Gracelee's first birthday party

The weather was beautiful!

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The food was good!

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The fellowship was awesome!!

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We will begin this entry with the rest of the birthday dress photo shoot:

So the party is obviously Minnie Mouse inspired... Mickey Mouse CLub House is Gracelee's favorite TV show, and I just love the classic, red Minnie Mouse... so we compromised! I had a lot of fun planning this party and decorating for the day! Everything from the door to the cupcakes was homemade... the dress was made by a very talented lady on ETSY...

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Anyway, we had a Mouse ear entrance...

Chocolate, chocolate cupcakes complete with Keebler Grasshopper ears and a red sparkle gel bow...

Rainbow dyed funfetti cupcakes with black fondant minnie mouse decoration and a red sparkle gel bow...

The almighty cupcake tower!

a Hot Dog buffet... what else?!?!?!?!?!

and Mickey Mouse favors!

This was Gracelee in her Pre-Party outfit...

And the family picture... we are ready to start!!!!

And when she was asked to blow out the candles, she blew them a kiss! So cute!

Whata mess! But so much fun... time for a wardrobe change!

And there was soooo much fun with family and friends!!

We bought a bounce house for the occasion, which our friends are welcome to borrow, for the older kids to enjoy... one year old birthdays are more for the adults anyway, so we thought we would have something fun for everyone!

And these pictures are from her actual birthday... something was so sad about the day and yet so happy! It was a day that changed my life! I got to spend it with the 2 people that made the day so great... and we had some special kisses to complete the day!

Gracelee is walking... she actually has been since March 20th... we are still trying to get a good video of it... Anyway, her party was a success, and next year will have to top this... I'm thinking circus theme, or petting zoo, or something of that nature.... Oh to plan a party!!!!!!

Two very Special VIsits

For Gracelee's 1st birthday, we had 2 very special visits!!

Her birthday just wouldn't have been complete without the arrival of her great grandma and her very fun and very special cousins!

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Nini arrived looking FABULOUS! We were so happy to visit with her before the festivities!

Gracelee was so happy and very generous with her little smooches!

This face is "CHEESE!"

Beautiful little Annabelle and Mr. Cool Jaxson also arrived early so we could visit before the party day as well! Annabelle has the most beautiful, piercing blue eyes...

and she enjoyed her family time so much!

THe girls talked about this and that...

and shared toys like the good little girls they are...

and discussed books and movies... you know... the arts!

And Mr. Cool, Jax, my love, was keeping us all entertained... I could eat him alive!

And Auntie Mimi, came down with them! She is so much fun... we are just sad the visit was so short because Auntie Mimi is VERY fun to shop with!

And Gracelee took a stroll with daddy around the pool

And Annabelle took flight with Aunt T

I call this face "Tee Hee"

This was the beginning to a wonderful birthday party! It was truly amazing!!!

Happy Birthday, Gracelee!

Gracelee,

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Today, 365 days ago, my life changed forever... Life became more complete. More whole. More beautiful. More interesting.

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Today, 365 days ago, I learned that I had NO IDEA how much I could love another human being. I learned how much I loved your daddy. I learned love is unconditional and never ending. I have never been more in love.

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Today, 365 days ago, I saw the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life. At 1249pm, I was handed a gift from God that made my heart leap and flip. With your pouty red lips and dark eyes, my life changed with goodness and grace.

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Today, my love, my life, my everything, you are 1 year old.

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Where does the time go? I am pretty sure that I have typed that and said that nearly everyday of your life. Time.

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Gracelee, TIME is everything. It is a lesson you teach me every day. There is always time and yet it seems to slip by quicker than I can blink... this is why the journey is so important. When we step back and look at each milestone, and we savor each moment, and we truly appreciate togetherness, we relish our journey... Time is a blessing... a gift. Time gives me the opportunity to teach you, to mold you, to encourage you, to appreciate you in all of your wonderfulness. Time lets me see you grow and mature into the wonderful person I see you becoming. Time, my love, is what we have been given to appreciate by our loving and gracious Lord.

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Today, Gracelee, I love you more. Tomorrow more than that. The next day more than that. Today, Gracelee, I miss you more than words can say because I am away from you. When I see you this evening, I will kiss you a million times. Today, Gracelee, know that it is because of YOU that I want to be a better person. It is because of YOU that I want to love more, be more patient, do more good. It is because of you that I see God everyday... in your eyes, my daughter, I see GRACE, and BEAUTY, and LOVE, and LIFE, and GOODNESS.

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Happy Birthday, my angel. I love you!!!!

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Love,

Momma

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Pig Tails

I know, I know...

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I am ridiculous!

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But she has juuuuust enough to get into the holders...

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Besides.... even in a blurry picture you can see that she likes them!

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Girlie Girl!! Whoo HOOO!!!

Sneaky Sneaky!

Since I am not a professional photographer by any stretch of the word, I feel kinda funny for doing this...

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We have a SUPERB photographer that we love so much... Reata at SugarShots is simply amazing... I would have hired her again, but I think Justin would have stroked out on me. I would love to one day become a photographer... I think the job is really artsy and right up my ally! With that in mind, I took Gracelee's first birthday pictures myself. They are amateur at best, but I really feel like I got some pretty decent shots.

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So now for the sneaky part...

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I don't want to reveal anything big until her first birthday. So like my favorite photographer I will leave you with a SNEAK peek!

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My loves...

My husband

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My daughter

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Music