Lena's Birthday Part 3

This is her specially-made monkey cupcake. I think she likes the chocolate.

Lena's Birthday Part 2

This was Lena's cake. There was no way I was going to let her make a mess of the monkey cake I SLAVED over.



I made this cake and it only took 3 hours. It came out awesome and was really tasty.
Maybe I'll go into business?



This is Lena's vintage pedal car that Mama and Dada gave her. It's inspired by the Model T.

She's a crazy monkey girl!

Mary sent a taggie-blankey. We unwrapped it, and she hugged it to herself. She loves it!

Lena's First Birthday Part 1

Our little Lena-Monkey turned 1!! I can't believe it. This past year has flown. It seems like yesterday that she was this tiny, sweet little bundle. Now she's running around, climbing the outside of the steps, growing teeth, and interacting with people. She's so curious and wants to do everything for herself.

Of course, we had a monkey-themed birthday party. We had a monkey cake, balloons, monkey-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches, decor and gifts. Mama, Dada and Lena even wore matching t-shirts of Lena in her monkey costume. (I really went crazy with this theme.)

The party started at 12pm, but Lena was still sleeping. When she woke up around 12:30, everyone was here. I dressed her up and brought her downstairs. When she saw how many people were here for her, she just stood in the middle of the living room floor for 10 minutes. She looked so surprised; I think she was amazed that all those people were here for her.

Thank you to everyone who came or sent gifts and cards! Lena got some really nice things- clothes, toys, and books.


Grandad and Grandma Carmon gave Lena a pink pony and a sock-monkey jack-in-the-box. After the party she kept bringing me the jack-in-the-box. I would spin the handle for her and when it popped open, she would jump. So, she would bring it to me and back up about 4 feet while I played it. It was so funny.


Grandma Mills got her a trampoline. This monkey is going to burn some energy!



Aunt Shannon knitted her a really cute hat, complete with a flower and ears.

Fun in a Box

Lena loves boxes, so Dada used it as a "sled". This went on for ten minutes. Such cheap fun- a diaper box and a belt.

Stairs!!!

Lena has decided to climb the stairs like a big girl. Last week, she couldn't even get one leg up on the next step. Well, my mom went upstairs the other day and left the gate open at the bottom. When she came back, Lena was on the 3rd step. Mama Mills ran down the steps, got behind Lena to spot her and watched as she climbed all the way up, walked through the gate at the top, and go into her room to pick out a book. Oh geez. Now it's part of the nightly routine.


"Here I go!"


"This is easy."



"Look at me!"

Over the gate rail...

"Piece of cake!"

Books and Dolls

Lena had some visitors recently. Grandma Ryan and Grandpa Ryan came down and brought gifts. Lena got a doll from her Great-Gramma Ryan. Lena named the doll Alba, after her.

Lena also LOVES her books. Board books are preferred, as they are less destructible. Sometimes, Seth and I will be busy and the house will be too quiet. First thought? What is Lena up to? Well, she's in the living room reading her books. She loves flipping through them and pointing at the pictures and words. She "reads" them out loud too. She says "yeah, yeah, yeah" then grunts a few times. It's pretty funny. When I read to her at night, she turns the pages for me.


We love finger-puppet books.

She's really excited to play with her new doll.

Halloween!!

Lena, yes Lena, decided she wanted to be a monkey for Halloween. She was the cutest monkey-girl ever!

Getting suited up...

"I'm a happy monkey!"

The tail was cute too.


Eli, a.k.a Scarecrow, came over to visit. They're holding hands.

Monkey got into the candy stash. She likes Smartees, of course.