"Hi! You guys remember me?? I was born one year ago on January 25, 2016, and I quickly became everybody's most favorite baby ever." ~Elizabeth Mid
HOORAY!!! We celebrated little Lizzie's first birthday this week (a few days later than planned due to a nasty stomach bug everyone was passing around), but better late than never as I always say! Doesn't she look cute in her new birthday outfit??
Select the best answer: That's her holding up one finger because a) she's one year old, b) she thinks she's number one, or c) she has everyone wrapped around that cute little finger? Answer: all 3.
We had a jam-packed day of FUN planned to celebrate Lizzie's birthday, starting with basketball games for Lucy and Zach. Ha, ha, ha. Just kidding. Having Lizzie at their games is anything BUT fun! She is constantly trying to walk out onto the court, hates sitting still, and is basically only content when we're wandering the hallways. I bet they were great games though. Sigh...
After Zach's game finished up we headed straight downtown to the Denver Aquarium. We hadn't been yet, and although it was super-duper expensive it was on the bucket list and well, YOLO. We had a really good time!
Lizzie was fascinated by the fishies. She'd point and squawk and seemed to enjoy our little underwater outing. I know the bigger kids certainly did!
We loved the sting rays and sharks. There is something hypnotizing about watching them swim.
Lizzie went in the bubble just in time to see these two fishies smooch. Ha!
Last but not least, up close and personal with the sharks! After we'd checked out the entire aquarium (which is just tiny compared to the Atlanta Aquarium) we headed over to the 4-D theatre for a fun little show. It was nice being there in the late afternoon/evening because there were hardly any people to compete with.
We had planned on getting pizza at that same pizzeria we'd tried a few weeks ago for dinner (it was so yummy!)-- but after seeing all those underwater creatures the kids oddly enough, were begging for fish for dinner. So, thanks to Google we found a little British fish n' chips shop nearby with excellent ratings.
Wow! It was a fabulous find--- the portions were huge, the batter was amazing, and we enjoyed every little morsel of fishy-goodness. We devoured dinner and then headed back home for cake and presents.
Lizzie had fallen asleep on the way home in the car, but the kids had been D-Y-I-N-G for cake all day long, so against my better judgment (never, ever wake a sleeping baby!), she wasn't too hard rouse thanks to new toys.
She got a new baby stroller, baby doll, Finding Dory pajamas, and a baby scrapbook for mom to work on for her.
Caught this cute picture of her loving on her new baby doll! Awww.
Elizabeth's birthday Cookie Monster cake. I'd gotten the cake all covered neatly in the blue frosting, and then I poured chocolate on top and Leah was livid that I'd ruined him! "He does not have hair like that!" So yes, it is Cookie Monster, but a more modern art approach to him.
Singing Happy Birthday!
Classic-"what the heck is going on?"-face, and checking in with mom that we haven't all lost our minds.
I'd title this picture, "The Staring Contest." She was totally thrown off by those eyes! Ha ha!
Enjoying some yummy birthday cake! She had no problem diving right in once the eyes were surgically removed.
The siblings were certainly happy we had indeed woken her up for cake and ice cream.
The finished product. I think she liked it! Happy Birthday sweet Elizabeth!
((And just for fun, here's me on my first birthday. What do you think, do we look alike??))
Here she is, all cleaned up and ready for bed. It was so fun celebrating this little girl's birthday. She is our first and only "surprise" baby. One year and nine months ago we definitely got the SHOCK of our lives when we found out we'd be graduating from a family of five, to a family of six a few years before we'd even though of it ourselves. Not to mention, it came at one of the most stressful times of our lives-- about 10 days before we were moving across the country, separating from the military, starting a new job, and buying our first house. If I'm being completely honest, her pregnancy was the hardest on me emotionally. I was wracked with anxiety from start to finish. However, the moment she was born and placed in my arms two things happened almost simultaneously, 1) the fog of anxiety and depression finally lifted and I wasn't worried about loving her, or caring for four kids, and 2) I immediately sensed she completed our family and it was Heavenly Father's plan all along that she become the 6th member of our little team here on Earth. And boy, are we ever thankful for this precious little gift who brings so much joy, laughter, and love into our home!!! She is definitely the best surprise I ever got. Happy Birthday Elizabeth Mid!
