ONE!

Today Emalyn Faith turned one! We can't believe it's been a whole year. Even Maddi and Cade can't believe how fast it's gone. I told them that's how I feel about their whole lives.

We started the day with presents from brother, sister, and grandparents.

Emalyn didn't know how to unwrap and Maddi and Cade were eager to help her out.

Cade adores his little sister. I am still amazed at how great Cade is with her. I really just wasn't sure what Cade would think of having a baby sister and he has been everything I hoped he'd be and more.

Of course big brother and sister were happy to play with her new toys with her. I knew Maddi would be a great big sister and she has been wonderful. Emalyn is a lucky little baby!

Maddi was showing Emma how to walk the doggy to make it bark.

Then it was time to get ready for the First Birthday Party!

We had a few friends over to celebrate the big day. One of Emalyn's gifts from us was the crab pool filled with balls. Emma liked this gift, but Cade can't stop playing with it. I think it was his idea to take the crab upstairs and dump the balls over the stairs.

Here come the balls....

...and more balls!

So fun! I bought the balls on clearance after Christmas for around $2.00 thinking I'd save them for her first birthday. I bought the crab swimming pool on clearance at Target this summer for $1.84. I thought she might like the pool in the summer, but then decided to use the pool for the balls. I think it was the best $4.00 or $5.00 I've ever spent! Every one of the kids loved playing and throwing those balls around.

She was not a fan of the birthday hat, but she held it on her head long enough for a picture. Poor girl has too many chins to wear the elastic strap! It reminded me of when we put a hat on Maddi at her first birthday and it popped her chins. For the next year or so at any party Maddi would say "no, no" when she'd see a party hat!

Time for the cupcake and candle for the big one year old.

I think she was thinking about what to wish for...

Maddi helped Emalyn by taking the wrapper off the cupcake.

Cade helped by giving Emalyn a bite to entice her to eat some more and get messy!

After a bite she decided to dig in!

All the kids enjoying their cupcakes.

A happy girl!

You go girl.

Making a nice big mess.

Our little family of 5 on a special day!

Most of the cupcake has been devoured.

I love this baby girl so much!

And baby girl loves mommy and wanted to give me a cupcake kiss. A kiss only a mommy could love!

Time to clean her off!

Ellie and Emma playing with the puppy. In a few months these girls will be best of friends.

We sent the kids out to the trampoline to burn off some energy.

Play time. Notice the balls all over the house...

After nap time she opened the gifts from her friends.

A serious drummer.

One more picture of me and my sweet baby. As big of a surprise she was, she has been an even bigger blessing. We can't imagine life without her. I just wish we could freeze time and keep her this age. We hope you had a very happy first Birthday! We love you!!!!

I had to throw in this picture of crazy Cade. He didn't know Brett was taking his picture. He can't stay away from the balls and he seemed to enjoy Emma's new drum set quite a bit. Ha ha! I think he'll always enjoy having a younger sister so he can play with her toys. I guess he's just a little playful kid at heart!

Double Digits!

I'm not sure how it happened, but Maddi girl turned the big 1-0 this year! Double Digits. I really remember having her like it was yesterday. She is such a sweet and loving girl and we have enjoyed the last decade with her.

Maddi was sick Friday and Brett and I decided that we were going to postpone her party until the next day, Halloween. We told her when she woke up and she wasn't thrilled, but she understood, especially since she was still pretty weak when she woke up. She was reading her card with our ten favorite things about her.

A Snoopie Snow Cone machine! It's the exact same as when I was a kid.

Gifts from Omie. Maddi still had a fun day on her birthday even though she didn't have her party that day. We went to lunch at Texas Roadhouse (her choice) and spent some family time together.

Sunday was Halloween and Maddi's dog theme party. There were 4 girls who couldn't come because the day was changed, but it was still great fun. They started off with some time on the trampoline, but it was pretty chilly so they didn't last too long.

They came in and decorated a dog bone shaped placemat for their dog.

It was a good thing we moved her party back a day. She was feeling so much better!

Then they played "doggy, doggy where's your bone?" and freeze dance to "who let the dogs out" and "you ain't nothing but a hound dog".

What's a party without pizza and cookie cake? I had the cookie made and they did a little dog on it that looked like Cocoa. It was really cute!

So many candles!

Making her wish and blowing out the candles....

The Birthday girls brother and sister!

Maddi has been closing her eyes in so many pictures lately so Brett told her to hold them open big for this picture. I guess she opened her mouth big too.

Maddi wanted to have this dog themed party after reading an American Girl book about dogs. There was a pooch personality test in the book, and she wanted everyone to see what type of dog they are. Brett gave the girls the test while I got everything ready for the next activity.

Making pupcakes! Like most things, the cupcakes looked really cute in the book. They were a little challenging to make, but still pretty cute, and the girls had fun making them.

There were 4 different dogs that each girl made and then they took them home as a party favor along with a dog lipgloss and dog collar bracelet.

Maddi and Abby making more pupcakes.

Present time!

Maddi LOVED this cake bakery gift and she has asked almost daily if she can do it. Hopefully we'll have time soon.

Emalyn was enjoying the party too.

The whole crew at the party....

...and now with a silly face! It was a fun party and all of the girls were so sweet and well behaved. I know Maddi had a great time and that makes all the work worth it. We love you so much Maddi and we really hope you have a wonderful year as a ten year old!