ONE

She turned one today. =( I know I've said it a million times before but I have to say it just once more...I can't believe it!! Seeing Aliyah grow up and experiencing the first 5 years of her life, I have to admit that birth to 1 is my most favorite age. They grow, learn, achieve many milestones, and change so much in the first year. It's just incredible. I'm sad that that stage has already been here and is now gone in Kinsley's life. However, I'm looking forward to the next year of her life, where she will learn to talk (a lot more), play with her sister (rather than just get in her stuff ;), and become much more independent.

We had an exciting day today. Brandon and I both took off work so we could enjoy our little girl's birthday. We went to the zoo, which ended up being a bad idea since apparently today was the hottest day of year so far. We stayed for about 2 hours and then decided to we had had enough of the heat. We did a little shopping on the way home. We got home, only to discover that Aliyah had lost the elephant that she got at the zoo today and we had lost one of Kinsley's shoes. We knew which store both things were at so Brandon called and sure enough, they had found the elephant but not the shoe. So Brandon left to make the hour drive back to the store to rescue Aliyah's new elephant and to hopefully return with Kinsley's missing shoe. 2 hours later and Daddy was back home with the elephant and shoe in hand. Thank goodness!! While Daddy was gone, Aliyah and I baked cupcakes for Kinsley's birthday - because it's just not a birthday without cake. We had cupcakes when Daddy got back and we let Kinsley smash hers, which led to bathtime followed by bed. She was one tired little one-year-old.

I've been wanting get a picture of Kinsley first thing in the morning when I go into her room. What better day to do it than on her birthday. I'm always greeted with the biggest, most adorable smile ever! It's the greatest way to wake up in the morning, knowing that I will recieve such a big smile. I love the smile behind the binky.

Love the expression I caught here. I'm going to make a book for her of all her facial expressions b/c I have a TON!

Aliyah wanted Kinsley to wear her party hat, but Kinsley didn't want to. It came off as fast as it went on.

After breakfast, we headed off to the zoo. We met a really cool bird.

Some rhinos...

fishies...

(notice the elbow dimple?)

and a baby elephant. I have a picture but it got lost in the upload and I'm too lazy to go find it. Maybe I'll post it later.

She got to lick the whisk since she was the birthday girl =) Big sister got the bowl though...she didn't get left out.

Another priceless expression =) Tell me this doesn't make you smile!

messy girl!

Waiting patiently for her cupcake...

YUM-YUM!!

It didn't take her long at all to destroy that cupcake. I guess you could say she had practice Sunday.

another crazy expression ;)

She was actually getting ready to cry in that one. She had had enough and she was ready for a bath and night-night. And now it's time for this momma to go night-night...it's almost midnight.