So, let's start with the end of January. That's when we had your first birthday party. We had to postpone it a week because of snow. I have a feeling that might become a pattern for you with a winter birthday. I'm sorry that along with being the 2nd child, your birthday is in a month when we have to worry about the weather ruining it for us. I promise to always try to make your birthdays perfect and special.
Here you are, in all of your 1 year old beautiful perfection.
How can any one baby be so beautiful and perfect? Your blue eyes melt my heart every time.
Your party theme was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Jessica made your cake and cupcakes. It was your first time eating cake, and well, I think you'll see in just a second that you approved of this sweet treat.
Here's what it looked like before you dug in. Buttercream. Sparkles. Pretty and delicious.
Family and friends came to celebrate with you, and once you warmed up to everyone, you had a fun time being the center of attention.
When all was said and done, you passed out in your Daddy's arms. He didn't seem to mind too much.
So, January ended on a happy note.
February was our coldest month, I think. We had several snow days, so we spent some time cooped up at home together. I'm not complaining! Someday maybe you'll realize how ridiculous Knoxville (and the south in general) is about snow. Maybe someday you'll get to visit Grampy in Nova Scotia when there are snowbanks up over your head. But for now, this is all it takes to keep us housebound.
We also celebrated Valentine's Day when your Daddy brings his girls a rose so you'll always remember that he loved you first and he loves you most.
In March of this year, you started attending your sister's soccer games.
We also celebrated Easter at the end of the month. This year, we participated in a couple of Easter Egg hunts- one at church and one at Bo and Lea's house. As well, the Easter Bunny filled your basked with some fun treats.
In April, the first thing we did was celebrate Nora's 5th birthday. She had a pony party so of course we went with a cowgirl theme. You were an adorable little cowgirl.
Mid-April, you started really walking! You had taken a few wobbly steps here and there in the weeks prior, but April 13 was the day you really let go and went for it. These are a couple of screen shots from a video I took. You can see Daddy spotting you from behind, and on the video, momma is cheering you on.
In May, your sister had a little sleepover at our house, and it looks like you had fun crashing the party.
We also celebrated Mother's Day. I'm sure something you will learn as you grow is that I miss my own mother very much. You were just 6 weeks old when she passed away suddenly, and I'm not sure if that will always cloud my feelings on Mother's Day or not. On this Mother's Day, she'd only been gone for a little over a year, so it was still very fresh and painful for me. The corsage I wear each Mother's Day is in memory of her. However, being your and Nora's mother is the best part of who I am. You can see here that you have several wonderful mother figures in your life, and even though it's hard for me, I'm glad we celebrate this occasion with Dede and Elisabeth and Lea (even though Lea isn't pictured here).
In May, we also remember your great-great Uncle Spott who died serving our country in World War II. Your Daddy was named for him (Bradley Spottswood Lyle), and so every year on Memorial Day, we go honor Uncle Spott by placing a flag at his grave.
We also look at and talk about who all of the other family members are who rest near Spott. One is his twin sister, Ann, who is one of your own namesakes, Matilda Ann.
In June, we celebrated Father's Day. Every year for your Daddy, I try to get a nice picture of you and your sister together, dressed in orange so he can put it in his "Daddy's Little Volunteers" frame that sits on his desk at work. It's not always easy to get both of you looking at smiling at the same time, but I didn't do too badly!
On one of the last days in June, something super exciting happened! Your Grampy and cousin came to visit from Nova Scotia! I'm not sure why you're not in this picture. My best guess is that you were taking a nap. But here they are! I was so excited for this visit, and you'll see many more pictures of them and you in just a minute when we talk about July.
So in July, we got to spend almost a full 2 weeks with Grampy and Adrian, who, as of now, you know as Tessa (I'll explain the 2 names later...) We did the 4th of July at Dede and Grandpa's pool, and then we spent a few days in a cabin in Gatlinburg. This was a few months before the devastating fires, which I'm sure you'll learn about as you get older.
Here you are at the 4th of July shindig.
You sure know how to make all the cutest faces.
Then Gatlinburg-- the cabin and an amusement park. Your sister rode a ton of rides, but you stuck with a cute little choo choo train.
We ended our visit with some time downtown in Market Square and World's Fair Park as well as some quiet time at home.
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It was hard saying goodbye to them. I knew I'd be seeing them again in a couple of short weeks for your Aunt Laura and Uncle Reg's wedding, but I didn't know (and still don't know) when you'll be seeing them again. Hopefully sometime in 2017.
Sometime in July, maybe right after Grampy left, I took these adorable bath pictures. I am sure you'd be ok with me leaving these out, but your personality is so beautiful that I just had to share. Look at you! Could you be any cuter??
At the end of July, after all the dust had settled on our big vacation, you, my sweet baby, turned 18 months old. A whole year and a half. Here you are posing sweetly (kind of) in your chair with some books and your dolly.
August was a big month in our house because it's when your sister started kindergarten! Her first day of kindergarten and your 18 months doctor appointment were on the same day. We didn't get any pics of you in the morning seeing your sister off to school (Tilly No-No), but we did get some of you and your sister out to dinner when we went out to celebrate. Nora chose Puleos, and you delighted in the sourness of a lemon.
