Par-tay!

Our friend Tammy offered to help make Morgan's birthday cake and cupcakes. We didn't plan on it but we ended up having a pre-party the night before Morgan's birthday because 7 people ended up staying at our house until 1:30 in the morning working on the cake. It turned out great and we all had a lot of fun!

Morgan loved her tutu. Thanks Kelly!

I have to confess that I started planning the party in September because I was so excited about it. We kept it small and simple but I sure had fun planning it.

Thanks Fran for all the great appetizers!

Morgan started off slow with digging into the cake but after about 15 minutes she really started to get into it. I was a nervous wreck since she hasn't had soy or any dairy proteins since she was around 5 months old. I asked her doctor about giving her cake and she advised against it but I couldn't take her advice. It was Morgan's first birthday and she had to have cake. It turns out Morgan did great! She didn't seem to have any adverse reactions to the cake. I had prepared myself for a trip to the hospital that night just in case.

Birthday To Remember

I was so excited about Morgan turning one that I took the actual day of her birthday off from work. I know this sounds cheesy but with the rough start Morgan had, I remember praying during those first couple of months that God would at least give me one year with her. Why one year, I don't know but I just remember thinking that she seemed so little and frail and I just thought if she could make it through her first year then things had to get easier. Well of course she did and she's doing great! I did a lot of reminiscing during this time and it was bittersweet.

That day, Daniel and I took Morgan for her first haircut.
Daniel graciously offered to look through a magazine with Morgan while we waited. Look how disturbed poor Morgan looks. Good one Dad!

Morgan wasn't exactly thrilled throughout the entire cut but as usual she did great!

Later that day, I took Morgan to get her pictures taken. I'll be sending these out so if anyone has a preference please let me know.

Daniel and I decided that since Morgan's birthday parties would likely land after her actual birthday because of Halloween, we would allow her to open a couple of gifts on her actual birthday. She opened her blocks she got from Chris and Laura. She loved them and so did Maggie! No damage was done but we have to keep a close eye on big sis.

BOO!

Unfortunately it is November 22nd and I'm just now posting about Halloween. It has been such a busy and wonderful month that I almost don't know where to begin. Since I never finished posting pictures of Morgan's Halloween adventures, I'll start there.

A couple of days before Halloween, Daniel and I took Morgan to pick out her first pumpkin. We forgot the camera but this is the one she chose. It was a perfect size for her.

On Halloween a friend invited Morgan and I to a Mommy and Baby Halloween party. It was a really cute idea. We did crafts, played games and ate festive food.

Later that evening after Daniel got off work we headed to a trunk or treat. For those of you who don't know, a trunk or treat is where you go to a parking lot and trick or treat out of the trunks of cars instead of going house to house. The atmosphere is like a carnival or festival. They have games, cake walks, food, booths, music, etc.

We ended the evening by trick or treating at a neighbor's house. Morgan made out pretty good.

If this Halloween is any indication of ones to come, I can't wait!

Seriously?

This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I asked Daniel to give Morgan some banana. She looks angrier than I was.

Fun Videos

Daniel insisted on giving Morgan a lemon so while I didn't agree I decided we might as well not miss it on video, right?

This video was taken a while ago. Once Morgan learned how to sit up really well on her own, we'd find the poor thing sleeping in the most uncomfortable positions.

Feels Like My First Halloween

I've never really been a huge fan of Halloween. I'm kind of boring in the fact that I really hate dressing up in costumes. Because of that, I've never been a fan of Halloween parties. My Halloweens usually consist of Daniel and I watching scary movies and eating candy. This year has felt entirely different. I was so excited, I bought Morgan her costume in September, had pictures taken of her early October and sent out greeting cards of her in her costume.

Daniel and I took her to her first pumpkin patch this last Sunday. The place we went to was really neat in the fact that it had pumpkins you could pick right off the vine. Here are some pictures of our afternoon.

Morgan played on a slide.

The first pumpkin she ever saw was huge!

The below pictures are funny. I'm exactly the same in ever picture. I'm trying to stay still in hopes of getting a good picture. It never happened. Morgan was too interested in everything else.

All day Morgan was having way too much fun to take time out to look at the camera.

Morgan got to meet some farm animals while at the pumpkin patch.

Her first tractor..... She was a good driver.

Morgan and I took a tractor ride around the pumpkin patch.

We actually ran out of time and didn't get to purchase a pumpkin. We plan on going to a pumpkin patch closer to the house to get Morgan her first pumpkin. I'm sure we'll have pictures of that too.