Sloan's first birthday 5.1.2014

Sloan's first birthday was so fun and relaxed!  I couldn't have imagined a more perfect day.  When we got up in the morning, we got her dressed and walked to Top Pot Doughnuts.  When we walked in, Sloan was so excited by the doughnut case, she just WALKED right over to it!  I was so glad that Eric and I were with her the first time she walked.  After gazing at the doughnuts, we decided on a pink sprinkle doughnut.  She continued to walk around the doughnut shop, doughnut in hand!  

When we got home, I rocked Sloan to sleep for her morning nap.  As soon as she was asleep I started crying those big, ugly mama tears.  I just couldn't believe my sweet little baby was already one years old!  Where did the time go?  How had a year come and gone so quickly?  But mostly, I just wasn't ready for her to be a toddler... I was pretty content with baby Sloan.  I have spent the entire last year wishing and hoping she would just stay little.  And then I have had moments of doubt where I wonder if I'm not being present enough because I'm always wishing for the past.  I would panic and think, "Oh my gosh, she's another month older... that means only ___ months until she's one!  Did I take enough photos of her last month?  Did I document enough in her baby book?  Will she ever do ___ again?"  It makes me so stressed when I think about how quickly she is growing and changing.  BUT anyways... back to Sloan's special day...

Unfortunately, Eric had to go to work after doughnuts... So, we picked up our favorite Seattle ladies, Lauren and Ruby.  We went to Madison Park and played on the beach all afternoon.  Sloan ate her first PB&J, played in the sand, and collected rocks.  She had a blast!  We all did :).  

After playing on the beach all afternoon, we came home and Sloan took a nap on her Dada.  Well actually, Eric went to rock her to sleep and fell asleep in the glider.  So Sloan got to nap with her Dada.  As soon as they woke, we walked across the street to one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, Elysian Fields.  All of the glass doors were rolled up, so we got to sit outside and enjoy our meal.  Sloan enjoyed a sundae while we sang her happy birthday.  It was truly a perfect day!

Happy Birthday Sloan Eloise!

Dear Sloan,

Happy first Birthday sweet girl!  Oh my goodness I cannot believe you are a ONE YEAR OLD!  Exactly one year ago at 1:54pm, the doctor put you on my chest and you reached out and grabbed my sides (our very first hug).  You didn’t cry, you just looked up at your Dada and held on to your Mama tight.  Sloan, becoming your Mama has changed me in the most profound way and fulfilled me beyond my wildest dreams.  Your Dada and I wished, hoped, dreamed, and prayed for you more than you’ll probably ever understand.  I’ll always love you too much and obsess over every little ounce of you; you are my miracle.  I have spent the entire last year longing for you to stay little.  I have been so emotional over the last few weeks as your first birthday loomed over me.  I’ve been crying randomly for weeks… while driving, brushing my teeth, and especially when I’m rocking you to sleep.  I am so so proud of the little lady you are becoming though; you are truly the happiest little Woo there ever was.  Sometimes I wonder if your face hurts from smiling so much.  You love being the center of attention and work hard to make your presence known… everywhere we go. 

You are such a silly Woo.  You often times have your bottom lip sucked in.  You LOVE loud noises… when I turn on the vacuum cleaner or blender, you scream at the top of your lungs, clap, and giggle.  You also love loud crowds of people, you act like they’ve all congregated there just to see you.  When people around you start laughing, you make this big fake laughing sound as if you’re saying, “Yeah I totally get what you’re saying!  Totally get it!”  Your toes are always curled.  Always.  You cross your legs when you eat.  And when you stand on your tippy toes it makes my heart almost explode.  You love to wear sunglasses; you’re actually quite fond of most accessories.  You love your baby doll Goldie and when you give her hugs you pat her back like I pat yours.  Since you were very little you have been a music lover.  Your favorite artist is Katy Perry and when “Roar” or “Dark Horse” comes on you go nuts!  When I tell you no, you very dramatically shake your head no at me.  When you want something you point at it and then start moving your fingers in the “come here!” motion.  You are absolutely obsessed with your doggies and they simply tolerate you (you have no idea though).  You love giving kisses-especially to your doggies and your BFF Ruby.  You are such a city baby and if we ever move you back to the suburbs you’ll probably demand we put a Starbucks in across the street.  We have wayyy too much fun and you’re my bestest friend ever. 

Sloan you really are my everything.  I love you more than I’ll ever be able to express.  The last year has been the very best year of my life and I have cherished every moment with you.  I have had the opportunity to stay home with you because your selfless Dada works harder than anyone I know.  You have the most incredible Dada ever and he loves us more than anything in the whole world.  I look forward to watching you grow and change, but hope that you’ll slow it down a bit.  Someday when you think you’re a grown up (but you’re not) and you go marching up the stairs screaming that you hate me, please read this letter and know that everything I will ever do is because I love you too much and I would go to the ends of the earth to protect you.  Happy Birthday my sweet Sloany Woo!!!