On weekends in August, we tried to soak up every last minute of pool time that we could. Your Cole cousins from Texas came to visit (Caleb and Caden), and we also celebrated your cousin Naomi's 3rd birthday at a local park and splash pad.
In August, your Daddy and I also made an exciting announcement to our friends and family, but we didn't tell you and your sister for another couple of months...
Not surprisingly, I don't have too many pictures from September. It's our first full back-to-school month. I have a couple of cute pictures of you and your sister-- one of us picking her up from school and one of the 2 of you modeling super hero costumes from Aunt Laura. I said the costumes made my ordinary girls extraordinary, but Laura says you were always extraordinary. September was also a month when we watched your sister play tee-ball on Saturday mornings. You were a good little spectator.
Also, our Disney magic bands arrived, but we kept them hidden from you and sister, not that either of you would have known what they were for, but still!
October was THE month. The month we took you girls to Disney World in Orlando for the first time. Daddy and I have each been there a few times including for our honeymoon. We were so excited to take you girls, though I was a little bit hesitant about the long drive. You girls handled it like champs, though. We had so much fun meeting characters, riding rides, celebrating Halloween, and lounging by the pool. We stayed at the Pop Century resort. We visited the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. We did Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween, Chef Mickey, and so many fun shows. The only character you willingly went to was Sofia, but as you'll see from the pictures, there is no denying that we all had so much fun.
Other things we did to wrap up October included more tee-ball fun, pumpkin picking, Halloween (you were an adorable kitty!), and flu shots! #forjudeforeveryone
November wasn't quite as eventful as October, but we did have some fun. We started the month off at a birthday party for one of Nora's friends, and you showed once again that you are a lover of cake.
I found myself captivated by your dimple and your baby mullet. You'll see in December that I bit the bullet and got you your first haircut. That dimple is amazing, right? I hope you always smile that big.
Before we knew it, Thanksgiving was upon us, and I have to show you what your sweet sister said she was thankful for.
You and your sister love each other so much and are so lucky to have each other.
We spent Thanksgiving at Bo and Lea's, and we were all very excited that your Harris cousins, Sarah, Andy, and Callaway, came to visit from Rhode Island. Also, your Wroblewski cousins, Katy and Matt with their kiddos Matthew, Jack, and Adelle, came to visit from Oregon!
We ended November with a trip to the mall to see SANTA! You loved him from far away, but you weren't as keen on getting up close and personal.
December was obviously a month filled with decking the halls and Christmas cheer.
Early in the month, we chopped off your fabulous mullet in favor of a chic bob. Here are some before, during, and after pictures.
A few days after we got your hair cut, we went to Portrait Innovations to have Christmas pictures taken in your adorable matching dresses that I ordered from Etsy. I love looking for special dresses for you and your sister for special occasions.
We hosted Christmas Eve at our house for 2nd year in a row. Dede and Grandpa, Bo, Lea, Mary, and Sam, Bill, Josh, Hannah, and Paul, Patrick, Elisabeth, and Naomi, Rachel Hambright, as well as Jessica and Jason joined us for soup, sandwiches, and applesauce cake. You and Nora got your new Christmas PJs and books, and then we ended the night with putting out a special cookie and a glass of milk for Santa.
On Christmas morning, you and your sister were so excited to see the display of gifts that Santa left for you! You must have been very good girls.
You had a lot of fun opening presents. Or rather, sitting in your chair and having me present your gifts to you like the queen that you obviously are.
Later in the day, we went to Bo and Lea's to celebrate Christmas with the whole family all over again. You and your sister were spoiled with presents from your aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I didn't take any pictures, but Aunt Elisabeth was kind enough to send these to me. You in your adorable Christmas outfit and Dede and Grandpa sitting pretty. Elisabeth says that since Grandpa doesn't like to smile for pictures, she told Dede she had to smile big for both of them, so Grandpa tickled her. Don't let his grumpy face fool you. He's all mischief and love. You and your sister (and all of his children and grandchildren) are so special to him, and we never end a visit without him reminding you that, "Grandpa loves you!"
In the days following Christmas we did a whole lot of nothing. It was a true staycation, mostly. We did have to make a quick day trip to Nashville because I had an appointment with USCIS for fingerprints as part of my citizenship application. You and Nora were perfect little travelers and had a picnic in the back of the van with Daddy while you waited for me.
Other than that, we had lots of family togetherness snuggled in bed and watching the UT bowl game against Nebraska. (We won! Go Big Orange!)
On New Year's Eve, we usually try to go to a children's museum to ring in the new year at noon for the kids, but we were too late this year to get tickets. We still wanted to do something fun with you, so we took you to Chuck E Cheeses. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it, but you had SO much fun.
So, that's mostly it. 2016 in a nutshell. I'm sorry I failed at your 365 blog, but I think I've captured all of the highlights here, and I promise to be your personal papparazzi in 2017. I love you to the moon and back!
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