One amazing year with our Sutton

Wow, I really cant believe I am posting this, One.Year.Old. I cant get over it.

I know it is cliche to say, but man, a baby really changes your life! I feel like there is an endless list of situations, joys and struggles that no one ever told me about, that I could have never anticipated (and I am pretty good at anticipating things). Sutton is the absolute greatest joy we have ever known and again, cliche to say, but we can't even remember our lives without her.

1 week old

6 months old

1 Year old!

Sutton, you are one strong willed little peanut. We see a lot of "typical" first child traits coming out of you recently loud and clear (emphasis on the loud part ;)). But we also see a lot of traits beginning to come out of you that are similar to your daddy who is laid back and loving, and a whole lot of your very own personality that you will continue to develop over time. We are in love with your personality, we say that daily. Although proving to be a challenge, we are so thankful that you are so full of life and attitude :)

Baby girl, you are Beautiful! I know every parent thinks their child is perfect, smart and beautiful, and every child IS. However, we think you are an exception. You have been so lovely since the day you were born and we find ourselves overwhelmed at how cute you are sometimes. And boy do you know it!

You are clever, Little Miss. You never need to be told or shown something more than once and you pick it up. You're aware of all of your surroundings All.The.Time. Nothing gets by you. Although this makes for very busy days for Mama since you insist on seeing, feeling, and tasting everything that comes across your path, we are SO overjoyed at how much you just love your life. You are not what we would call laid back, you are very on-the-go all the time, but you are also such a good baby and easy to keep happy as long as you are exploring.

You are built like a Kooiker. You look just like your mama Miss Sutton, however, you are built like your daddy we are starting to see. No surprise to us that you continue to stay in the 100th percentile for height and weight. You have big, strong, solid legs and everyone is amazed at how heavy you really are (this has allowed mama to cut out her arm workouts because you are plenty ;)). You are wearing 2T clothes already and you are just tall and solid. You have long legs just like your mama, no surprise there either.

You love to eat. You have always been a good eater, Sutton. You will try just about anything, and you will continue to eat just about everything. This week we discovered the only thing you really don't like so far is birthday cake, strange I know. You love veggies, you would prefer veggies over fruit any day (that's my girl). And you are also a big meat eater, you especially love beef (that's daddy's girl).

You are a mover. You started to walk pretty well about three weeks ago. Although you still revert to crawling sometimes, you are bound and determined to walk as much as you can, and you want to do it by.your.self. We are living a whole new life now that you are mobile, and learning to watch you very closely.

Right now your favorite foods are Mac-n-cheese, peas, hot dogs, and broccoli. You say "dadda" 90% of the time, the other 10% you say things like "mama" "nana" "moo" "oink oink" "woof" and a few other animal noises. When you taste something you really like you always smile and say "mmmm". You love to sit out on the front porch and "moo" back at the cows and watch the trucks on the yard. This whole harvest season business with all the busy trucks is fine by you. You love life and you will hang out with just about anyone, but when you need comfort, or someone to yell at, its your Mama you look for. I would definitely say your favorite pass times right now are swinging and going down to say hello to all the cows. 

Cute cute onesie!

We celebrated your first birthday on September 7 with all of our family from around the area. We had your party at Nana and Papa's house because you think that is the most awesome and fun place to be. We decided that since Trucks and Tractors or Farm Animal themes were a little too boy-ish for your party, we would stick to a color theme. We decided on a purple ombre theme because Mama thinks purple is your color :) We are so blessed to have so much family around here who love you oh so very much and wanted to come celebrate your life with us. Although the heat index was in the upper 90s we all sucked it up and had an outdoor party making lots of yummy food over the fire (we did not sit around the fire). You also got to smash your first piece of birthday cake but you were none too impressed with that whole tradition. You did, however, Love all of the homemade cards your cousins all made you, full of stickers and bright colors. You also got to play in the little pool in just your diaper and watch the kids all run through the sprinkler. It was a good day for you.

Sutton's purple ombre candy bar for all the kids

We loved this cake

Of course you needed a massive purple tutu 

Nothing could have topped off the night like swimming!

Sutton and Brayson

Sutton and her cousins

Such a fun night!

Special cupcakes that Nana made

So many nice toys

Sutton's cake to smash

Swing from Grandma Beth

She loved the homemade cards from the kids

She was not too impressed

Today, on your actual birthday, so far, we have eaten all four of your favorite foods. You devoured a huge cookie we got from the bakery with a cow on it, we have visited the cows twice and I am sure we will again, we played at the park, took a nap. Tonight you are going to ride in the big truck and haul silage again I imagine, and we will go our for ice cream and have a few more presents. I would say you are having a good day!

Of course the cow cookie was for Sutton

I had to stop her half way through because she was inhaling it

September 2013

We love you Miss Sutton Button! More than words can express. We cannot wait for the years to come and hope the you will grow up to be a woman of God and love the Lord! 

Love, your Mama