Alena Turns One!

On the day of her birthday, she got a special present from Mama and Dada! She was pretty excited to have another toy, especially one that makes music when she pushes a button.

Our guests are waiting for the real action to begin.

After a quick nap and a diaper change, she makes her grand entrance!

Aubrey says hey. They love each other and are so cute together!

Opening some gifts with Mama and Dada.

Aubrey (and her parents) gave Alena this turtle. When turned on in the dark, it shines stars in real constellations on the ceiling! Aubrey has one of these in her room, too. She was a big help in opening some of Alena's gifts!

Auntie Angie made these two beautiful cakes!

Auntie Angie is showing Alena the cake that's just for her!

She really didn't like it when we started singing "Happy Birthday!"

After she demolished the top part of the cake!

Around the House

Are you going to tell me that I'm being "naughty" or that this "isn't for babies?" She just made her mama giggle instead. Mama says, if Dada leaves his stuff out all the time and the baby finds it, she can have it!

She loves to stare out the window and watch the traffic. Soon, she'll be able to watch more people walking by (hopefully with doggies), birds, and see the flowers she'll plant with Mama.

Aren't I cute?

Cruisin' around the living room! She can't get enough!

Stair Climber

As soon as we take the much needed baby gate down from the bottom of the stairs, Alena takes it as her cue to climb up the stairs immediately, and nearly as quickly as possible. It was only a few short weeks ago when she didn't climb stairs at all, but now she climbs up the whole staircase every time. I think that she only did partial crawls about 3 times before taking on the whole thing every time! She loves pushing doors open at every possible opportunity and especially playing with the springy door stops behind the doors. Quite frequently, we'll hear a "boing" as she's playing in the kitchen!

She's Multitalented!

I was trying to get a few videos that exhibit her newest and funnest skills. Some of these sweet talents include: Telling me what a monkey says, walking with her "walker," crawling, talking, cool stuff like that. She really cooperated with me... all on one video, too!! She really is always on the move. She tests her boundaries all the time, and, as mama and dada put it, excels at being cute.

Unloading Laundry

She Falls A Lot

So, Alena was standing, holding on to an end table, when she fell into her toy basket. She didn't hurt herself or anything, but she couldn't really get out on her own. When I saw her, I kept on hearing the toys in the basket make noise below her! It was so funny that I just had to get a video. Sorry that the video is so shaky, I was trying so hard not to laugh, but I really couldn't help it! Eventually, she got mad, started crying, and then I helped her out :)

Ravioli

This was Alena's lunch today (or what's left of it). She had some leftover ravioli. Some she whipped onto the ground... right side as always. Some was nicely shoved into her mush. and some was used to create "highchair art." She, herself, is part of the exhibit I am told.

This is the second day in a row that she's made some highchair art at lunchtime. Part of it is what I'm giving her to eat; part is Alena showing her artistic side; most of it is just so that she can get another bath! Of course, when I want the bath all clear and ready to go, I've been trying to clean the tub. So, I have to try my best to get all of the chemicals out of there before she takes a dip!! Really, my child is a dip!