Goodbye Zero....Heeeelllllooooo One!

You must forgive us for not posting in OVER A MONTH (this, of course, is entirely out of character), but we have had one busy, fun-filled first month of 2010 culminating this weekend with NORAH'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!

To answer the obvious, yet usually rhetorical, question: No. We can't believe that this first year has already passed and that Ms. Norah is now 365 days old!!!!! It really does FLY BY.

Before we get in to the whirlwind fun that has been Norah's Birthday Weekend, let's re-cap some of her crowning achievements over the past year.

January 31st 2009: 6 lbs. 15 ozs. 20.24"

January 31st 2010: 22 lbs. 28"

January 31st 2009: Looks like Daddy. No motor skills, speech, on breast milk and no sleeping patterns. Visited one state (that of her birth, Ohio)

January 31st 2010: Looks EVEN more like Daddy. Working on fine motor skills and walking with assistance (even taking a few steps on her own), knows her name and is beginning to form words like "Da-Da, Ma-Ma" and knows "So Big" and "High-Five". Moving on to regular solid foods and cow's milk. Sleeping through the night. Visited: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, North Caroline, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia & Florida as well as Ohio.

My-Oh-My! What a year it has been.

Norah began her birthday weekend with The Godmamma, Cindy, coming into town. We had a low-key Friday night watching TV and supping on take-out Greek Food. Saturday morning was relatively relaxing. J made breakfast and Norah played and was loved on by Cindy and her brother, Angus. When Norah went down for her morning nap, Cindy and J moved in to high-gear running last minute errands for Norah's birthday party at Marion's Pizza here in town.

A quick note about The Godmamma: Cindy has been a more than wonderful help to D & J, as well as the best Godmother a child could ask for, over this past year. We love you, Cindy, and are forever grateful to have you in our lives! :-)

The party was a HUGE HIT. Over 40 of Norah's closest friends and family turned out to eat pizza, drink beer and soda & to help our girl usher in her first birthday. Chip, The Godfather, came in all the way from Chicago and Norah was just generally loved and hugged on the entire afternoon. We are truly touched that so many people love our little girl as much as we do.

The party was Winnie the Pooh themed, and Norah not only did a phenomenal job wearing her birthday hat almost the entire time, but she made great work out of her very own, Winnie the Pooh colored Smash Cake. She was somewhat hesitant to dig in to the sugary-vanillay cake at first, but it didn't take her long to make a total mess! Mommy needed a towel and water to wash her off!

Today, Norah's actual birthday, has been wonderful. We have opened presents and generally had a low-key day. We're topping the festivities off by having traditional Sunday Dinner at Grandma and Poppy's house.

365 days ago, a little girl came into our lives and completely changed the way we see, do and feel everything. She is a miracle and a blessing. We love her more than words can possibly describe.

Thanks to all of you for sharing in our incredible adventure.