Happy Birthday, Dear Allie!

Well, it's official. We have a daughter whose age we now count in years. Allie's 1st birthday was today, February 12th, and we celebrated in true Eicholtz ladies' style by stretching it out over the entire weekend (and beyond, really, since the cupcakes are in the fridge, ready for Allie's daycare buddies tomorrow).There's a lot we could say about this past year, but her Daddy's Facebook post (who ever thought those words would go together, am I right?) sums it up: Best year of our life. Happy Birthday, Alliebelle.

First week, February 2011. And now...

Did someone say 'Birthday'...?

I thought so!!!

We started her birthday-party-morning with some early gifts from Grandmom and Grandpa...

Hats on inside, Grandpa...that's just silly!

Good to know there are still some things she needs to grow into. Thanks for the homemade bathrobe, Grandmom!

 What's a birthday celebration without tons of sugary goodness? We don't know...and probably will never find out :o).

Cupcakes for our cupcake.

'I want her to have a whole cake for herself.' (Direct quote from Daddy. Translation...'Mama, get baking.')

We scooped her up long enough for a family photo before there was more cake than dress on our girl.

Allie made sure to share her wisdom and knowledge gained over her lengthy 12 months with the newest of the group. We had some very special guests in attendance, three who are still counting in months (OK, one in weeks).

Allie's partner in fashion, Lakshmi, our newest next door neighbor.

Cousin Alice showing off her standing for the big event.

Sarah, showing off her peaceful sleeping skills (I tried to get Allie to take notes, she would have none of it).

And of course, what party is complete without a little something to rip into?

What? I could get used to this.

Our little bookworm getting some help from Lakshmi's big brother.

Strollin' with the homies.

She loves cupcakes...vanilla, chocolate, plastic. All are clap-worthy.

Workin' the room (molar drool and all).

You may have a headstart, but I race this track each day, my friend. I WILL catch you!

And, of course, there's the birthday cake...

I've been training 12 months for this...'bring it.'

Seriously...you're not gonna stop this?

Suit yourself.

You! Put this on the nightly menu, would ya?

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

And one last unbiased wardrobe contribution from Grammy. 

We wanted to take this post to say again how blessed we feel to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives and in the life of our daughter. We know she will never have a shortage of loving support from all sides and we are so very grateful.

February's Finest

It's here. The month that marks one year of Al! I've done my best to try to instill a healthy sense of awe and importance in our daughter when it comes to birthdays. We're gearing up at the Eicholtz house for the big 0-1. We took care of our monthly trip to the doctor's to grab a new script (see, I'm even down with the 'pharm-lingo'...I can hear Christopher cringing on that one when he reads it, but he's not here, so I'll leave it in) for the expected return of another set of ear infections. We may be talking tubes at her 1-year appointment in a week, we shall see. Until then, our little patient is doing great, so much so, that it almost feels like cheating to stay home with her when she gets that first ear infection fever and can't go in to daycare...almost. We had a great sick-day on Friday complete with a run to Party City, Starbucks, and Costco where Allie graciously offered her services as pro bono greeter to anyone willing to look her way...and even those who didn't. She's persistent, that one.

Someone's getting a little too cozy with her meds...yep, that's our girl sucking lovingly on the 'amox'-syringe.

The energy level is still pretty high, of course...

Just sitting calmly...quietly...I'm always serene...

 

EXCEPT WHEN I'M NOT!!!

WHO'S WITH ME?!?!

 Allie and her friends at daycare all have the same 'modified' sign for 'more' when they're eating in their high chairs. Al's 'more' has morphed into, 'I want.' Sometimes we're not really sure WHAT exactly she wants, but we're pretty sure she knows...often the safe guess is 'everything.'

'I want'...that...and....that...and...that...

Of course she's not the only one who 'wants.' (This may surprise you, but she never got to finish that graham...someone else did, though.)

That's fine. I'll just wash my dishes in your water bowl, good buddy. Payback, pup.

You may remember Allie's office snapshot from earlier.

Once again, confused about the dresscode, but ready to get down to business.

Well, the grind continues...

Right...double-that and throw in a retainer.

WHAT is so hard to understand? I know I said I wanted you to bake me that cake 'as fast as you can,' but I NEEDED it to be here yesterday!

Yikes...we may have created a monster.

All charged up!

