Pics in the Park

So, we had these pics done 3 weeks ago, but we've been so busy! Tomorrow starts my third week back to work and with that came...Remi's start of daycare, which we like to call "school" :) With that...came double pink eye, an ear infection and a bad cold all in her first two weeks of school! Oh my!! So, in her first two weeks, she actually only attended school 6 days. WOW! What a start! At first, Remi wasn't fond of daycare....which is expected, right? But, on Friday morning, she actually waved bye-bye to mommy, making me smile! Not only was it hard for Remi Roo, but Mommy & Daddy too! Of those 6 days, I haven't missed a single phone call at 11:30 to check on my sweet girl to make sure her day is going well...followed up by a report to her worrying daddy who checks with me throughout the day to see if I've talked with the daycare. Then there's the 5 p.m. text message asking if I'm on my way to get her! So sweet...that daddy of hers! :)

But, all in all...it's going as well as expected. I am SUPER happy to be back at work and even more thrilled that I was able to return to my old company, working with basically the same people as before. I'm very happy!!! It is rough though, coming home at night with little time to spend with Roo, but we're making it work and pretty soon it will seem like it's always been this way!

We're off to the beach in NC in 5 days to meet up with my family! We are sooo excited!! Remi is going to have so much fun...playing with her cousins and being snuggled by her aunts, uncles and grandparents!!!

Anywhoo.....the reason for this post...Remi's 1-year pics. We went to Rochester Park with a fantastic photographer, Cindy, who truly captured the personality of our Remi Roo! It was soooo much fun and Remi really enjoyed it. So...check it out...our baby's growing up!

Our little chart topper!

We visited the pediatrician for Remi's one year appt today and she continues to be at the top of all percentile charts for weight, height and head circumference. Here are the stats:

*24 lbs. 14.5 oz - 90th percentile
*31.75 inches tall - 93rd percentile
*19 inches head circumference - 99th percentile - Dr. Bart said she was going to have a big noodle! :)
*healthy...healthy...healthy
*hasta la vista formula! tonight we go to 100% cow's milk :) YEAH!!! goodbye $26/can 2x's a week Alimentum!!!! We've been looking forward to this day :)
*She's on the move...walking, that is! She's into EVERYTHING!!! Gone are the days of getting ready while she watches, sitting in the floor.
*She LOVES "folding" clothes with mommy. It's a lost cause actually. I've started giving her a basket of unfolded clothes as a diversion when I need to do something else :)
*Loves being outside and playing with her new toys!!
*Is officially a daycare baby...starting Monday, really.
*Her first "word" was doggy, and just this week said "nana" when referring to a banana.

Today is my last day as a Stay At Home Mom. It's bittersweet, actually. I return to work on Monday, and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be hard, but all good things must come to an end. It's been a great 13 months home with Remi! She went to her new daycare this week - Monday & Wednesday - and she seems to like it so far. We know it will be good for her. We look forward to seeing the changes ahead. Pray for us next week as we will be making a HUGE transition, but something we are all looking forward to! :)

Our Sweet Remi Caroline...One Year Already!!!

It's so hard to believe that our sweet Remi is already one year old. It seems like just yesterday we were sitting in the hospital awaiting her arrival! :) She's changed so much since that day!!!

We celebrated Remi's birthday the entire weekend with her party on Saturday and her actual birthday today. We initially planned for her party to be outdoors at the park, but thanks to the super unpredictable Michigan weather, we were forced to move to the Clawson Community Center at the last minute. With nearly 50 family and friends, we celebrated her birthday and Remi rolled all over that place in her walker...probably the best idea we had!!! :) When we put her birthday cake in front of her she didn't quite understand the purpose, so we helped her dig into it. She delicately ate the cake...like a little princess :)

Today, we started the day by filling her crib with the party balloons and she loved playing with them...just like she had never seen them before! :) Then a birthday breakfast...then church...then some birthday shopping...then a celebration dinner to wrap up the day! It was so busy this weekend that our sweet baby girl fell asleep halfway into her bottle.

What a wonderful year it's been!!! So much we've learned...yet so much more ahead.

In other news...
I've accepted a position with my former employer, Carlson Marketing, and will return to the working world on Monday, May 10. All good things must come to an end and I am so happy that God gave me this opportunity to be home with Remi for all her "firsts" and watch her grow into such a sweet little girl! So, please pray for our family as we transition over the next few weeks. It's going to be quite the transition. Probably harder on mommy than anyone else :(

Our 1 year checkup is Tuesday, so I'll update her stats then. Have a great week!

Here are some pics from the party, our weekend and our super special birthday girl!!!
WOW! She's not our "baby" anymore...she's our sweet little girl! :)