Happy 1st Birthday, Miss K!

Since Miss K's birthday is on Christmas Day, we made the executive decision to have her birthday party the weekend before.  I figure we have at least a couple of more years to decide how we are going to juggle the birthday parties so that Miss K can have her friends there since a lot of people travel over the holidays.  My mom flew in on the 17th to spend her winter break with us, so she got to be here for the party!  We kept it pretty low-key here at Casa de D with friends and a decorate your own cupcake bar!  Thanks to Jessica at Party Box Designs for creating the adorable invites and cupcake toppers for Miss K's Cupcakes and Snowflakes party! 

Blowing out the candle with the birthday girl!

Friends having fun at the "cupcake bar"

Not so sure about this...

about 30 minutes into it!

I've not been as good at documenting the monthly milestones and pics of Miss K, but I have resolved to be better at it this year!  So to start it off right, here are Miss K's 12 month stats!

                                   Height: 32 inches                                

Weight: 24.2 lbs

Teeth: 8, with two more coming in

Clothes size: 18-24 months is a little big still, but 12-18 is getting too short! :)

Shoe size: 4 1/2

Diapers: size 4

Foods: peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, avocado, bananas, grapes, pears, peaches, oranges, blueberries, kiwis, applesauce, yogurt, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken, hamburgers, turkey

Words: Dada, mama, uh oh, hi, bye, ball, aye aye (I love you), no, shoes, nigh nigh (night night) 

Sign language: eat, more, all done- we are working on please and thank you

Miss K,

You are such a bright and happy little girl!  You amaze me daily at all the new things you are learning and doing!  You understand so much that daddy and I say and seem to soak up every word and action you hear and see.  You are an outstanding eater, not the least bit picky!  Your personality is starting to form and you have definitely inherited your mommies hard headedness!  You understand the word no, but like to see just how serious daddy and I are when we say it!  Not only is your personality taking shape, so is your temper.  It is very obvious that you are Irish and Italian as you are passionate and stubborn all rolled into one!  You are quite the daredevil, you love to climb on any and everything you possibly can!  You have been walking full time for a couple of weeks now, and love your new freedom.  You understand when daddy and I laugh when you do something funny and continue to do it just to see us laugh.   I have enjoyed being home with you this year, watching you grow and learn.  You are our sunshine and the most special thing in our lives!  You have added so much joy to daddy and I and we love you more than you will ever know!   

Happy First Birthday my sweet girl!!!

New Year, Better Me

Every New Years I reflect on the past year and come to the realization that no matter how great the year was, I never stick to the resolutions made.  Those broken resolutions don't take away from the events of the year, but I've yet to be able to take satisfaction in ending the "old" year with the same bang of welcoming in the "new" year.  I've had the same resolutions year after year, for as long as I can remember.  Lose 20 pounds, eat better, yada yada yada.  And I can tell you, usually by March those resolutions are long forgotten!  This year, I have decided to take a different approach and make resolutions that don't change who I am, but make me a better me.  A better mom, a better wife, a better friend, and a better me.  By putting my resolutions on my blog, I am hoping that those of you that read will help keep me accountable this year!

1. Run 12 races in 12 months. The plan is to start with a few 5Ks , then 10Ks, then a few half marathons.  I've started off on the right foot so far by running the Resolution Run on New Year's Day!  It was POURING down rain the entire race, but I did pretty good considering I haven't run a race in over a year.  My official time was 35:20.  I'm already signed up for my February and March races and can't wait!

2. Big Poppa and I both agreed that we need to plan more date nights.  With him travelling for work as much as he does, and just the hustle and bustle of life with a one year old, we have had very few planned date nights.  Hopefully we can get these dates into our calendars and get the sitter booked!

3. Read 12 books in 12 months.  I love to read and used to look forward to summer breaks when teaching so I could read for pleasure!  I would read 14 books in three months with time left over!!  You'd think being a stay at home mom, I would be reading all the time, but I'm not!  So, taking an idea from some of the other blogs I read, I've decided to assign myself a book a month.  If I read more, great!  If not, I've at least read 12!  (There will be a separate post with the books of 2011!)

4. We've been in Casa de D since July.  I'd really like to get more involved now that we seem to be settled!  I'd like to join Junior League since it's a perfect blend of volunteering and working in the community, but the county I live in doesn't have one.  The neighboring counties do, and I'm not opposed to joining one of one those, but I wish we had one here :(

5. Since we've moved so much in the last eight years, I've made some really great friends.  With that being said, those friends are of course scattered throughout the U.S.  While Christmas cards get exchanged and Facebook posts are swapped randomly throughout the year, I would like to get better about keeping in constant touch with everyone and trying to get together when possible!

There are a few more that I am still tossing around, but I think these five are for sure!  What are you going to do this year to become a better you??