One!

Lucy turned one today!  Yesterday and today were very different from the way we had planned it, but today ended up being a sweet, low key day together as a family and a great way to celebrate Lucy, who has been such a joy to our family this year. A long story that I will keep short, but Chris and Austin did not board a bus headed west for 20+ hours yesterday, due to some issues with changing our visa that came up at the last minute (not ever exactly a surprise, but always seems to be complicated). So Chris spent all day yesterday and part of today doing paperwork, signing a teaching contract, scanning, riding the subway for 4 hours and other things.  In a way it is probably a blessing because today both he and Austin were sick with colds and not feeling well.  We also heard the bus got a flat tire and 31 hours later has still not arrived...yikes.

So, while all the boys in the family were sick with colds today, we just got to be together, Skype with family, have some special meals and enjoy a beautiful day at home.  We had not planned much for Lucy's big day today, since I expected Chris and Austin to be gone. We will have a small party after they get back (they will fly there tomorrow).

 She had her first pancake this morning for a special breakfast...I think it is fair to say she liked it.  She especially likes the blueberries in them.

 All day I was trying to get her to put up one finger to show she is one.  I think it was mostly an accident here but maybe not? She also figured out how to push the button that makes "The Wheels on the Bus" song play on the bus behind her...over and over and over. 

 Not sure what to title this pose...looks a bit gangsta rap to me.  She was really "dancing" to the Wheels on the Bus song.

 We ordered McDonalds for dinner and ended up eating outside, it was so nice tonight.  Chris, Austin and the Hunemullers played baseball before dinner and we just had to stay out when dinner arrived.  Yes, Lucy now can eat chicken nuggets and fries with the best of them.

 I had one small present for her today...these 2 textured rubber balls that are everywhere here.  They have some at the church nursery that she loves. 

 She had LOTS of help from her brothers in opening her present and playing with her present.

Lucy seems so old now and I definitely have sad moments about her growing up...but still enjoying her immensely.  When something is hot (or you tell her it is hot) she will blow on her food (and she has a pretty good blow...it took both boys years to blow correctly), when she hears the train outside she says "choo choo", when I sing to her and hold her while putting her to bed at night, she sometimes pats my shoulder while I am patting her back, she is crawling and cruising and almost standing without help but no signs of walking yet, she says about 7 or 8 words, will kiss, clap and wave goodbye on demand, laughs OFTEN and loves her brothers. If anyone around her laughs, she always laughs too.  She doesn't want to be left out of any fun.  She seems to understand so much of what I am saying now and usually cries if I leave the house or attempt to put her in the nursery.  She loves grapes, bananas, crackers, pizza and Chinese broccoli. She is NOT afraid of noises like both boys were as babies and toddlers.  I was nailing something in the wall this week and she laughed with each blow of the hammer.  She imitates the sound of the hand mixer, hair dryer etc.  When she wants something, she WANTS something and gets very upset if you tell her no.  She currently screams whenever my phone comes into view.  You can tell she is used to her brothers always giving her things. Last week in the church nursery (one of us has been in with her almost every week I think) she tried to take almost all the other kids' toys or food at some point.  Think we might have a stronger personality with this one!  But still mostly a very happy and cuddly girl.