Happy First Birthday, Isadora!

Dear Isadora,

One year ago today, you made mommy and daddy's dream come true.




 Now you stand before us, a little person, so vibrant and full of spunk and personality.  It's been quite an amazing year being your mommy and daddy, my sweet baby.





 For your first birthday, we had a small, intimate party of close friends and family.  It was a hot day (over 100 degrees!), but we made due by staying cool inside and enjoying the taco bar that mommy and daddy made for your guests.  It was a packed house, but everyone made themselves at home.  We also set up a swimming pool in the back for all the kids to splash and swim in.  So much was going on, and it was all for you.



The most precious moment for me during your party was when we sat you in your high chair and gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday" to you.  The singing brought the biggest smile to your face, and you began clapping in joyous approval.  I almost cried...





After singing, we gave you your first birthday cupcake.  You weren't quite sure what to do with it.  But once you did, you didn't want to let it go!  In fact, you didn't let the cup cake leave your mouth for the longest time.  It was hilarious.





























The day went by so quickly.  At the end of the day, your daddy and I couldn't stop saying, "I can't believe we have a one year old!"  You've been a joy to have in our lives so far, Miss Isadora Yume.  I can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you.



 


All of our love,

Mommy and Daddy

Annual Patten Family Vacation: Corolla

Dear Izzy,

This year was your second trip with the Patten clan.  (You were only four weeks old when you participated in your first family vacation.)  Almost a year older, you got to really experience the joys of the Outer Banks for the first time and play in the ocean and in the sand.  Mommy and daddy were fully prepared for a week of changing poopy diapers full of sand, but, to our surprise, you never consumed one drop.  You were mesmerized by the texture of the sand and even tried to throw it around, but you never put any in your mouth.  And the ocean... You loved it!  We had to constantly keep an eye on you to make sure you didn't get knocked down by a wave.  Its vastness and its enormity did not scare you.  You seemed determined to conquer it.

We were also lucky enough to have a pool at the beach house we rented.  Unfortunately, the water was much too cold for swimming, but it warmed up by the end of the week.  While we waited for it to warm up, we made due with your very own blow up pool.











All week you got to spend time with all your cousins and aunts and uncles.  You aren't used to being around so many people, but you LOVED the attention.  I think our favorite time during vacation was the night we all went to the beach to take pictures.  Here are some of the shots we captured:
































It was wonderful vacation.  We got to reconnect with family and see you grow up before our very eyes.  We were sad to see our time end so quickly, but it just made us that much more excited for next year's vacation!






You have a whole year to rest up until the next one!

Love,

Mommy

Nearing Your First Milestone...

Dear Isadora,

You're 11 months old... You're almost a year old!  How did this happen?!

You're walking like a pro.  You're babbling like crazy.  You know how to whine.  You even know how to push literal buttons and mommy and daddy's figurative buttons.  Is there anything you can't do?

Excellent table manners there, Iz...

Yes, there is... Use a spoon.








You'd rather chew on the wrong end than use it properly for eating...  But you'll get there one day, I'm sure.  There's no taming you yet, my little bear wrestler.




In the mean time, you are still dubbed our little "Goat Baby."  Here's why:



You never met a book you didn't find DELICIOUS.

Love you little goat.

Love,

Mommy