Aloha!

Here is a video clip of Catie's first experience at the beach!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Here is a picture of a Catie when she was 364 days old (wearing the same dress that I wore when I was little).

.....and here is a picture of a 1 year old!!

Happy 1st Birthday Catie! I can't believe how old you are. We are so very blessed to have you as a daughter. You are smart, super funny, happy, beautiful and simply perfect!

Two Big Milestones

This was a big weekend for Catie O. She got her first haircut and also celebrated her first birthday with a BBQ in the park.

For the past week my mom has been up in Northern California Catie sitting during the day. Normally Colin's parents watch Catie Monday-Wednesday while I am at work, but they are currently in Tahoe for a much needed and VERY well deserved vacation. We can't wait to join them on Wednesday! It's been great to spend time with my mom and Catie has loved seeing her Nonnie. On Thursday my dad also made the trip up to celebrate Catie's first birthday.

Every girl needs a new do for their first big party and Catie is no exception. She was born with a lot of hair and never really lost all of it. As a result, it was getting pretty long and was growing at different lengths. I figured that it was time for her first trip to the salon.

As you can see her hair is getting pretty long.

On Friday morning my parents, Catie and I went to Locks and Lollipops for her first haircut and stopped and took this picture before we went in. On the car ride over my mom was telling that during my first haircut I held cookies in both of my hands and just screamed the whole time. I came prepared with cookies (which I knew Catie would love) but I wasn't sure how she would react. Catie sat in my lap, they placed a smock on her, I handed her a cookie, the hair dresser wet Catie's hair, and she began to cut. Guess what, in typical Catie fashion she just smiled, ate her cookie and never made a peep. She was perfect and her hair do turned out wonderful. She is adorable!

On Friday night we went to Jazz on the Bay in Sausalito and had some wine and apps while we listened to the music. I really only mention this so I can add the adorable picture of Catie.

On Saturday night Colin and I headed to Healdsburg a for wedding and my parents stayed with Catie for the night. Thank you! They were a huge help getting everything prepared for Catie's birthday party, especially since we were gone the day before. The wedding was at Geyser Peak Vineyard and was beautiful. We had a wonderful time and thank you Barbara and Tom for our hotel room. What a perfect anniversary gift! On Sunday morning we woke up at 6 am and headed back home to get ready for the birthday bbq.

We celebrated Catie's first birthday at Freeman Park in Mill Valley. It was a great party (cupcake themed and pink and green of course) and Catie was fantastic. She loved every minute of it and so did we. We had sliders and hotdogs (thanks for grilling dad), salad, chips and beverages (both for kids and adults). Catie loved her cake. She looked at me first as if to say "is this ok mom" and then dug right in. She loved the frosting and loved squshing it between her fingers. She was so funny and I will post pictures of her eating her cake later today.

It was wonderful to have family and friends (new and old) help Catie celebrate her big day. It meant so much to us that people came (especially the night after 3 different weddings). I really do believe the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is true. Each one of you mean so much to us and Catie is so lucky to have you in her life.

It is hard to believe that a year ago today, at 8:30 pm Colin and I had just finished eating dinner and watching the movie the Bucket List, when I thought that I peed my pants sneezing (if you are pregnant, were ever pregnant, or will ever be pregnant, you will understand that this isn't hard to believe towards to the end of your pregnancy). It turns out that my water broke 1 month early and Catie was ready to join us. As look back on the past year I can only say that I am so incredible blessed and I am so honored to be Catie's mom.

-PS...I will post pictures of her birthday party later tonight. They are on my camera at home.

-PPS, sorry that it has been so long since I have posted anything. We were in Hawaii for a couple of weeks and things have just been crazy. I will post all about Hawaii next week..after the birthday activities are done. I promise to start posting again!