Merry Christmas from Santa and his little elf

Melanie's First Birthday

11.03.2008

It is about time that we posted some pictures from Melanie's birthday last week.  Check out the album on the left hand side of the page for all the pics.  We took a ton of pictures this weekend and it has taken some time to sort through the digital abyss that is our flashcard.  The weekend started with Halloween, ended with Mel's Birthday party, then continued on Monday at the park (more pictures soon to follow).

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since our little boogie was born.  I know it sounds cliche, but you really do get caught up learning to be parents in that first year, then poof it's time to come up with a party theme and find someone to make a pumpkin shaped cake for you.  The time has truly flown by, but when I stop to think about it we have been through so many stages with Melanie already and she's only a year old.  These are special times and we have many more ahead, if '08 was any indication.

As you can imagine Melanie was the star of the show at her party.  She wowed everyone with her walking skills and posed for everything that flashed in her direction, what a ham.   

Melanie realized something was up when we put her in the high chair and placed a big orange cake on her plate.  Once she was in the chair everyone crowded around and waited for her to tear into her smash cake, but for a second she almost didn't know what to do.

But, she figured it out soon enough.......

She loved her cake, but she loved her presents more.  Everything she opened got a hug.  We had a great time and really appreciated everyone making time to give Melanie a very memorable First!

Trick or Treat!

Since Halloween fell on a Friday this year, we were able to spend the night at Shannon and John's and let Melanie Trick or Treat with her cousins.  Melanie was a little fairy, Wesley was a UPS man, Grace was a Georgia cheerleader, and Luke was Buzz Lightyear.   

 

You wouldn't think that a one year old would get that into Halloween, but Melanie loved it.  We're not sure if it was because it was dark outside, because she was dressed up, or because there were lots of other kids around who were dressed up, but Melanie thought the whole thing was very exciting.  She would squeal as we would walk up to the doors....and it was even past her bedtime! 

She didn't eat any of the candy, of course.  But, she had fun taking it out of, and putting it back into her jack-o-lantern.  After hitting a few houses, Grace and Melanie were ready to go home.  So, we took the kids back to the house to go to bed with Mimi.  Then, Mark, Shannon, Wesley and myself, went down to the end of the cul-de-sac to roast marshmallows for s'mores at a Halloween bonfire...fun!

Check out Melanie in her Jack-o-lantern t-shirt that we made!

Melanie's first steps!

The trouble has begun...Melanie is walking!

Trey and Kelly got married!

Trey and Kelly got married!  The proof is in the album to the left.  The wedding was beautiful, and we had a great time.  The only bad part, is that we wish we got to go on the honeymoon with Trey and Kelly.  They're spending two weeks in Hawaii! 

Melanie spent the weekend with Aunt Shannon & family, Mimi, and Mawmaw, and had a great time too.  Pony rides were involved...I think they're trying to make it so that she doesn't want to come home after visiting there!  More pictures to follow on that later...

First Football Weekend-2008

Auburn played ULM on Saturday, so Melanie got to go to her 2nd tailgate.  Her first was the Auburn/Alabama game last year, when she was just a few weeks old.  This time, she was actually able to fit into her cheerleader outfit. 

Next week, we play Souther MIss, and we think she's ready to go back already...

Around the house

Here are just a few pictures I took around the house the other weekend.  Melanie is pulling up on everything, and is crawling too, so things have become much more dangerous at our house.  The third picture shows Mel giving love to Lucy.  She thinks the dogs are hysterical.  If you ask her what the doggies say, and answer "woof, woof, woof", she cracks up.  She also chases them all over the house and tries to play with their toys (gross).  Of course, she thinks their toys are much more fun than hers are.

And here are some bath pictures...