Olivia Is ONE!

Looks like I'm right on schedule....a month behind!  Someday, someday...  I feel like I'm always one step behind.  Things get done but usually in a rush, and I find it hard to enjoy things when I'm just hurrying to get caught up.  So we're starting off a new month with a new goal....be one step ahead of the game.  So first to get caught up  :)

We celebrated Ellie's 1st birthday last month!  I got her birthday shirt and matching flower for her headband made (that morning...again, not enjoyed just done) and tried to get some cute pictures of her.  One (strike), she hates anything in her hair.  Two (strikes), she doesn't sit still.  Three (strikes), she did not like the tutu.  Made for such a lovely photoshoot, especially with the awesome lighting in my house.  Where's the sarcasm font when you need it?

Future ballerina?

The fun began when I sat her down on the couch...

So she stood back up...

I took her off the couch since I didn't want her walking off it...

Perfect shot...if you're going for the "look at my tonsils" shot...

Please no more...

I finally let her sit and be cute sucking her fingers...and the ear, must be holding an ear.

The headband has got to go...

I finally gave in and didn't put the headband on after she kept taking it off.  Still not happy to have to sit in the puffy tutu.

Yes, I know, picture overload.  I finally gave up since obviously it just wasn't happening.  These are blurry but you can see how happy she was to be done...

Yeah, not so sneaky mom.  Still not wanting the headband.

Later that evening Grandma Barton came over, and we celebrated with presents and cake.

  

She went straight for the strawberries and picked them off, one by one.

I guess she didn't want to use her messy hands to pick up her cup?

I've been trying an experiment with Ellie when it comes to sweets. I haven't given her treats like cookies, candy, etc. and we are all eating more vegetables and fruits and less "packaged" foods. All around just more natural. It seems like it's about this age (maybe a little older) when kids (maybe just mine?) start to get picky.  I found a recipe for a strawberry cake made with real strawberries. Yes, it had sugar (and I was tempted to use agave that I've replaced sugar with in other recipes but didn't have time to experiment) but no other added artificial color or flavor. And yes the frosting had powdered sugar....baby steps until I can figure out how to eliminate most of that stuff. We'll see if she this little experiment leads to a vegetable and fruit loving girl. So far, so good.  As for Landon, he'll keep struggling through his one piece of broccoli each night at dinner...

She was being really silly after eating cake.  The day before she made the switch from walking occasionally, but mostly crawling to walking everywhere.  She kept going back and forth from the dining room to the back door and would stop every once in a while for a downward dog.  She thought she was hilarious.  And of course, everyone laughed so she continued with her silliness.

Happy Birthday, baby girl!