Love You Always,

Mama.

Easter!

For Easter, we had planned on going down to Portland and spending the weekend with family and friends.  Unfortunately Sloan got sick the week before so we decided it just wouldn't be fair to stick her in the car for three hours.  We were bummed not to be with loved ones, but ended up having the most wonderful family day.  

Sloan treated us to an Easter gift by sleeping in until almost 9:00 am!  WOO HOO :).  When she finally awoke, we brought her into the living room where the Easter bunny had left her basket of goodies!  She was thrilled!  I went wayyyyy overboard and bought her too much... I'm going to make an effort to do better next year.  Having a kid on the holidays is just too much fun though!!!

While Sloan and Eric played with her new things, I whipped up eggs benedict and mimosas!  After a great breakfast and Woo's morning nap, we headed to the zoo.  The weather was great and it wasn't crowded.  We had so much fun and Sloan is finally at an age where she is interested in the animals!

I always dreamed of having my own family, but I never ever imagined I could feel this content and happy.  

Take me out to the ballgame!

Eric and I took Sloan to her first major league baseball game at Safeco Field to watch the Seattle Mariners vs. the Los Angeles Angels.  Even though we are huge SF Giants fans, we have made an exception for the Mariners... because we live right next to the stadium and we plan on going to many games this spring and summer!

To say Sloan had fun would be the understatement of the year... she had a BLAST!  I'm pretty positive she thought that those thousands of people were there just to see her.  When the crowd cheered, she would scream with delight and clap her hands.  She distracted many fans and even climbed onto a strangers lap that was sitting next to us.  He had two grown daughters of his own so he ate her up!

The game started at 7pm and she made it until about the top of the seventh inning.  When she was getting sleepy, I put her in the front pack and she went right to sleep on me.  Pretty much a perfect evening!

Here are some photos!

Hello spring! Where's summer?

We had our first 70 degree day in Seattle and it's finally starting to feel like spring!  As excited as that makes me, I can't help but yearn for summer!  I love spending time with Woo outside.  Fresh air does a baby good!

Today we spent the day at Green Lake with friends.  We walked around the lake, played at the park, and lunched outdoors.  It was one of those days where I had to pinch myself... Am I really lucky enough to be able to stay home with my sweet girl and have this much fun?  Sloan and I shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun, it just seems too good to be true!

Exhausted after a long day!

Finishing up the day with dada on our rooftop deck.

Sleeping Beauty.

Sloan has been wanting to lay on the floor with me when she starts getting sleepy, which is pretty much the SWEETEST thing ever!  And I love every minute of it!  We lay there and she babbles at me for a bit while I rub her arm or back.  Eventually she closed her eyes and falls asleep.  When I know she's really asleep, I race to my camera and take like 500 pictures of her! Here are a few:

University of Washington: The Cherry Blossom Tress

A lot of our friends in Seattle have told us that we need to make a trip to the University of Washington to visit the cherry blossom trees.  Well we finally made a trip up there and the trees did not disappoint!  It was so beautiful and Sloan loved looking at all the pretty flowers.  Seeing the trees through her eyes was like seeing a cherry blossom tree for the first time.  She was so interested; studying the branches and flowers.  I love these little family outings.

ONE month until ONE!!!

Today my sweet Woo turned eleven months old.  Only one more month until ONE.  How on earth have eleven months slipped through my fingers?  It's just gone by too quickly!  I know every mother says that, but wow you really just don't get it until you have your own child.  The "baby" stage is this little blip of time and it's gone before you know it!  I wish there was a better way to warn new mothers, it really is shocking!

Here is my monthly letter to Woo:

Happy eleven months Sloan Eloise! ONE MONTH UNTIL ONE! Nothing in my life has ever felt so bittersweet. I am so proud of the little person you are becoming! You are very smart and friendly; watching you discover the world and learn how to maneuver your body is so exciting for Dada and I! But I can't help but miss your babyness and wish that I could hold a newborn Sloany just one more time. You should have warned me that you were going to grow SO fast! I would have stopped showering, cooking, cleaning, etc. and just sat holding and staring at you all day long! You are standing up on your own, but you haven't taken any steps yet. I wonder if you'll walk by your first birthday? No rush sweet girl! My heart melts every time you stand up on your tippy toes, but every time I try and snap a picture you put your heels down! You love music so we sing all day long. You are the only baby that lives in our building in the city and I'm pretty sure you think you're a celebrity. You smile and cheese it up when we see anyone in the hallway, elevator, or lobby. People eat it up and drool all over you; you love the attention! You are getting pretty good with baby sign language and you just figured out how to use it against us, signing "ALL DONE" every time we try and rock you to sleep! We have more fun than we should ever be allowed to have and I love you with my whole entire heart. Thank you for being mine. Love You Always, Mama.