Rubber Ducky...Everleigh is ONE!!

Everleigh's FIRST birthday party :)

When it came time to plan our baby bear's first birthday party, there were only a few "themes" that we thought were real contenders.  Nothing really stood out though like a good old fashioned RUBBER DUCKY party!! With Everleigh's love of bath time being so apparent, we didn't give it a second thought and ran with it.  Right on the heels of the purchase of our new house, we also thought it would be a perfect opportunity to kick it into high gear to get the house in somewhat decent shape for visitors.  Nothing like a looming deadline to get your "ducks in a row!".  Ha!  Cheese I know.. lol.. 

I did all the decorating & Chad of course handled most of the cooking and baking.  

My mom made the brownie lollipops and they both worked on the white chocolate Oreo pops.  

Think we can safely say that the rubber ducky spread turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!  

Tiny crunchy tacos with two types of chicken options.  

Meatballs, fruit, brownie pops, Oreo pops, muffin cupcakes, Carrot Cake and assorted chips and dips

Everleigh also loves her CHEERIOS!! :)

Don't mind my silly looking face..lol.. 

And of course, you can't have a 1st birthday party without Everleigh's very own SMASH CAKE!

Kiss the Cook Ducky!! (That would be Daddy of course ;) 

Kind of a slow start.  Not really sure what to do with this monstrosity!  

The moment everyone was done singing Happy Birthday... 

Everyone yelled YEAAAAAAAAAHHHH Everleigh!!!!

And her arms went UP!! Lol.. 

FINALLY starting to get into it... 

BUT like a lady.. kept it VERY clean :)  

Think she liked the feeling of the frosting on her hands.. She just kept rubbing it round and round..lol

Destroyed.  

But still not much of a mess I have to say!  

After a quick wardrobe change, she was back in action, showing her new friend Izzy her push cart.  :) 

Look Ma! No hands! :)

 HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!! MUAH!!  

Everleigh Isabella Kelley - 1 Year and Counting

So like a bad mom, I just realized (obviously WAAAY late!) that I never actually posted Everleigh's 1 year photo session because of Christmas presents, (photo book for the Grandparents of course) this past year. 

**Note:  I'll be posting this with a September 25th date because we actually took these photos ON her actual birthday, and I'd like this post to fall in chronological order with the rest of her posts.** 

Thanks to the lovely Miss Shannon Skloss for once again coming through with some pretty fantastic photos of our sweet Bear :)  We love them ALL!!  

To see Everleigh's past professional photo sessions (all taken by Shannon :) click on the links below.  

6 Months, Newborn, Behind the Scenes Newborn

365 Days of Everleigh - FIRST Birthday :)

Dear Sweet Baby Bear..

I can't believe you're one.  ONE!?!  I actually handled this day better than I thought I would.  In the days and even weeks leading up to now, I couldn't even look back at your old photos without getting sad about how quickly you were growing.  A giant knot would well up in my stomach as I feared I had missed something…or slept too much… or that I didn’t take enough of you in.  Growing and changing right before our very eyes, every day experiencing something new.  Not only you, but us as well.  Figuring out your quirks.  What you liked.  What you didn’t.  How you slept best.  It’s been a learning process for all of us.  A roller coaster of sorts.  But the good coaster kind.  The beginner ones.  The gentle ones that little kids go on first… the 4’ and under kind. ;)

You have honestly, truly been such an amazing baby.  I know I've said that before.. and I'm sure I sound like a broken record to some, but (and I know I can speak on behalf of your dad when I say this but) we've never felt luckier to have you.  You've taught us how to love unconditionally.  You've taught us patience....and pure joy.  You've taught us to live life for the moment...and to slow down and enjoy every second.  I know now how to focus.  To REALLY focus on the little things that mean the most.  And you mean the most to me.  You and your dad have been the most amazing blessings in my life.  Without him, I wouldn't have you.  And for that, I am thankful.  Extremely thankful for all the blessings in my life.  For all the family that support us.  And love us.  The friends that have watched you grow for the last year and the people in our lives who have been there for us every step of the way.  Thank you for being such an amazing baby.  I couldn't have imagined a better year for ALL of us!  

With Grandpa and Grandma Maldonado in town, and a small party planned for you this weekend... here are a few pictures we captured of your FIRST birthday photo session with our dear friend Shannon (who took your newborn and 6 month photos!) Her's will OBVIOUSLY be better...but here are the ones we captured while we all stood behind her trying to get your attention (with Iphones and cameras and even Logan with his DS!)