Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

My little princess turned a year old! She just gets prettier every day.
Well, yesterday was Haylee's 1st Birthday. I was a little sad.....my baby's growing up too fast. But, I also thought it'd be super exciting. Kids are always so fun on Birthdays. I had her one year check-up scheduled in the morning. I should've rescheduled because I knew she'd get shots, but she's been so sick and her previous antibiotics didn't really help, so I wanted her looked at. The fits started the moment I tried combing her hair (just like every other morning). All I could manage was a clip that kept the wild mane out of her eyes (which she removed at least 10 times by lunch). Anyway, it turns out the antibiotics weren't strong enough for her ear infection, so now she has one in both ears and is on something stronger. She also has two molars poking through and the other two trying. Poor, miserable baby! Then I let them jab three shots into her chubby legs, which she was sure to let everyone know was totally unacceptable behavior. She managed to force out a real tear and everything, but mostly it was yelling. She's bossy.:) She yanked that hair clip out with fervor after the shots. Her way of letting me know I'd crossed the line, I suppose.

Her one year stats:

Height: 31" (96th percentile)

Weight: 19lbs. 15oz. (32nd percentile)

She's still tall, but is thinning out a lot. Doc says she'll be tall and lean. We'll see. She has a midget for a Mother.

She's changed so much lately. She's getting very verbal. She still refuses to say, "Mama," even though I know she can. She will say, "Dada," "Hunter," "Sugar" (which is our dog.....yeah, I'm not bitter or anything.....stupid pets), and "Uh oh." Mostly she growls and yells her disapproval at everyone and everything. She has an adorable, infectious laugh. She still loves to give Mommy hugs and chases me down to get them. She LOVES being outside. The boys are usually out playing in their sandbox when she wakes up from her nap. She absolutely HAS to sit in front of the window where she can see them while she eats her snack. Then, if I don't take her outside to see them, she yells at me. It would be easier if she would walk, but she won't and it's still pretty muddy outside, so I have to haul her around. She loves feeding herself and she'll eat anything. She loves baby food, but is not liking having to be fed. Her new favorite is french fries (of course). She has 10 teeth and is working on 2 more. She can stand in the middle of the floor, which makes her so excited that she giggles and falls. She still won't walk. For her Birthday we actually bought her this baby stroller that doubles as a walker. She wouldn't even touch it yesterday (you'll see why when you read the Birthday story), but I'm happy to report that today she was walking while pushing it all over the house with her new baby in it. Maybe soon she'll get it! She is an absolute delight to have around.....even with the abominable, dramatic, fit-throwing personality.:) She's such a cute, thoughtful, sweet baby. Can't get enough of her. We love you, Haylee!

Anyway, we blew up a bunch of pink balloons and she was thrilled to put it mildly. She was playing with them before dinner. Anyway, when we took her away from those balloons to eat dinner, the drama started. She didn't want to eat (which is ridiculous because she's ALWAYS eating). She didn't even want cake. She screamed until she got to get down with the balloons. And do you think we could get her to even touch her gifts? No. She only wanted that pink balloon.
Distracted from the balloons for a moment by the fire on her candle.....but still having a fit because Daddy wouldn't let her touch it.

I'm pretty sure she would've slapped me if she could reach me. Thank goodness for zoom. Do you see what a mean glare she has!? (It's genetic, by the way).

Well, it WAS good.....and I guess she'd eat it if she had no other option.

Enough is enough. She needs a balloon.

This is basically as close as she ever got to opening any of her presents. She did grab a bow at one point, but that was it.

Hunter took her balloon (per my instruction) in a feeble attempt to lure her back to her gifts. You're seeing the fit that resulted from this little quest. Why do I even attempt to manipulate my children? Especially Haylee? She's the most opinionated child on the face of the earth and I should know by now that I'm wasting my time. She absolutely yells and growls at everyone if she doesn't get her way. I've seldom seen crying and it's a rare occasion that I've witnessed actual tears.....but she can throw a tantrum with the best of them.

The boys opened all of her gifts, with no exception. When I bought this hat she loved it, but when I put it on her for a picture after it was opened.....another fit. I couldn't even get it on her head.

Happy with her balloon.

She also liked eating it more than her cupcake.

There's a smile. I guess that's what two balloons will get you.

Oh, look, a puzzle. I think she was wondering where this came from.....since she obviously didn't open it