Oh what fun, just listen to me ROAR!

Just checking...

"I told you. I don't. Want. Clyde. UP HERE!"

Just checking to make sure I've mentioned that the Roo is 12 months old?  Well now you know. ;)

We had our 12 month checkup today.  She weighed 22.4 lbs (just under the 75th percentile) and is 30 1/4" long (just under the...*gulp*...90th percentile).  We've got a long one on our hands.

Here's all about her to-date:

She likes to point with two fingers.

Her finger has found her nostril.  Grrrreat.

Has mastered the "high-5" and waving bye.

Has really been onto the whole standing and "here, take my hand and walk with me".  Uh oh.

Loves Cheetos Puffs.

Loves to hit the keys on the laptop keyboard.  It's like it's taunting her or something.

Also likes to throw coasters onto said keyboard, hence the emergence of "attitude".  Case in point, she loves to play with the coasters on the end table.  I had the laptop on the couch last night and she threw the (metal) coaster onto the keyboard and I told her no.  She doesn't like to be told no.  She threw a fit, and slammed the coaster onto the keyboard again.  Boy this is going to be fun.

Loves her singing "Stride-to-Ride" Dino.  Especially ramming it into things.

She's becoming a toddler before our very eyes.

12-month photos by Capture Photography

We finally got back the birthday girl's 12-month photos!!!  Oh yeah, Holly, too. ;)  I took a handful out of the 109 photos to share (minus the naked ones, as she is getting older the idea of posting naked photos of my darling child for the whole world to see is starting to bother me a little).  Enjoy!

And lastly, the face that graced a lot of the photos from the shoot:

The Video

The Birth Day

Ok, so this really will be "The Birthday Month".  I haven't had a chance to take her official 12-month photo yet and we were scheduled for our check-up this morning but they didn't have record of our appointment!!!!  And I had my reminder card and everything!!!!!  Ugh, in any case, her 12-month update will have to come at a later date.  Plus we still need to get her professional photo disc, hopefully today.

After a fun-filled day at daycare (we brought leftover cupcakes from the party), we met our friends Kimberly and Madeline at City Park, our maiden voyage.  What a neat park for kids!  I can't wait till summertime and the splash park is open; Kimberly and I have vowed to start a normal routine of it!

Checking the temp of the fountain.

Ladybug fit for two.

As John Anderson would say, "Just a' swingin'".

After a brief evening nap, which I figured would be beneficial, we met the party crew at...wait for it...La Fiesta!

Yay for guacamole and cheese quesadillas!

Then came time for the shenanigans.  Let's face it.  We were tired.  We've had a full day (heck, week) and it's past our bedtime.  Plus there's a strange man standing beside me singing.

Once I get the video uploaded I've gotta share.  Poor Riley never even knew what was coming.

Yaaaaay for FIRST birthdays!

The Birthday Party

So last weekend was the big birthday party.  I compared it to our wedding....fun to plan, chaotic to prepare for, a grand ol' time but grateful when it's all over. ;)  We had a ton of family come to town from Texas, Nebraska, Southwest Kansas and Kansas City.  Most importantly, the Roo had a helluva weekend.

Our Texas cousins couldn't make it because of school conflicts, so we skyped when Riley opened her gift from Cousin Baylee.  We tend to be more shy now.

We started the festivities off at no other than our home away from home, La Fiesta.

The next day brought a family lunch and PRESENTS!  Highlights were our Mickey Mouse Clubhouse chair, Fozzy Bear hand puppet, and "Stride-to-Ride" Dino (Uncle Kenny did good with that one).

Next stop:  the real party.  After Daddy's pulled pork and HyVee's baked beans, hashbrown casserole, & green bean casserole (I highly recommend catering, it saved my sanity when planning for 55 people in my house) came CAKE!

Grandma Billie's niece made the cupcakes and Riley's cake for us; they came all the way from Dodge City.

"Whoa, mama."

"Ooo...so pretty, I want to touch it!" (came verrry close, too)

"Yuck!  What is this stuff?!"  She didn't want anything to do with the cake, or sugar cookies.  Can't be my daughter, I tell ya!

Absolutely loved the attention, though!

After the semantics, we had fun playing outside.  The bad storms luckily stayed away from our party.

We enjoyed the game of "pull the decorative pinwheels out of the driveway".  She was on a mission.

One thing in each hand, as usual.

And a couple family shots.  Riley with all her grandparents (minus Guy's folks, they had to get on the road to beat the storms):

And cousins. :)

Sunday, while the boys went golfing, us girls ventured to Wamego for the Tulip Festival.  Awww...when we went last year I was two days away from having Riley.  Tear.

Petting zoo!!!  We officially rode our first horse this weekend, too.  When the official birthday party photographer, Aunt Chelsi, sends me the photos I'll be sure to post them!

Whew.  And we haven't even gotten to the actual day yet, stay tuned!

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Our Easter weekend was somewhat low key, I guess the calm before the storm of what is next weekend (birthday weekend D-Day).  Grammy & Guy made the trek over from Kansas City and while the Dad and Guy fished all day Saturday, the Easter bunny shopped for Miss Birthday Month Girl (us girls always need the entire month).  Easter morning brought a full church agenda (it is, in fact, the reason for the season....GO Jesus...GO Jesus...) and a few other fun facts:

 a phantom Easter bunny

An Easter bunny that left us fun things

Like a bubble machine

That was enjoyed by both girls

And what says "Happy Easter" more than La Fiesta?