Happy First Birthday Wendy!!

Our baby girl is one year old! What a joy she is to us! She is starting to grow out of her stranger shyness and getting much braver with her explorations. She can go up and down the stairs almost as fast as we can and loves to stand near anything. She also tries to climb on everything visible as well. She wants to walk with our help everywhere she goes (unless she's in a hurry) and will stand for ten to twenty seconds when we let go of her hands. She's still very cautious and doesn't want to walk unassisted, but we're hoping she will want to soon. She is still a very happy baby and loves to smile and giggle at anyone or anything. She loves all of her stuffed animals and often has nice conversation with those "friends." She enjoys watching other kids and is very good about sharing her toys with those who take them away from her....unless it's her new laptop or her little monkey. Then she lets them know she is not happy! She loves anything that makes music so she can dance. In fact, if there is no music, sometimes she dances anyway. We think she has her own life soundtrack playing most of the time. She loves to get several musical toys going at once so she can really boogie. Thanks to our New Mexico family members, she has a special place in her heart for doggies. She doesn't mind when our friends' dog gets right in her face or barks at her. She thinks they are playing a fun game. So, we decided to make her first birthday a doggy theme. I filled the doggy pinata and put it on the table for the last week. She often says doggy and loves it when I make the pinata bark at her. She now has her own little version of barking that she does. I even tried my hand at cake decorating.
We thought we'd give her some time to thrash on the doggy pinata before everyone else did. But, she just wanted to sit by it and smile.

Grandpa Kyle and Grandma Vicki gave her a little activity slide for her birthday. She really liked sitting at the top, but wasn't so sure about the sliding part. Luckily, we had kids over for her party so they showed her how to slide.

Wendy was pretty nervous when the whole room full of people looked at her and started singing to her.

Logan was really excited to help Wendy blow out the candle until it was showtime. Then he got a little shy and needed his daddy to help him. Wendy wasn't sure what to think about all of that!

She was a little timid at first.

And then she realized we gave her some cake and started digging in!

That a girl!

Chris wasn't too excited about being the pinata holder. But, the kids had a good time.

Wendy wasn't very excited about taking whacks at her doggy friend. We were just happy she didn't cry when others were hitting him. But, little Elli was quite insistent that she get a turn at hitting the doggy.

We ended up having to rip holes in the doggy to get the candy out. Logan thought he won the pinata lottery! The two four year olds collected candy at their leisure while the younger kids were happy to hang on to a wrapped piece of candy or two.

Wendy scored with the presents! This was a little monster that sings and dances. We can't wait for Brooke and Scott to have kids so we can repay them by giving their kids similar toys!

This drum not only makes music, but lights up when you hit it. Double bonus!!

Wendy is getting much better at unwrapping presents.

A new doggy from Grandma Mavis!

Reclining in her new princess chair.

Getting braver on the slide...

Taking apart the blocks from Grandma Rilda that daddy put together...

And this morning, she woke up, dragged some toys to her chair, and settled in for a good twenty minutes of playing.

Happy Birthday sweet Wendy! We are so grateful to have you in our home and lives! We love you so much!