The Eicholtz Family Blog Update Computer (that's it's full official name) has been out of commission since I burnt out the charger, but no fear! We're back and we have an obscene amount of pictures to make up for the lost January blog time. We started the Christmas wind-down with our friend, and frequent visitor, the double-ear infection. We were bummed that it put the brakes on our plans to visit the Montys in Princeton, but we spent some quality healing time together and after another round of antibiotics, we're in the clear...for now. Fortunately, our little patient bounces back quickly as evidenced below.

It's only been a few weeks, but I feel like it may be time for a full-blown Allie update. So much changes so quickly at this point, so here goes! This pre-year mark has been pretty cool to watch as Allie is 'getting' more and more. These days we have longer times of 'reading' books before biting them and she'll let you know which ones she wants you to read...and then stop reading...and then start again. She's deciding to let us know when she's really not hungry and Abby is reaping the rewards of her generosity. At daycare, I saw her offering her toys to a younger baby. Of course, that same week, I also saw Allie catch one of her friends playing with her shoe and make a beeline to her from across the room so she could grab it out of her hand. The look of shear determination and focus on her face was only a little scary. Her teachers showed me that she's using signs for 'more' and 'finished' when she eats and then just today I was pressing the paw of a dog that talks and flops its ears and when it stopped, she looked at me and made the sign for 'more.'  You bet I pressed it again!

We had our first official word when I went to pick her up and there was a little baby (important distinction since clearly Al's such a big girl) being picked up by her mom at the same time. The mom and I were holding the girls and talking and Allie pointed to her and said 'baby.' I did a double-take and tried not to tear-up (yes, apparently I'm that mom). We're pretty sure she's had 'Hi' in her wheelhouse for a bit, but this was by far the most deliberate and definite word yet. Since then, we've heard 'ball' and some definite 'Daddy's.' She's certainly got a lot to say these days, we're just not always sure what it is that she thinks she's saying.

But quite possibly one of my favorite new developments is that she is becoming quite the expert hugger. I'm talking happy walk with flopping arms into the lap, head on the chest, hugging. Can't beat it.

Double-ear infection? Not again...

Hey! That means I get more happy drugs...YEEEESSSS!

Nothing a little spending spree courtesy of Daddy's wallet can't help...I'm off!

And, on the menu tonight...HAM!

I'd like to thank my fans. That's right, you guys are the best!

You'd better hope you've got that thing on 'ACTION' setting, lady.

Capital 'T'

This is how we bathe these days. Standing room only.

Abs receiving one of Allie's newly perfected 'hugs.'

 I've been waiting until Allie was big enough to try on the sweater-set that my mom knit her before she was born. The time has come and I think it's best to show these pictures in sequence to get the full effect. Until next time, we'll be savoring our last weeks of counting our girl's age in months only...

We began with everything (everything and the camera lens cap, that is).

Still looking good.

Then goes the hat...

And, she's off.

And so are the hat and booties. (Nice even stitches, Grandmom!)

O.M.G. Who traded in my little girl for a 4 year old?!

Ready or not...

The tree is put away and the decorations are down, so to help keep the holiday cheer, we snuck in a few more friend sightings before deciding we should probably get back to work. Only one more week until our next day off...but who's counting? (Suz, that's who.)

We snagged a Monty/Unger visit while Brendan brought his mom in town from NJ for the break.

Brendan's showing off his studly hairline for the ladies (a.k.a. trying to get more than one baby to look at the camera is nearly impossible).

Brady brought his mom Gayle over for a bit of post-holiday cheer. Allie had just finished giving Brendan MULTIPLE kisses when she moved right on to grabbing a quick hand-hold from Brady...and speaking of hands, ours may be full in the teen years at this rate.

Brady's not quite sure what to do with such forward behavior from a little lady.

 Other than visits, we've enjoyed hanging out at home, taking walks with the wagon outside (the ones that end in frozen yogurt are my personal favorites) and watching as Allie gets into...well...just about everything. At home she's walking more or less full-time now, and right now it involves a lot of bow-legged cuteness and 'kabooms' when she gets tired or forgets to pick up her feet. It's awesome.
Oh, and speaking of being 'ready or not,' I've officially signed up for my first 'post-baby' half-marathon. I'll be running 13.1 miles on St. Patrick's Day in DC. Let's hope the road doesn't rise up to meet me TOO much, if you know what I mean.

That tongue can only mean one thing...complete...and utter...determination.

Busted.

Saturdays are best spent in PJs.

Clearly someone is a bit confused about the office dresscode.