Reese Catherine turns 1!

Stats 'n' Stuff:

Weight:  24 1/2 lbs - 92nd percentile

Height:  30.75 inches - 93rd percentile

Hair: So white and so soft with such pretty curls!

The Schedule:  

7:00-8am -- We are up for the day!  
Between 8-9 east some breakfast (could be pancakes, french toast, waffles, banana or whatever her brother is having!  

Around 10:30, down for her morning nap.  Usually an hour to an hour and a half as long as we don't have the sniffles or teeth coming in!

After the morning nap is lunch time!  She girl isn't picky and anything that is small and soft will go down the hatch.  She likes fruit, veggies, hot dogs, lunch meat, cheese sticks oh.... and COOKIES!

In the afternoon she  may or may not take another nap!  Her afternoon schedule isn't as predictable.   

6-6:30 is dinner and she consistantly eats more than her brother!  

8pm - 9 oz. bottle and  she is out for the next 11-12 hours :-) 


new stuff:

She is walking!  This girl is off and to the races.  She really started walking good about 11 1/2 mo.  Just in time to make her big debut at her birthday party. 

She has 8 teeth - 4 on top and 4 on bottom. 

She isn't saying to many words -- her favorite by far is "DADDA" and "DAADDDDDY"  -- but she also calls me dadda so I think that is just her favorite word and everyone she loves is dadda :-)  She also says "DREW" and I think I caught her saing "Ouchie" the other day.  But hard telling! 

Favorite things to do: 
Playing around with Drew, jumping on Drew's Anywhere chair, pulling on the drill on the toy work bench, dancing, laughing and just lighting up everyone's day.  This girl is so full of joy - she can make any bad day a good one with her sweet little giggle and funny faces!

Below are some pictures of both her and Drew that we took a couple weeks before her brithday.  Funny because I made the session appointment for "Reese's 1 yr" -- but ended up with just one good one of Reese (pic at the top of the post) and SO MANY great ones of the two of them!  

We have lots of fun pictures from her 1 yr. party!  Grandma Lori flew down from Iowa and lots of Reese's favorite people were over at the house for her big celebration -- Grandma and Grandpa Merrill, mommy, daddy, Drew, Titi Raquel, 'Nando and Ali.  It was such a fun day! 

The night before Grandma Lori busted out her baking skills from 30 years ago!  She used to make us kids the most fun birthday cakes, so giving her the task of making a pink star cake for Reese was a challenge she wasn't affraid of! 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Start Theme........... 

Here comes the birthday girl -- FULL OF IT!

Drew was a good big brother  - helping her open the presents but not frustrated that he wasn't getting all of the attention.  

We got so many wonderful gifts from family near and far!  You all really made this such a special day :-)

Love you Ali!

Hey guys - this party thing is so much fun!

Posing......

Her very own Elmo!

Wait - what's going on over there?  And I don't know about these shoes mom.  My feet are probably too chuby for them!

Loving her new grocery shopping cart!  Pushing it around just like mommy!

Now we have a baby in the cart. 

Hurry up - we don't have a lot of time (just like mommy never has time!)

Hugs and snuggles from Titi

May have been her first real connection with a balloon :-)

The Smash Cake scene was one that we probably could have put on YouTube and gotten 1M views.  She killed it.  Started out no hands.  Stuck her face in it....

This is SOOOO good!  Back off, Drew. 

I think I'll keep going.......

Feels so good between my fingers!

Family Pic - what a fun day with these loves.

Grandma Lori's turn!

Next up -- Grandma and Grandpa Merrill

Now it's Titi, Nando and Ali's turn -- we were missing Brandon!

More party pics.... out of sequence but so beautiful I have to include them all!

Drew - I love you, but back off.  This is my party!

YEAH!!!!

WHOA.  What. Is. This?.

Feels so good on my nose. 

Really?  I can do this?

Reese Catherine Merrill - words cannot describe the love you have brought us this year.  You are a charmer that is silly, sassy, fun and sweet.  We absolutely love everything about you and every little piece of you!  We thank the Lord every day for the joy and love you bring to our family!

Happy Birthday Reesie Piecie!