Birthday Girl

Tahlia had such a beautiful birthday! We didn't get to have her party right away due to forces of nature, but we just took that as an excuse to celebrate for two weeks straight... On T's birthday, we woke up to a city covered in ice. Louisville had been hit with an incredible ice storm which resulted in the largest power outage in history. Many of our friends were without power, and we were Iced-In to the house.

So we didn't get to take Tahlia out for her grand adventure, which was going to be an outing to gymboree, or even have her party when it was originally scheduled. But we still had a great day. I made her first pancakes ever, and we gave her presents, including an adorable chair that is just her size. She loves to sit in it and read books.

Thankfully, we kept power. Our good friends Kevin and Ali were not so lucky, so while Ali was at the hospital with her mother, who was ill, Kevin brought their daughter Eden over to stay with us starting on Wednesday. And this is how Tollie got to have a sleepover party on her first birthday. It was terrific to watch the girls interacting around the house together. They were like sisters, constantly stealing toys from each other and giggling as they chased each other around the loop of our living room, foyer, and kitchen (although Tahlia needed to hold someone's hand while she ran).

Finally, this past weekend, we were able to throw her a birthday party. We had a Curious George theme, and had family and a few friends over to help us celebrate. She was just a wonder. She loved all her presents, and actually wanted to play/cuddle with them while we were opening them. I had kind of thought that she was going to do that kid thing were all she paid attention to was the wrapping paper, but she absolutely was into the presents too.

And then there was the CAKE. She started out slow, just kind of smooshing her hands in the whipped topping, but then she started tasting it and just destroyed the entire cake. I don't know how much of it wound up in her mouth, but she had a terrific time playing with it, and getting tastes.

Chris and I are so grateful for this past year with Tahlia, and we loved getting to celebrate what an amazing little person she's becoming! I can only imagine what this coming year will bring...

A New Cousin is on the Way!

Patti is in labor right this very minute, having been induced at the hospital this morning at 7am! Here they are heading out the door (photo courtesy of Mom & Dad).

I really can't wait to meet this baby girl and to congratulate Patti and James for bringing her into the world. I know she will be beautiful and perfect. Having her on the way reminds me so much of my own labor with Tahlia, and what it was like to meet her for the first time. It was such a beautiful, sleepless, hazy time and it seems impossible that all that happened almost a year ago. Here's a little flashback of my tiny bean just after she arrived.

It will be so hard today to focus on anything else. Hope my work will forgive me for being so distracted. Come on baby girl and get here! We want to meet you!

Holiday Ups and Downs

We've had quite an emotional holiday season this year, full of the happiest and saddest kinds of moments. Christmas was absolutely wonderful and everything I hoped for, while New Years Eve was scary and difficult as we dealt with Tahlia's first illness, which was a real doozy.

Mom and Dad arrived just before Christmas and saw Tahlia again for the first time since she was practically newborn. It was great watching them all bond again. Tahlia took to Mom pretty quickly (maybe because she remembered all the songs she used to sing when Mom was staying with us this Spring). But she was really cautious around Dad for the first week or so. Wherever he went, her eyes stayed on him, and she would approach him so sloooowly, to touch his moustache or pet his head, but if when he tried to hold her she'd startle as if to say "Woah, I haven't figured you out yet mister!"

I think this photo is a terrific example of their relationship at the beginning of the visit (check out the look she is giving Dad):

Then Christmas itself was really wonderful. On Christmas Eve, we all went over to the Gradys' house for a potluck dinner and presents. A great time was had by all. And Christmas morning was even better! Tahlia seemed to really enjoy opening up her presents. Here's the tree and the gifts before we tore into everything:

And here we are helping her open up her present from Grandpa and Grandma (or maybe Nana, we haven't decided on Mom's official title yet), then playing with a new toy.

Then Mom and Dad cooked us a beautiful Christmas dinner, complete with a turkey (a la Larry) and ALL the fixings (a la Jenny). We ate and ate and ate! Really, it was the perfect Christmas.

Then disaster struck! The day after Christmas I came down with a really nasty stomach virus, and a few days later Tahlia caught it too. She was unable to keep anything down, even pedialyte, and after a few days was dehydrated and hypoglycemic, so we took her to the ER for some IV fluids. This was the morning of New Year's Eve. It was just so traumatic to see her so sick and helpless, but the people at the hospital did a great job of getting her back on track.

As of right now (day 5) we are not totally out of the woods yet, but we're hopeful that a good night's sleep will have a good effect on her and that she will keep everything down today. Tahlia had never been sick before in her life, not even a little cold. So, we're a bit shellshocked right now. These last few days really reminded me of when she was newborn, holding her all day and night, counting wet diapers, keeping the house quiet for her. But it also feels like we've bonded with her even more than before, and it's made me appreciate her normal boundless energy.

She should be waking up soon, and we will see what this day brings. Hopefully she'll be feeling great and the virus will just be a memory soon.