November 13th, 2009 - 1 Year Old!

Our little Natalie turned one year old today!  It is hard to believe an entire year has come and gone with this little angel in our lives!  Cielo and I recalled the day of her birth and relished in the happy memories (and difficulties faced with being new parents) throughout the past year. 

I look at Nati's face and can hardly remember the tiny baby she once was!  (Good thing we have so many pictures!)  While her "infant" days are coming to an end, I look forward to the many stages to come! She is a true blessing!

First Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Nati's first birthday with cake and ice cream with family!  I made a special giant strawberry cupcake cake for Nati (and a chocolate cake for everyone else).  She was very careful to pick off the sprinkles one by one until she got a taste of the frosting, and then she was ready to dig in.  She didn't think much of the cake, I could have just given her a mound of frosting and she would have been happy!

Nati's new swing!

Just getting started!

First taste of frosting... it's on!!!

Entire hand in it now!

Happy Birthday Natalie Makani!

Time for Presents

After a quick bath, Nati was ready to open presents!  She really enjoyed ripping the wrapping paper to find some great gifts inside!  She received some new books, an Elmo shape toy and money for her college fund.  I couldn't wait to have Nati open the little Elmo doll we got for her... and her reaction was exactly what I was hoping for.  So fun to watch the excitement fill her eyes!