huge thank you to all who came out to celebrate with us!!  What a special crowd of friends and family.

our fantastic servers!

Not only was this little girl spoiled with all the attention from her friends and family, but they spoiled her with gifts galore!!  We spent Saturday evening watching college football and opening packages.

Ben and Calvin gave her a box of Mac and Cheese (to go with the grocery cart they gave her), and she was quite disappointed that no one stopped right then and there to make it for her. Girlfriend loves her pasta!

JB, I mean, the birthday girl, had a blast with all the presents.  :)

(Pretend) Picnic Time!

JB also helped me put together one of her Little Tike presents. He handed me parts and screwdrivers, "read" the directions, cheered me on, and told me "you're SO GOOD at this, Mama".  Gosh I love that boy!

Although it's been two weeks now, I still can't believe our baby girl is ONE YEAR OLD!!  Sweet Maryn Elizabeth, I hope you enjoyed your party as much we we did. You won't remember it, of course, but one day I'll show you all these pictures and probably tear up while I recall all the love for you in that back room of White Hall Tavern.

We Love our Gia!

We had a special treat this week - Gia drove down from Atlanta to visit us.  JB's Preschool hosted Grandparent's Day on Wednesday, and he proudly showed off his school, teachers and friends to his Gia. The children made lots of handprint art (of course) for each set of grandparents, and there were cupcakes galore.

It's very special to see the relationship that JB has with Gia.  The past few days have been play, play, play!  This lady makes 71 look so young!

(Another) Backyard Transformation!

I promise that I will one day update with house pictures.  I get a lot of requests from all my 6 readers. We have a beautiful home that I am so proud of and appreciate of.  However, it's not "done" in terms of decorating.  And I have lofty goals to get that done soon.  :)

James is less concerned with the inside (I don't think he realizes we lack a coffee table in our living room!), but the outside space has been on his radar since before closing.  Just like our Atlanta bungalow (remember this massive reno!?), the backyard is Priority #1 for my husband.  And by "backyard" here I am talking 2 acres of land.  Not a weekend project!

The previous owners had sectioned off a part of the space for a true "yard", leaving the majority of the space with natural trees, brush, and weeds.  The birds and bunnies loved it.  Naturally I convinced myself it provided housing for lots of snakes as well.

James has found some very solid men to help him with this project, and it's not uncommon to see Mr. Willem and Mr. Ben out in our yard at any given time.  Or a huge piece of equipment (excavators, tractors, dump trucks).  JB thinks this project is THE BEST EVER!!

We just got everything cleared and WOW, it looks great.  We'll wait to seed until the Spring, and I am researching native plants that will draw lots of butterflies and birds.  Looking forward to making this our outdoor sanctuary!  

Maryn Elizabeth - She's a Year Old!

Where to even start with this little one's post, now that Maryn is a full year old.  Wasn't she just born? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was walking the neighborhood and counting contractions?  That we stared at our newly born daughter and asked "what color is all that hair!?" (It's definitely red, no question about that now).  That we brought her home and braced ourselves for a difficult transition (which it never way, praise God.)  A year doesn't seem possible.  Yet, I can't recall our life before this sweet girl.

Maryn continues to be a super happy, content, sweet-spirited baby.  I'll even venture to say an "easy" baby. As she turns one I can say she's a BUSY baby, so she keeps us on our toes.  Maybe not as "easy" anymore, but there's a lot of indication she'll be an "easy-going" toddler.

Last month she could walk, but Maryn wouldn't walk.  At some point this month she got her confidence and now walks everywhere. EVERY-WHERE.  And she's fast. She cannot yet stand up from sitting,so when she falls she quickly and strategically assesses the room for the nearest object to crawl to and pull up on.  She also behaves like a little truffle-hunter throughout the day, scurrying about and searching for her beloved pacis that are scattered all over the house.

Maryn has also found her voice.  We don't hear real words, but she babbles non-stop.  It drives JB crazy, who constantly asks what she is saying and requests that she "stop talking all that baby talk!" She also sings - and I swear we can pick up the song she's "singing" by the tune.   Now, none of the Sassers or Kerrs can really carry a tune - is she going to be our singer in the family!?

(Maryn is also very skilled at art, working the magnadoodle or crayons like a 2 year old.  She also is fairly athletic and throws a ball pretty well.  Lastly, she can point out various objects on command, including all her accessories - bows, shoes, paci. There is a solid chance she is a genius child with above average talents in multiple areas.  Or so says her unbiased Mother...)  :)

(Maryn - and Mama - are over the monthly photoshoots!)

So here we go!  Maryn's twelve month stats:

Maryn's Measurements -

• Weight: 20 lbs (53rd percentile)
• Height:  28 3/4 inches (50th percentile)
• Head: 17 1/2 inches (48th percentile)

At 12 Month Old,  Maryn...

…Eats a whole bunch of food!  Even with her two teeth! She was drinking 4 bottles of milk a day, but we are now nixing the two daytime bottles and transitioning her to whole milk (YEA!)  She does great with a straw cup for water, but won't drink milk out of it (yet).  This girl loooooooves food. She will scream until she gets food on her plate.  She's a pretty adventurous, open-minded eater, but now that she's a toddler I'm sure that may change.

…Sleeps very well!  Her morning nap is always 2 hours after she wakes up, and it's her longest one.  She still take a pretty good afternoon nap, too.  She's textbook "early to bed, late to rise", so we don't mess around with her bedtime.  She also wakes up super happy (unlike her big brother and her mother)

…Wears some 12 month clothes, but mostly 12-18 or 18 month clothes. And the biggest challenge - shoes!  This one has teeny, tiny, skinny feet. (Livie and Luca fit her best and I have to restrain myself from buying every pair - adorable but expensive!!)

…Loves stealing sips from other people's drinks; food; feeding herself; playing with the faucets in the sink; the water table; playing with toys; stealing brother's toys; music; exploring; hide-and-seek; pacis; her lovies in her crib (grey bunny, white lamby, and pink taggie); bathtime; being chased after her bath (particularly when she's naked!)

…Does not like walking in the grass; when Mama leaves the room; when food does not come fast enough; really hot food or really cold food

Month Twelve- thank you, sweet daughter, for the joy you bring to our family and our lives. May the Lord bless and keep you always.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Previous Updates on Maryn:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months
• Five Months
• Six Months
• Seven Months
• Eight Months
• Nine Months
• Ten Months
• Eleven Months

JB's Eleven Month Update  (How do they Compare?): JB - 12 Months Old

Happy Birthday, Miss Danielle!

We have been blessed - SO BLESSED - with wonderful people who love and care for our children as if they were their own.  We had great folks in Atlanta, great schools in Atlanta, and (despite my worry and concern, all for nothing, obviously) we have great people here in Middle GA.  Huge answered prayer!

And one of those ladies, Miss Danielle, is celebrating her birthday!  Actually she and Maryn share a birthday tomorrow (meant to be?), but we celebrated this morning amidst Hurricane Hermine.  

This lady cares for our babies every day during the week, carts them around all over town, has learned their needs and quirks, and dotes on them with the tenderness of a mama.  JB has always been a Mama's boy, and Miss M is rather clingy to me as well.  However, neither bat an eye when I leave them in her care each morning. She's part of the family!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Danielle!