Stella is ONE!

Last year, life was a little different on Christmas Day.

The year flew by.  Before I knew it, we are celebrating her first birthday.  I spent the better part of a day getting her cake ready.  With a little help from Nette, it came together.  We celebrated her birthday with all the people she loves most!

On December 26th, we prepared the cake, shopped, went for a run, and played!

 

Stella's cake that Annette fixed. My masterpiece:

Last photo as an 11 month old.

She is ONE!

 

Playing at the Museum of the Southwest

Granny, the Hoppers, and Nick and Nicole came to Midland for Stella's birthday! 

Nick and Stella share a birthday and Nicole's birthday is the 28th!

Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Our lives changed completely in 365 days.  In the past year, we have laughed more, cried more, prayed more, slept less, learned more, planned more, worried more,  and LOVED more than we ever have.   Stella, you are such a special girl.  Your personality is silly and you can light up a room.  That is obvious everywhere we go..from the grocery store to a friends' house! You can make a friend in seconds.  God is going to use you in great ways! We can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you.  

Merry Christmas!

We celebrated Christmas by attending Stonegate Fellowship during the day, then attending All Saints Anglican for their candlelight service.  

Eskimo Kisses...

  

 

That evening, we arrived home and enjoyed a horse drawn carriage ride through the neighborhood.  It was a blast!

Pictures.

Christmas morning, everyone slept late! The kids eventually woke up around 8.

 

Santa brought Stella a kitchen and Leap Frog shopping cart.

The Donahos got her this chair.

 

The Bittings got us all a membership to the Arboretum.  Nana and Papa got Stella a tricycle that converts into a stroller/pushable cruiser.  

Stella got this doll from my Aunt Tete.  It plays songs and Stella giggles along.

We played with our presents, relaxed, and ate breakfast.  Later, we went to Big Spring to eat some of Aunt Judy's awesome cooking.  We then came back to Midland for our traditional prime rib.

Spending time with the Hoppers

We packed up and went to Big Spring late in the evening on December 16th.  We stayed at Jacoby and Stephanie's house for a week.  Under the circumstances and broken hearts, we enjoyed staying with them.  Stella loves it there.  She plays and plays and was the comic relief.  We are so grateful for Jacoby, Stephanie, Jackson, and M'Kenna.  

We also found these old photos.  Guess who they are!

Jacoby

Jarrett

 We were able to attend Jackson's Christmas program at school.  Stella and I did the cotten eye joe.

Stella and her 2nd cousin, Sydney.  These two play so well together.