Birthday Party Fun!

Over the weekend we celebrated James' 1st birthday with Friends and Family. Since we call James "Buggy" and have since he was first born we decided on a Bug themed party. :) I had so much fun planning all the details for this party. I can see how easy it is to get carried away and go overboard. I'm glad we took pictures cause James will never remember any of it! :) Here were some of the details:

The Favors

The caterpillar cake

The yummy spread of food

A banner with each monthly picture

Sweet boy ready for his cake!

Where did my baby go?

Didn't quite know what to think

For the most part he liked his cake! Not thinking he's gonna be a big sweets guy though. 

Stella and TJ

Opening presents

By far one of his favs! Total boy...loves any kind of ball! 

So thankful for the day and getting to celebrate with great friends and family. Feel so lucky to have so many people in our lives that love us and love our sweet baby...toddler :(

12 Months

So we finally reached the BIG Milestone of turning 1! I look back at all the posts each month and it is so fun to see all the changes that each month brought. We have a toddler on our hands now! I look to this next year with GREAT anticipation! I know it'll be a blast!

Here's what James is up to this month:
- Crawling everywhere
- Stands on his own for longer periods of time
- Walks along furniture, walls, people...you name it if he can pull up on it or hold on to it he'll do it!
- He now knows who Mama and Dada are and is saying other words....ball, ba ba for bottle.
- He drinks whole milk now. This week we'll be moving from the bottle to the sippy cup full time!
- He loves trying new foods, our latest like...Chicken Orzo Salad. Yum!
- Loves to dance
- Waves bye bye
- Loves to play outside in his new car
- Is still taking two naps a day. Mama doesn't want that to ever end! :)
- Started a new music class. It's been good so far!
- Got a new tooth for his birthday. We are now up to 7 teeth!

It's been a great month! We are busy to say the least. Who needs to workout when you are chasing a toddler around! So fun!

Happy 1st Birthday Buggy!

I can remember a year ago today like it was yesterday. That's part of the reason that I can't believe it's already been a year. On September 8th I went into Labor at about 1:30pm. By 4pm we were checked in to the hospital and ready to have a baby! After hours of waiting, walking the halls, finally getting my epidural and more waiting....it was finally go time. At 3am I started pushing and two hours later at 5:14am on September 9th, Manuel James Rodrigues was born!

He was 7lbs. 2oz 19 3/4in! And absolutely perfect in every way!

As I look back on this year, I honestly cannot imagine what our lives looked like before this little blessing entered our world. I have learned so much about myself through this first year of being a Mom. Some good things and some bad. :) I feel overflowing with gratefulness to our sweet Heavenly Father. That he would allow Manny and me to parent James.



Now for James:

Buggy,

Happy 1st Birthday to our sweet boy. Your Daddy and I are so proud of you! You are such a big boy! We are so thankful for you. You bring so much joy to us both and to others around you. Since the day you were born, people would say that you had such kind eyes. You still do. You always smile and have such a sweet and kind way about you. I love that about you and hope that that never changes about you. Our ultimate prayer for you sweet boy is that one day you would come to know your true Father. That you would fall in love with Him like your Daddy and I have. That you would know as much as Daddy and I love you, HE loves you even MORE than that. We pray that you follow the paths He has laid out for you. And have a true desire to have Him in your heart and life. God has big plans for you Buggy and Daddy and I can't wait to see what they are. We love you deeply. You bring such delight to us!

We love you,
Mama and Dada

Happy

This almost 1 year old has a way of just making his Mama happy! Such a squish!