Look Who's One

Rather than make excuses for my 2 month blog-hiatus, I'm just going to delve into today's reason for celebrating: Baby Ally's Birthday. If my only daughter's first birthday can't bring me back into the blogosphere, what else will?

The festivities began yesterday when Buck and Emily were able to have cake and open presents with us.

(Emily scored extra points with Ally for giving her some licorice. As if Ally needs any more reasons to be crazy about Emily.)


Ally was way more interested in bouncing on top of the wrapped presents than finding out what was inside, but Keith was eager to help show her how to tear off the paper so eventually she was able to get to the goods. (Cole in the picture). She was spoiled rotten as usual by Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Aunts, honorary aunts, and a soon-to-be-aunt. Needless to say, Ally is well-loved. As are all of her new toys by Keith and Cole, who spent the better part of today fighting over who got to push around her new pink shopping cart and who gets to push the pink buttons on her new Little People house and who gets to build with the pink and purple blocks in her princess carriage.

I debated as to whether or not I should post this picture for fear it would haunt Brent's dreams--as if it's not enough that Cole wants to have a "Princess Party" or insists on drinking out of Ally's "Princess" sippy cup. To watch Brent squirm when Cole talks about princesses is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It absolutely cracks me up. Here, Keith has commandeered the shopping cart, but you can see that Cole is closing fast.

In addition to breaking up fights, I spent the morning attempting to give Ally a fresh new look for her special day. After several failed attempts at pigtails, she ended up with this rather Bam-Bam-ish pony on top of her head that didn't even last through her morning nap. Sometimes I question if I'm fit to be the mother of a girl. I just pray she can do her own hair soon. Lucky for her, she has some really cute little curls going on, so that usually distracts people from noticing that her mother is truly lacking in the hairstyling skill department.

In a rare moment today (and only because I was peeling both brothers off of her) Ally got to push around her shopping cart. The training of shopping starts early and is taken seriously in this family. I'm sure Ally has it in her genes to keep up with her Smart aunties. Don't worry ladies, training day is here. Ally is taking several steps on her own now. It won't be long before she takes each store by storm. Look, she can already wave and push her cart at the same time--a born multi-tasker.

In true Ally-fashion, bedtime was prolonged for the fifth day in a row, due to the fact that she is a true party animal. I foolishly tried to put her to bed before her brothers. She goes down like a champ if her brothers are already in bed, but anytime I try to put her down first, she fights hard and simply refuses to go to bed. Ally has to be the most persistent and determined little person I know. If she wants something, she finds a way to get it. She doesn't care what she has to climb over, under or through and she doesn't care whose elbow, fist or foot she has to endure, she finds a way to get what she wants. I love her for that and I fear her for that.

Tonight as I reflected on this day a year ago, I couldn't help but be grateful that it's August 9, 2010 instead of August 9, 2009. Partly because I wouldn't want to endure the post-partum recovery and sleep schedule again, but mostly because I'm so grateful for the last 365 days I've been able to spend with this little lady. She makes me smile every day. And even though I've been known to refer to her in certain circles as Ally Oops, I can't imagine my life and our family without her. She was meant to be in our family and it just seems like she's always been with us. Her face literally lights me up. Keith and Cole are equally enamored with her, as evidenced by their constant squeezes, smacks, kisses, kicks, petting and punching. They are always asking, "Where's Baby Ally?" and begging for her to come play on the couch with them. Considering the picture below depicts a typical "couch game", is it any wonder Ally has begun to shy away from participating?

Brent has already informed me that he will have no part in disciplining her. He claims he renders himself completely incapable of doing such a thing. He is utterly smitten with her and cannot even walk by her without smothering her in kisses. So, wish me luck as the toddler stage looms and pray for me when she turns 13. I'm on my own.

At any rate, we don't know where we'd be without each of our three babies. Although after looking at these pictures today I realize that I cannot really classify them as babies anymore...Swallow...Sigh...Smile.