Getting back...

I keep putting off this blogging with the excuse that I have way too much school work to do, but when I do get the chance to jump on here I quickly regret putting it off. There is so much I want to say about you and so much that I never want to forget. Aunt Dani just had her blog published and it is beautiful. It makes me a little jealous of her dedication to her blog and her memories.I would love to follow in her foot steps and make this a wonderful recap of your fist year of life. I am in the midst of planning your second birthday party and I still can not believe that two years have gone by. This has been the craziest time in our families life and I fear that it is going to be over before we can even enjoy it. I believe my last blog was about your first fourth of July....so where do I go next??? So here is what I am going to do... I am going to show you what the first year looked like at a glance...

This is you just a couple of days after you turned one month old. It was January 29, 2010 to be exact and I feel like it was an entirely different lifetime. Look how tired daddy is...poor guy. He would do anything in this whole world for you!

This was Aunt Dani's little co-sleeper that I loved to lay you in. It was just your size and you always looked so snug and comfy while you were inside. Look at those big eyes. You were always so alert and attentive. You didn't miss a thing.

At this point I think you have had enough of Mommy's camera in your pretty little face!

You are starting to look so different at this point. I can see such a difference from when you were a baby to what you look like today. I also see much more of myself in you than I ever did before.

WOW! Sitting up in your Bumbo chair and reading a book! What a big girl...and how different it is from just a month ago!

You turned six months old while we were on vacation in Long Beach Island New Jersey. We were with the Zusin's and the Tracy's. It was your fist vacation and your first time at the beach. I remember you sat up on your own for the very first time while on this trip. You were in the baby pool in the sand and you were so happy. You didn't want to get out and that is when you made the bold move to sit on your own!

 Mommy is always complaining that there is never any pictures of the two of us together. This is because Mommy is always the one taking the pictures! Even though Momma doesn't look her best I love capturing the two of us! We have such similar personalities and we are always at each others throats, but at the end of the day it's always me and you kid!

You turned eight months old while we were partying it up in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. This was your second vacation and you had a blast! It was a lot of work for Mommy and Daddy but you were such a good girl! You were still such a pudgy little thing!

You were such a crazy person at this point! You thought you had it all figured out. Looking back at some of these photos I feel like I could say so much! You were crawling and all over the place! You had so much fun exploring our house and bugging your puppies!

There you are, my little Halloween lover! This was only a couple of days before Halloween. I tried your costume on you so many times because I wanted you to be used to it by the big night! (which you were)

Check you girl! Cruising all over in your big girl walker! If only we had a bigger kitchen!

Happy Birthday Reesey! My little peanut is one!It's not only your first real Christmas, but it is your first birthday! You had a great day and we couldn't have been happier!

Looking back it goes without saying just how fast that year flew by and just how blessed our family is. Having you is more than anything I ever could have expected. I always dreamed of being a mommy and having kids, but you are so much more than that.

Every day is something new with you. You keep me on my toes and you make me laugh harder than anyone ever could. You have a larger than life personality and you have from the second you entered this world. You came in with quite an entrance on Christmas day and you have certainly lived up to the reputation so far. I don't know how poor daddy does it with two ladies who have the exact same temper. But girl...we are lucky! Daddy and I are so lucky to have you, and you and I are so lucky to have daddy!

Where Have We Been??

Holy cow! Where have we been? I can not believe I allowed so much time to go by between blogs. I mean...I can think of a million reason as to why I neglected writing but it makes me a little sad to think of how many memories I missed blogging about. I saw Aunt Dani blogging again and it made me realize what a gift this could be for you. So much has happened since last February. Right now you are 19 months old and as crazy as they come! You are super tall and super skinny. You talk like no other 19 month old and you are so stubborn and opinionated! You are so much like me that I can hardly believe it. Daddy swears you are my clone. You are growing up so fast!

This photo was taken on the 4th of July 2010. We went to MomMom and PopPop Barber's house for a pool party. You had so much fun splashing around in the water. Daddy and I knew it was only the beginning of your love for the water!
Looking back at you now, it is amazing how much you have changed. You look so pudgy and round with this big bald head! Granted, you are still pretty bald but your shape and size has transformed into such a perfect little toddler. I still think about you as a baby and can't believe that you are mine and that I am yours. I am so lucky and love you more than anything in the whole wide world! I love that this has forced me to reminisce on your life so far. I now feel like I have so much to say about who you are and what you have done!

Sippy Cup Queen

I just introduced this to you yesterday. You didn't exactly use it appropriately but it was not aversive to you at all. I just put it on your tray during meal times in hopes you would want to drink some water. You fumbled around with it a little but you really didn't drink from it. Today....totally different story!

Not only did you pick it up the right way and put the spout directly in your mouth but you were so proud of yourself. I cheered so loud and clapped my hands when you did it right which caused you to get so excited. You would then put the cup down and open your mouth real wide as if you wanted me to put the cup back into your mouth. Once I helped a little and was able to tilt it the right way you began to suck!! I was so shocked....but not as much as you were when you realized water came out.

This is just another testament to how fast you are growing up. I am so proud of you and I love you so much. Nothing was better then seeing your eyes light up when you made the connection that you were using the cup correctly. You are such a good little baby and pretty soon you are going to be crawling, walking, and talking!

Our bond.

