12 Months? 1 Year Old??? Oh My!

Well, it's official (really, really). Bailey is ONE YEAR OLD!!!

I first would like to thank everyone for the support and well wishes over this past year. It has truely been the most exhausting, frustrating, wonderful and happy year that Tammie and I have ever spent together. Having a child isn't easy (as most of you know...and Billy and Tyfany are starting to find out), but it is the most rewarding thing that Tammie and I have done.

And now for the news...

Over the last month, all three of us have gone through one kind of infection or another. Tammie started things off with a sinus infection (and probably spread the virus to the rest of us...thanks dear) and was put on antibiotics. Shortly thereafter, Bailey got an ear infection (we didn't catch this one early. We all took the brunt of it this time...no sleep, only sleeping in mom and dad's bed, crying for long, LONG periods of time, not eating...yeah). And just as Bailey was starting to make a turn for the better, dad get a sinus infection (what do they say about the family that goes on antibiotics together? No seriously...what do they say. I'm curious.).

All of us are feeling much better, and thankfully just in time for Bailey's first birthday. And now what you really want to hear about...the birthday party!

Well...

Bailey didn't get a nap before the actual festivities began, so unfortunately we wound up with a pretty grumpy birthday girl. There were good moments (fleeting as they may have been) when we would get a smile and a little chuckle, but one thing is for sure...ALWAYS get a nap in before a party (I would even recommend this to the adults...everyone can benefit from a few zzzzzzz....).

Bailey was great and the party went well. Lots of food and a spectacular Eeyore cake for Bay (Bay = Bailey...just in case you haven't slept very much and are in a fog. So how are things going Billy and Tyf?). After a short (3 hour) nap, Bailey woke up just in enough time to say goodbye to her grandma and grandpa Acuff before they headed back to the coast. Tammie and I fed her and tried her birthday cake again...

SUCCESS!!!

Bailey LOVED the cake (especially using it as a hair styler), and really enjoyed playing with her new toys. She chased her new balls all around the kitchen, banged away with her very own drumsticks (courtesy of her dad, of course), hugged every Eeyore she got and kissed her bag of new Bathtime Letters and Numbers (English major perhaps? Lets all hope not...I can't spell and don't want Bailey correcting everything I say).

And then bathtime...

Her new inflatable Rubber Duck Bathtub was a hit. She just loved bouncing against the sides and poking him in the back of the head (a little mean spirited if you ask me, but cute nontheless). A little more playtime, a good bottle and it was off to bed for the birthday girl. Aparently she needed it too...she slept until 9 am this morning (you know, I used to look at sleeping in as 10  or 10:30. Now if Bailey sleeps past 8 in the morning it's a good day).

Once again, thank you for the birthday wishes (both mine and Bailey's) and for all the support and prayers throughout this first year. Please keep them coming (as I figure it, we still have 17 more years to go) and please keep in touch. I have updated Bailey's photos on Picasa. If anyone would like copies of the pictures there please let me know (I don't think I uploaded the full size pictures, but would be happy to send ones to you).  Take care and I hope everyone has a safe and happy year.