Hallie's First Birthday!

Hallie is officially ONE! She turned one on April 8, but we celebrated it a week early with family and friends! The theme was "sweet as can bee" although I didn't put too much effort into this theme haha! Scott helped with a balloon garland (he always gets roped into helping me with this, but he secretly loves it because he's such a perfectionist when it comes to making them!) I made a little sign which was fun and the kids ended up helping cut out some bees and it turned into a great afternoon craft sesh! We had pizza, and dessert, and Hallie had her first taste of cake! She looooved the icing, although it gave her quite a sugar high so she stayed up pretty late that night! haha! Her face when she saw the candle was priceless! (scroll down to see it)

Hallie had a really bad cold, and then had ear infections, so she wasn't the happiest camper on her birthday. She's now back to her bubbly, happy, easy-going self. She has this cute little giggle. We will find her looking at books or playing with toys and letting out little giggles. Even when she's eating she will start giggling and it is the cutest thing! She says mama occasionally, dada a lot, and babbles constantly. When she sees puppies and dogs she makes a sound we think is "papa". She gives kisses, waves hi and bye, and sticks up her pointer finger when you say "ONE"! Those are her latest party tricks haha!

Toys

She isn't walking on her own yet, but is standing and walking while holding onto something. She loves using the baby walker and dances to the music it makes. She also loves to play in the bath, and for her birthday she got a really neat bath toy that creates a stream of water. Some other toys that she plays with are the toy kitchen and play food, she loves socks and will carry them around the house, and books (or more so taking out every book we have haha!).

Food

Hallie is eating pretty much everything that we eat now. Some of her favourite foods are bananas, sweet potatoes, cheese, yogurt, peppers and butternut squash soup. When she was sick she had a lot of smoothies and food pouches. She has been drinking water out of the Munchkin cups and she has recently learned how to drink out of a straw. She has about 2 bottles of milk a day, usually after a meal/before naptime.

Sleep

Hallie has 2 naps a day, one in the morning around 9:30 and the second around 1. She is really attached to her bunny blanket now as well as a larger Jellycat Bunny that Riley and Brynn got her for her birthday! She just squeezes her stuffed animals and gives them kisses. When she wakes up she always has her bunny in her arms! Riley was never attached to stuffed animals, but Brynn and Hallie are obsessed with them!

Hallie goes to bed between 6:30 and 7pm and sleeps until 5am. We can't seem to break this early wake up time, but then she will go back down until 7am thankfully!

This year went by so quickly, and it's always amazing to see how much they grow and learn in a year! Riley and Brynn are very protective over her and always willing to help with her. When Riley comes home from school Hallie crawls at super speed to the door and Riley picks her up and gives her a big cuddle which leaves her beaming! I want to remember these moments forever! The older two make her laugh and take turns pushing her in the stroller (this makes walks verrrrry slow ha!). It is such a blessing to watch them all interact and play! We are SO stoked for this warmer weather and everytime we go outside Hallie is excited to explore and see everything on our walks.

Hallie Mabel, we love you so so much. You are such a gift that we prayed for and have blessed our lives. We can't wait to see how you grow, and see the wonder in your eyes as you continue to discover this beautiful life around you.

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