Happy Birthday to Me!

This is a picture of me from one year ago:

I was so little back then, I didn't even know what a blog was yet!  My mommy did all the blogging on my behalf.  So much has changed in a year!  This is a picture of me at my birthday party yesterday:

 What a party!  Everyone showed up to celebrate little old me on my first birthday!  I treated them to cupcakes, and they gave me lots of presents and hugs.  I scored lots of great new clothes, some fun toys and my very own play kitchen!  I love opening the fridge door and throwing all the tea cups around the room.  I'm such a lucky girl!  My mom even let me have my very own cake, all to myself.  I ate it very daintily, and only got a little on my face:

A big thank you to all my great friends and family for coming down to celebrate the big O-One!

Here We Go!

Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl!  I am such a lucky almost one-year-old to already be watching my team in the Super Bowl!  I plan on wearing the same outfit I wore for the two play-off games the Steelers won.  My mom made me take off the lucky outfit at bedtime during the Jets game, so it's her fault that the Steelers didn't play as well in the second half.  I promise not to change out of my lucky outfit at all during this next game!

In other news, can you believe I'm almost one?  Time flies when you're having fun!

Toga!

Well my friends, it's official.  I am a toddler.  I started walking on Thursday, and I just love the freedom!  Now, I just need to figure out how to open or get over that silly baby gate.  Anyway, in addition to my walking, I had a busy weekend. 

My dad and I drove to Windber, PA on Friday to meet some of my great-aunts and uncles.  I really enjoyed meeting everyone, even if we were there to say goodbye to Uncle Frank, who went to Heaven last week.  I was a good girl in the church, and everyone made a fuss over me.  Who wouldn't?

On Saturday, we all drove to Harrisburg to watch the Steelers beat the Ravens in an exciting game.  We were joined by my mom, my friend Jackson, and his parents.  Jackson and I were so excited about the game, we donned togas.  Look how cute I am!



My mom is already worried about my college experience.

Walk This Way

There aren't any pictures or videos of it yet, since my mom and dad are at work, but I just walked all by myself!  My grandma was folding laundry while I was playing, and I decided she needed some help, so I took 12 steps to get to her!  I was so proud of myself (rightly so), that I sat right down and started clapping.

I heard my grandma call my mom very excitedly to tell her all about my tremendous accomplishment.  My mom is just chomping at the bit to get home tonight and see me walk some more!

Tricks on Mom!

My mom spent a good while last night looking for one of my bottles.  She looked and looked, and just couldn't find it!

Hungry Hippo!

Boy was she surprised this evening when I pulled the missing bottle out of Hippo's mouth!  That hippo sure is a great hiding place for all my treasures!

Hi!

Hi Guys!  Hi!  It's me, Laura!  Hi!  My mom sort of took over the blog last week (with pictures of moi), but I'm back!  Hi!

"Hi" is my new favorite word.  I am saying it all the time.  I look at my friends, smile, wave and say "Hi!"  And since I'm far closer to being a southerner than a northerner (Hi Mason-Dixon line!), I really say "AAH!" in greeting.

I also say "Bah!" while waving goodbye.  Goodbyes are so difficult though, that I prefer to say "Bye" after my friends or I have departed.  I can also point to Riesling and say "dog," which sounds very similar to when I point to my dad and say "dad" (both come out sounding like DA!).  And when I'm very sad (which doesn't happen too often), I call out "Mum-mum" and hope that either my mom or my dad picks me up.

This weekend, I showed off my extensive vocabularly to my friends, Danny and Sarah, at a morning playgroup, and my BadFam aunts and uncles, who were in Baltimore for Aunt Maria's 22nd birthday.  We went out to dinner for Aunt Maria where we were joined by my other friend, Jackson (and his dad).  I really pulling an entire pitcher of beer onto my mom's lap.  She was soaked!  It was hilarious!  Luckily, I thought ahead and made sure that my Uncle Andy's girlfriend had an extra pair of pants in the car that my mom could borrow.  Everyone laughed at my funny joke!

"Bye" till next time, friends!

2010 Recap

2010 was a big year for our family, as we welcomed Laura Rose on January 29th.  Even in her very first photograph (top left), Laura is filled with a serious determination - and she hasn't changed a bit in the last eleven months!  Laura won't stop what she's doing till she gets what she wants.  She is a contemplative baby, but when she smiles I can't help but laugh!  Her whole face lights up as she crinkles her nose.  It's beyond adorable, though maddeningly difficult to capture on camera.

Beyond Laura, 2010 was a busy year.  I graduated from George Washington University with a masters degree in Museum Studies.  Nate charged ahead at New York Life, making Executive Council in a matter of months.  Riesling discovered the joys of sharing her toys.  And yet, none of these things are nearly as cute as Laura.  So please enjoy our 2010 year in review collage, starring Laura Rose.