many thanks ...

on friday I decided that Zoey's presents had sat in the dining room long enough - I was waiting to dig her gift from us out of the trunk of the car, so I could take a pic of her with all her gifts ... but, I decided I'd settle for a pic of her with each gift. I'm actually glad, cause this way I can remember better what was from who (yes, real thank you cards are actually going out - late, mind you, but they are going out). I've yet to get that gift out of the trunk, so a pic of her with our gift is still missing ... but, eventually, it will make it's way on here! hopefully no one minds me sharing their names on here ... ok, here goes:

first off: thank you to "cousin" (I guess she'd be Zoey's third cousin?) Cicile & her hubby CJ
for sending the blanket I used as a background in these pics! It was her first
birthday gift to arrive in the mail and I absolutely adore it ... and I'm sure Zoey will too!

Alex (and your family) and Michele (and your family) - thank you so much
for the adorable little puppy (I know, you can't tell cause for some reason
we're looking at it's butt) and the $$ ... Annicka is so jealous that "Zoey is rich"!

Grandma arrived with these gifts - is that not the cutest little
basket you've ever seen? I'm pretty sure these gifts are from the whole
fam over in Albuquerque! I love that little toy and can't
wait to try it out!!!

from miss Courtney and her fam - lots of special stuff in this pack ...
hopefully I'll put it to good use (my track record is not so good with such items) - it's
super sweet and special!

this one is really heart warming - it arrived from Zoey's little friend, Zachary!
we've not yet met Zachary or his mama, daddy, or brother - but we've
been getting to know each other on facebook and hope to eventually meet up!
this is such a cute outfit - can't wait to try it on her!

miss Traci sure spoiled Zoey!
I had a heck of a time getting a picture, cause all she wanted to do was rip
the dang hat off - uh, uh, uh! I guess I need to start putting
stuff on her head/in her hair more often or I'm gonna be real
sad! both hats come from Traci's shop - as does the minky blanket
(mentioned in a previous post) ... click on the pic so you can
see the mobile - those monkeys are the cutest things ever
with bows and flowers on their heads!!!
LOVE IT ALL!

I have a bad track record of deciding to pass items up, only to have them be
gone whenever I finally decide I do indeed want to buy them!
but the strangest thing has been happening lately - I either end up
finding it way cheaper somewhere else (or second hand) or the item actually
stays in the store for a long time. Take for instance this chair ... I it was last summer
that I first spotted these adorable chairs at Ross, but I could never bring
myself to purchase it. I was in love - I loved it in pink, I loved it in black,
I knew it would look adorable in Zoey's room, I wanted it - but I never bought it.
Well, my friend Michele went shopping with my mom and I one
night and guess what ended up coming home for Zoey?
THE CHAIR.
Michele bought it for Zoey for her birthday!
I'm so excited now, to get Zoey's room all cute and find the perfect
spot for this chair. I adore it.

again, a spoiled little girl! Nana & Granddaddy arrived
with two dresses, a doll, a plush elephant (notice a theme), and a
cute little "birthday princess" outfit & bib (seen in previous pics, on the birthday
blog) ... then Nana added some jammies that I was in love with
while we were out shopping one day!

our friends Jill & Dino got her this - is it not the most
cute thing ever?! a toy jewelry box for babies - oh my gosh, they make
the cutest stuff these days! I adore it! and, as you can see, Zoey
was really diggin it too - in fact, it took several tries
before I finally got her to look toward me!

another super thoughtful one - Cherilee stopped by with a gift
even though she was sick and miserable the day of Zoey's party!
I thought it was so thoughtful of her!

more money!!! this came all the way from Yaya & Steve up in
Oregon! what a spoiled princess we have!!!

oops - almost forgot to get a pic of the slippers Yaya made and the cute
little elephant from Nana & Granddaddy!

in conclusion, thank you to EVERYONE for all of Zoey's wonderful, amazing gifts!
you are all a treasure to us and we love you!

what have you been into???

nothin.

yah right. as soon as I saw the expression on his face and his hands
behind his back - as he came down the stairs - I knew he'd
been up to something! then I noticed his lips, or rather mustache, looking
a bit more pinky-red than I remembered!
he found his brother's chap stick and just couldn't resist trying it out!
LOL!!!

