Beautiful Birthday Girl

May 1st has come and gone. Our little girl is finally one.

How the year has flown!

We celebrated Harper's birthday with a visit from Granny and her Auntie Mindy for the week leading up to her big day. That was very special to have them here with us. I think they probably went home more tired than when they got here after running around after Harper and her crazy (I mean very energetic) brother.

A few good friends helped us celebrate Harper's birthday with some burgers and dogs after a serious ball fight in the front yard. We busted out the plastic balls from Graden's first birthday that are always so fun, but a pain in the you-know-what to clean up when all is said and done. The kids were wild little rugrats and it was a perfect way to culminate Harper's first year with us.

That little stinker dove right in for her cake. She wasn't afraid in the slightest and I was expecting some mashed potato poops the next day with all that icing she ate. She couldn't get enough...takes after her mommy...we're in trouble.

Harper's 1 year stats:

19 lbs. 13 oz (25%) Shocking considering her brother has been on the opposite end of the scale for his entire life! I know, I know...don't compare, but it's so hard not to! They are just so different.
29 1/2 inches (65%)
46 cm head circumference (75%)
Favorite things to do:

• Check out any kind of animal and touch it as quickly as she can. She loves to grab our fire-bellied toads. The child has no fear for sure.
• Climb any stair, any where...period. Loves the stairs.
• Bath time with her brother. Could stay in the tub for hours.
• Find everything that she is not supposed to touch and go at it giggling.
• Slinging food while in her highchair.
• Drinking anybody's drink she can get her hands on.
• Playing basketball and dancing to the music.

Fun tricks:

• Giving kisses and then shaking her head incessantly and making you beg for more.
• Getting stuck under the bed, table, drawers, etc.
• Rolling her tongue like a hot dog.
• Purring like a cat.
• Speaking a combination of Chinese, Japanese, Swahili, and Russian all at once.
• Squealing at the top of her lungs when she doesn't get her way. So already over this trick!

She's not walking yet, but she loves to stand and hold onto everything, so I assume it won't be long. She's got 7 teeth and a little baby tan from our time at the beach recently. So glad she's not a "pale rider" as Adam says.

She rocks and we can't believe a whole year has passed! Happy Birthday, darlin'!