Today my little princess is turning one
This year has been absolutely amazing and just so much fun
I remember the day I brought you home...
Only a year ago and I felt so alone
I was so scared to be a mommy and didn't know what to do
Your little life was counting on me and I just didn't have a clue
You have become my little best friend
My angel from above who I love to no end
On this day I just want you to know
Everytime I look at you I realize how much I'll never want to let you go
You're my sweet little baby and always will be
I am so happy and proud to be your mommy
As I think back on this first year
My eyes fill up with tears
Tears of happiness and delight
My little girl I love with all of my might
You were so tiny and now so big
All because of the little things your dad and I did
We enjoyed every bath even when you would kick water on us and try to fight
We will never forget the cuddles during bottle time at night
You are our most special friend and always will be
Happy Birthday little Katelyn,
Love always...your daddy and mommy:)

*The above poem was written by the proud
Mommy Marci for her sweet little girl:)

Katelyn's 1st Birthday was celebrated on Saturday, August 10th,
with her family and closest friends
.

Enjoy the pictures below: (There is a summary of the special day at the bottom
of this LONG page;)!!!)

"Tinker Bell" was the theme of Katelyn's 1st Birthday Party

This is the cake we got just for Katelyn:)

OK, this just might wake me up...

OK, it is a little messy...but I can get used to this!

"Mom, I don't know about this stuff...
this is more messy than I thought!" (Mom says, "It's ok Katelyn, try EATING it!"

Ohhhhhh, sooooo yummy!

Hmmm, they've been holding out on me...this is pretty good
(Katelyn is clearly mesmerized!)

That was so yummy! THANK YOU!

The party began on Saturday morning at 11. I hardly got any sleep the night before cause
I was sooo anxious for it:) So, after about a 3 hour night's rest,
I got up and my mom came to help us decorate.
My best friend Jenn came on Friday night from Vegas
and Will's cousin Steve also spent the night to help us....

The decorations looked beautiful!!!!!! The cake was GORGEOUS.
People started arriving at about 11:30 (fashionably late).
Katelyn woke up from a nice 2 hour nap in a great mood:)
As more and more people showed up, it got hotter outside.
That was the ONLY downside of the day since our party for the most part was
set up outside. It was 110 degrees...nope, not kidding, hotter than heck!
No one seemed to mind for the first couple hour or so,
but once gift unwrapping time came, I had many guests sneaking into the house...

Katelyn SCORED on the gifts big time!!!!! LOTS of cute clothes and the best part is,
I hardly have to exchange anything since the sizes are just right:)
She got lots of toys and some really nice books, and even money for her college account;)
My brother bought her a cockatiel (a bird)! I almost killed him since he didn't ask
me permission on whether I wanted a pet for Kate or not,
but to my surpsie, so far it is going fine...
the bird is VERY quiet, so now of course I feel bad for making such a fuss.
I am sorry Eric;) The highlight gift of the party was from
my mom to Katelyn. She bought Katelyn a GORGEOUS ring for
when she is a bit older.
It has a pear-shaped light green stone in the middle
(her birth stone)and little diamond chips on either side.
It is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I choked up a bit as I opened it.
You see, when I was little, MY grandparents bought me a birthstone
ring as well. I thought it was very touching that my mom thought to do the same
thing for Katelyn. HOWEVER, since Kate is too small for it,
I am enjoying it in the meantime:)hehe

After gifts, we did the cake. Katelyn got stripped down to her
diaper and wore a "1st Birthday" bib and dug into the cake.
She played with it much more than she ate it.
She doesn't seem to have much of a sweet tooth! Unlike her mama....;)

After cake Will bathed her and she went down like a
sweety pea for her nap:)
Everyone helped clean up...and overall, that's about it!

A successful day other than the heat:)
Today my baby is one...
1 year ago right now I was in a lot of pain...
I am sooooo much happier today:) I love her to pieces...