bella's birthday

**update: somehow i got my timing mixed up... i broke my elbow the weekend before bella's actual birthday and then had surgery on the day of her birth**

our sweet bella bean turned one on february 26th... the following weekend, as many of you know, i broke my elbow (no, i wasn't doing anything super exciting or dangerous~ just going on a family bike ride w/ my 2 favorite people~ jason & bella : ) anyways, needless to say life has been a bit full and crazy and i have taken longer than planned to post... 

the party was wonderful... we had a fabulous time! one very special treat was marni's presence~ since marni had come to help us b/c of my arm she was able to be here for the party! initially we had thought she was going to miss it. 

marni, bella and i had lots of fun shopping for all the birthday decorations and goodie bags. we had a "castle style" bounce house, along with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, face painting compliments of marni, cupcakes and more. bella thoroughly enjoyed the bounce house and her "smash cake"... 

the sweet birthday girl
starting to taste the cake...
continuing to taste the cake...
on a year-long sugar high : )
LOVING the bounce house
bella & emerson
our precious girl
beautiful marni with bella

bella with her aunt jane
bella with her teenie & poppa

mommy & daddy with their birthday girl

baby d

on the afternoon of february 8th, bella was dedicated at buckhead church at their "baby d" as they call at... what a neat time! we so enjoyed it... we were surrounded by family & friends- teenie & poppa, staci, becky, larry & genece and shaune & ella. marni & pepere were there "in spirit & support."we are so thankful for our friends and family. we received a great message about the power parents have in their child's life and watched a slide show with pictures of each baby. lastly, we enjoyed some wonderful cupcakes and coffee. 

after the dedication, we came back to our home where we hung out while enjoying pizza and a 2-layered carrot cake i made with cream cheese icing. yum!

what a blessing to be united with my husband in raising our child for the Lord and His glory! can't wait to see the plans He has in store for her!

becky & me
teenie, me, bella, staci & poppa
mommy, bella & daddy
our precious girl

poppa & bella

the carrot cake all decorated with our baby girl's monogram

bitter sweet

jason, bella & i all headed to white plains, ny at the beginning of february. unfortunately, jason's uncle, jim jordan, passed away after a year-long battle with a brain tumor. we felt strongly about heading north to be with the family and attend the wake and funeral. even through the pain, it was a great celebration of his life and a reminder to everyone that our days are numbered. after being in ct for those events, we headed to long island to stay with jason's aunt lois & uncle joe. on friday, we took advantage of being away and so close to nyc... we headed there with aunt lois and cousin jennifer, along with her husband jim and their boys zachary & nicholas. we only had a day there so we hit some hot spots and are more than sure that we want to go back when david (my brother) is there attending nyu for law school! we saw the statue of liberty, the empire state building, ground zero, china town and more.

a view of the statue of liberty across the bay
jason & me~ freezing!! : )
me & my precious babe
completely worn out from all our travels

the whole group~ aunt lois, me, bella, jason, jennifer, jim, zachary & nicholas