A celebration of surviving the first year

My Ali Joy is 1 year old! (yes this blog is over a month late).

Ali's birthday was the 22nd of July - in the middle of the chaos of team season. That day I felt so emotional - overwhelmed with the fact that my baby is one - that we are leaving babyhood (probably for good) and that all of these firsts that we're having are lasts as well.

Ali's first year has been hard for me - she's been sick a lot, seeming to catch every sickness that came close to her and always having wheezing breathing, she also hasn't been the best sleeper so Tristan and I have felt like zombies most of this year.  But it's also been a challenge emotionally because for me going from one baby to 2 babies, we a huge difference. (yes technically from 2 to 3 kids but caring for a teenager is so different). Even with Maddy as a baby I could get up and go with her - taking her along to do filters, teaching English class with her on my hip, not worrying too much about nap times, etc. But with 2 babies, I have felt so at my max this year. I'm worthless installing filters with 2 babies! Teaching English class with them both at my feet has been exhausting and mostly a circus, etc. So reality of being a mom of 2 has been a hard year. ((yeah yeah - you mom's of 5 - props to you :) )). I've had to slow down, be ok with letting go of my freedom to leave my house and tag along to events, and except the reality of being a mom to little kids - which didn't hit with just Maddy. Because I don't feel safe out in town getting 2 babies in and out of car seats without getting robbed, I don't even like to do errands with them both - meaning I can't ever do errands because i"m always with the 2.

I say all that to say, I felt some strong emotions of accomplishments for Tristan and I as we completed that 1 year mark with our sweet Alessandra. It was a celebration of survival for me.

Ali is a sweet heart - at first we didn't think she'd be a cuddler, but now at 1 year she loves to lay her head on my shoulder, hold my hand, and when Tristan lays on the floor she has learned that he's fair game for full body attacks :).  She adores her older sister and brother. She's a dare devil and attempts to follow whatever Maddy is doing.

Nicknames :
 - Babyzilla - thanks to her awesome tower knocking skills or basically destroying anything that Maddy has built.
- Monita Bonita - (pretty little monkey) because she climbs anything! chairs, bars on windows, changing table, etc.
- Ali Joy-sandra - Maddy's combination of her names. :)

Ali LOVES her binky's - when she's without and we find one, she giggles and has a silly grin. Her happiest place is in my arms with a binky in each hand. She now loves shoes - always finding her shoes (now that she's walking) and signals for you to put them on her and then she leads you to your shoes, and then to the door. Ali loves music and dancing and communicates her wants well. She says Mama and Da da and motions for you to sing Itsy Bitsy Spider.

I could talk about my lovely youngest daughter all day but I'll stop now and save it for the baby book.

 The party started with a pinata - and she got her first piece of candy - a giant marshmellow - she was so enthralled with that she didn't want anything else ;)

 I made a giant, checkered pink cake that melted in the heat but still tasted yummy.

 Once she had a bite, she was pretty excited about the cake as well

 Sigel and Maddy preparing for the party by stuffing the pinata.

This picture was just taken a day ago - so grown up - walking, with jeans, and carrying around her sippy cup (yes it's upside down lol).