"and it was gross"!

so, I spared you all a picture of this ... it just wouldn't have been very fun to see! I had stepped out of the bathroom while Liam was in the bath playing, to put some laundry away. when I went back I found a little boy standing up (that's a no-no) kicking water, toys lined all neatly on the edge of the bath (another no-no, cause then water falls to the floor, but it was cute) ... as I followed the toys with my eyes I suddenly saw it. I looked at Liam, he made his pull mouth back make eyes big I think I'm in trouble face, I looked back and confirmed that: yes, that is poop sitting on the edge of my bathtub!

POOP.
on the edge of my bathtub.

I looked back to Liam and he looked at me and said "poop goes in the potty". really son, ya think? then why have you put it on the edge of my bathtub! I can only guess that he pooped in the tub then thought better of it and picked it up. Maybe he thought it would just blend in with the line of toys? who knows. all I know is, I had to dispose of the poop. disinfect the tub. disinfect the toys. and re-wash Liam. did I mention I'm not feeling super great today? I think the babies' colds have spread to all of us, combine that with a crappy sugary breakfast and I feel pretty yucky! I didn't especially appreciate the extra chore, but hey - that's part of being a mommy, right?! so, thank you Liam - for reminding me to be thankful for you, even though I'd rather you did it without the poop mess! I'll take it. I'll take all the laundry. all the messes. all the dishes. even all the poop!



p.s. I was on the phone with my mom when all this went down, and she can attest to the fact that I didn't yell at all - in fact, I stayed quite calm! Later I got him out and all dressed and he was talking on the phone to her, she asked him if he'd pooped in the bath and he said "yah" and they continued on the conversation and then I heard him say "and it was gross"! lol, yes - he did get that from me ... cause I sure did tell him that it was gross (as I cleaned it up)!

that sweet face baby girl ...

first off, let's get something straight: Zoey and Liam ARE my babies. she may be one now and he's nearing three, all too fast, but I can't bring myself to consider them anything besides babies! of course, I do oblige my "big boy" by calling him such - but that's just for his benefit and to keep him from fiercely declaring "I'm notta baby, I a BIG boy"!

I just had to share a sweet little pic of Zoey - I had to take a pic of her extra cute outfit this day!and this morning she woke up with her crazy horn hair - LOL!

the after party ...

so, I mentioned that most of Zoey's party guests had gone home by the time we opened gifts! and, to tell the truth, the majority of them are still in there boxes, placed in a neat little line along a wall in her incredibly messy room! let's just say all my dreams of putting together the perfect little girl nursery flew out the window months ago! I go in there and sort and clean and realize I still have no where to put the majority of her stuff. So, there are still boxes, there are baskets, bags, etc. Soon, her new dresser will be in there and I hope then I will be able to get her room "done"! We'll see about that. Anyhow, after all the guests left Zoey got to get down on the floor and play - and boy was she happy to do so! She absolutely loves her minky blanket from my friend (look her up on facebook, Traci Nichole Designs) and I even snapped a few shots of her enjoying it! I also wanted to get some pics of her with her brothers and sister on party day - what a challenge that turned out to be! So, here are just a few "after party" pics!

one week ago ...

one week ago, we were still enjoying the company of not only Nana & Granddaddy, but Grandma as well - who had arrived Saturday night! It was Zoey's first birthday, so I really figured we'd all stay home ... how surprised I was when hubby suggested that us ladies take the big kids to the beach (I really thought he'd frown upon me not being at home, with the b-day girl ... but I think him and my dad just wanted to watch football in peace - lol). So: me, my mom, and hubby's mom packed up Annicka, Jericho, and Liam and hit the road! We stopped at an In 'N Out and ate delicious burgers on the way. We went to Pismo beach and it was so nice. It was a great day to play on the beach! We didn't stay too long, as I'd forgotten sunscreen (among many things forgotten) ... but once we were done playing in the sand we looked at a couple shops, including "Hot Lix"! Annicka and Jericho had been wanting to visit this candy shop since seeing it on tv, probably a year and a half or so ago! They all got to choose a candy, then back in the car we went and headed home. We did make a quick stop at the Gymboree outlet so I could take a peek, and we drove through starbucks too! It was a great time. Missing having the company, I've been way lazy since they all left! I'm kicking myself for not getting any pics of Grandma with Zoey - I guess I just wasn't thinking! I'm such a photo freak, but for some reason I don't take many pics when we have visitors - not sure why? Guess I need to be better about that! but, Zoey, Grandma was here for your first birthday to celebrate with all the rest of us (Nana & Granddaddy included) and she held you and fed you and you absolutely loved her!!!