Ashlee is ONE!!!

February 18, 20012

I cannot believe my baby girl is ONE! I can literally remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. The drive to the hospital, the labor, the stress of her being in distress, her laying on my chest all slimy and snuggling with her that night. Then I look at this picture and don't believe she was ever that small...Ashlee's actual birthday fell on a Saturday which was really nice. We had a small party of family and some friends with Pizza, salad and wings. All items Ashlee didn't really get to eat, but she is one and wont remember until she reads this....
Here is the little lady before she ate. (Looking at this picture I guess she is already looking a little sick...) She has chocolate milk in her cup and she LOVED it! Of course if I was going from formula to Chocolate milk I'd LOVE it too!

Ashlee did ok opening up presents... she would pull the tissue out and play with it. It drove the other kids crazy and she had a lot of help with her gifts!

Ashlee got a lot of clothes and a lot of toys too! She specially loved this little princess car thing. She has only fallen off once, but she sure can push that thing around.

I was at a loss for a cake design, so I just did some balloons. I also made Ashlee her very own little cake so she could have her own to dig into...

And she was not shy about it. She had a lot of encouragement, of course. Our other kids didn't destroy their cakes, but Ashlee showed them how to do it! I don't really know how much cake she actually ate, she mostly just destroyed it and played with it!

This is the face of a very happy girl!

That night as I rocked her in my arms I couldn't help but think of her being so tiny and not squirming around and pushing out of my arms. I had a small tear in the corner of my eye as I thought of how fast the past year had passed by. It seems almost unfair, I have enjoyed it so much... Ashlee has a personality on her that is completely unique. She started out as our timid little girl, such a calm and chill baby and has ended up as out little instigator. She laughs at ANYTHING and that makes more trouble in our house than we need. She is not a patient girl and screams when she wants attention. And to say she is loud would be an understatement. She goes to strangers and just stares, she laughs and loves to be laughed at. Ashlee is so ticklish we love to just tickle her legs, arms and back of her neck. She is by far our best cuddlier, which isn't saying much, but she will lay her head on our shoulder and pats our back when we hold her.

Ashlee has just started to wave, when she wants to. She can say Da, Da and Ma. Ashlee is a pretty aggressive little girl, sometimes she will grab and pull whatever is in her hands. Ashlee is a great crawler and has been pulling herself up on things for a while now. However she has not ventured into the walking arena yet. She can stand by herself when she feel like it, but most of the time she just relaxes her legs and falls to the ground. The girl doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do! JOY!!!

It has been a fantastic year with Ashlee in our lives. She brings a new dimension into the Nelson family that I never knew existed. How blessed we have all been to have this sweet spirit in our home. Ashlee you are such a joy and we love every minute with you in it!!!