This past week or so you have been doing something that is so out of character for you. I have been trying so hard to implement some sort of schedule for you and it has been working out really well. Each night I have planned out your naps, bottles, and baths so perfectly that you are ready for bed at your perfectly suited bedtime. Each night...after your bath and after you get dressed I give you a nice warm bottle. While drinking that bottle you can hardly keep your eyes open. As soon as you have finished I throw you over my shoulder in an attempt to get a burp out of you and with that the miracle happens. You fall asleep on my shoulder. Your pudgy little blue eyed face just passes out right next to mine. I can feel your breath on my neck and you are so close that I feel the need to kiss you over and over. You have never been the calmest of babies and certainly never at ease enough to just fall asleep like this. You take your puny little left arm and wrap it so tight around my neck. The first time you did this I had absolutely no desire to put you in your cribby. I just wanted to hold you like this and absorb this moment for fear I would never again know this feeling. I have never felt so close to you and so in love. I remember thinking "No wonder the other moms I know talk about their babies in such a way that made me jealous". I wished that I had that sort of bond with you. But when you laid your perfect little beautiful head down on my shoulder and wrapped your arm around me and just fell asleep it all just fell into place for me. The feeling that I had been longing for had suddenly taken over me. I love you so much. You have done this several nights now and I am at a loss for words. When telling the story to Daddy I tear up and tell him that he should be jealous too. It is a feeling unlike any other and I just can not get enough. Despite your crazy little crab attitude you really and truly are the most amazing little woman and I could not imagine my life with out you. Although I know it's better when I lay you down in your cribby awake I still secretly cross my fingers each day that your chubby little cheeks will lay themselves down on my shoulder and just pass out. Your limp little body in my arms and your hand in my hair is the most amazing and irreplaceable feeling in the whole world! I love you Reese.

Going to The O'Hara's

On January 23, 2010 I took you on your first outing to Mom Mom and Pop Pop O'Hara's house. You were about 4 weeks old and at that point I was starting to go mad being trapped in this house. It was winter, and probably one of the worst winters we had in a LOOOONG time. For this reason I was always apprehensive to take you out for I was afraid of you getting sick. After some serious consideration I finally decided it was better for both of us to branch out. I bundled you up in your car seat and gathered everything I could think of...including Jack and Toby, and we headed off.

Look how tiny you were. Sometimes I forget just what a little peanut you really were. It makes me sad to think how fast you are growing. Mom Mom was happy that we were there and Mommy had to capture every moment on film!

Everyone loves you so much and is always so excited to see you. Even the Reilly's came over! Your cousin Morgan loves you more then anything and she always makes you laugh!

Here you are with your body guard. Now I know I haven't written much about the boys, but Toby truly does love you. He is so respectful of you and knows his boundaries 100%. Jack is another story!

Pop Pop always made sure you were bundled nice and warm. You look like a little cacoon!

This was one of my favorite pictures of you when you were that small. Your eyes look so big and you are just beautiful. It's bitter sweet to me that you are growing so fast. I can hardly remember this day and it was only 5 months ago. I feel as though this should be a vivid and unforgettable moment that has just slipped from my mind. This is a reminder to me just how precious these moments are and how desperate I am to try and savor every single second! I love you so stinkin much woman!

This is another one of my most favorite photos. You two are going to grow up to be so close and I am sure that you love her just as much as she already loves you.

The day went much better than I had anticipated. It was a learning experience for me in regards to driving with you and what to pack when I leave and what time is best to head home and much more. This was the start of our many journeys away from home!

Sweet Potatos

Tonight was an especially fun night at the Barber house. For the very first time Daddy and I gave you sweet potatoes for dinner! Today you had your sixth month check up and the Dr. told us that we were clear to start you on foods other than cereal and formula. It was a great check up! You are 16.5 pounds and 26 inches long.You behaved yourself for the most part but got upset when he looked in your ears and your mouth. He said that all of Daddy's bazaar food allergies were related to the pesticides, not the food themselves and that we were free to give you whatever we wanted (with some exceptions of course). I ran right to the grocery store and bought one Organic sweet potato. I came home...boiled it in some water, and threw it into the food processor. As soon as it was nice and smooth Daddy propped you in your high chair and you were immediately served fresh hot homemade organic sweet potato!

This was your very first taste. By the look of this shot you don't seem to sure...but you came around.

See what I mean! Look at that adorable grin!

This really is one of the most exciting times for Daddy and I. Most of the people we know (including all of your Aunts) have given their babies food well before six months. Because of Daddy having so many allergies we were extremely apprehensive to give you anything without having a conversation with the doctor. It is so amazing to me that you are now able to explore the world around you with food. To think of all the fun and tasty things your will be trying is just crazy! I cant wait to see your face each time a new flavor hits your tiny palate. Not only are you entering a new phase of your young life, but Mommy is trying something new also; Making my own baby food! So far so good! I just hope and pray that you continue to enjoy extraordinary foods and remain as allergy free as your Momma!

Sitter-upper

On June 11. 2010 you sat up by yourself for the very first time.

Granted...you needed the support of the boppy but you did such a good job. You only lasted about a second or two before you fell over, but I was so proud of you! Not only was I proud of you, but you were so proud of yourself. From that point on I was determined to practice every day with you, and you were determined to do it on your own.

That week we continued to sit in front of the boppy, and each day your trunk grew stronger and stronger...

Again...these cruddy old IPhone pictures are of the worst quality, but I am grateful that I was able to capture these precious moments all together!

This is just a preview to what the upcoming weeks had in store for us. Daddy and I could not believe how strong you were getting and how fast you were meeting your developmental milestones.