Pretzels on the porch

We are pretending that the weather is actually warming up by spending more time outside.

I think we are kidding ourselves.

Life is more beautiful than I ever had planned on with this girl being a part of it.

Oh and she loves pretzels just as much as her daddy.

2014 is going to be a good year.

I can feel it.

Every day is the best of the year with this crazy little one. 

Recently I have seen this baby turn into a full blown emotional, crazy, girly, beautiful little toddler.

The pictures speak for themselves.

Keep in mind these were taken all within about 2 minutes.

Drama.

But we wouldn't have her any other way.

Norah 1 year video

Norah's Birthday

For Norah's birthday, we had so much fun doing all of her favorite things:

The morning started with balloon playing. 

Then she took a birthday bath. 

This girl would live in the bathtub if we would let her. 

 Then a little birthday cartoons in her favorite shirt, next to her favorite gal, Minnie.

Her favorite food for breakfast, RASPBERRIES!

A little toy store browsing.

And a birthday cup cake.

We guessed wrong on a carousel ride.

Probably the only thing in this world that she is scared of.

And then a birthday dinner with Papa, Gigi, Auston and Sage

Norah is the light of our lives. The reason I live. 

Her lively and exuberant spirit fills the hole in my life that I never knew existed until she got here. 

I often think to myself how I ever lived without her for so many years. I loved and missed her so much for 23 years and I didn't even know it. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl.

Norah's 1st Birthday Party!

Our little Norah turned one and I am still trying to process how it happened so fast.

Norah's birthday party was better than I could have ever planned, it was the people that we shared it with that made it a night to remember.

Every time someone new would come through the front door, she was genuinely SO happy to see them. It made my heart happy to see that all she needed was company to make her birthday the best day ever, 

and we were in the best company!

When everyone started singing happy birthday to her, she was so taken back that all eyes were on her. She just looked back and forth through the crowd in amazement and a little confused. I honestly think she loved that moment more than I could ever describe.

Norah is a party animal. She was going going going from the second it started till the last person left.

She actually cried each time someone would leave. She is a people person already.

And when the last person left, it took probably 30 seconds for her to completely crash.

Thank you everyone who made this little girl's day so special for her and us.

We love you Norzy.

Happy Birthday!