Hairspray, bobbypins and frosting!

My baby is ONE and my little seester is married!! It's been an amazing past couple of weeks. April holds the most incredible memories. I don't even know where to start...

BIRTHDAY PARTY!
I prayed for good weather and that her celebration would be a blessing to us and to others there. I believe it was. The weather was great, even though I brought kites, and there was no wind. Ha. Annabelle enjoyed a funfetti cupcake with rainbow chip frosting. A staple BIRTHDAY cake in the Schmidt house! We were blessed to be surrounded by people who love Annabelle, and have NANA there all the way from Minnesota!





The whole week of her birthday I couldnt help but bring myself back to what the first week of her life was like. For her and for us. It was hard. The day of her party, I stood up and HAD to thank people for coming. they have no idea what their presence at the celebration of her birth meant to me. OF COURSE, i shed a few tears as I said that at that same hour, a year ago, we were headed shortly behind an ambulance, which was transporting our new born daughter to another hospital. Hardest day of my life. This was also the BEST year of my life. I am in love with my sweet daughter and thankful to God for how she has changed our lives. I pray she touches many lives throughout her life. And I am thankful that God has CHOSEN Craig and I to raise this precious little life.
Shortly after we were able to bring Annabelle home last year, I wrote THIS post. It's been an amazing year.

Spending time with family these past weeks has been so awesome, too! I have GOT to show you one of my favorite pictures...My sister's great BF, Jesse. He tosses Annabelle a little bit, and she just loves it. She has a blast with him, and he wears her out! Wouldnt mind hiring him to come tag along with us to entertain her. ;)

I have a TON of pics to sort through, and there are too many for me to choose to share. One of my favorite moments was when my whole family was here to see Annabelle entertaining herself at bedtime. She just recently started pulling herself up in her crib. One night when they were ALL here for supper, she was SUPPOSED to be sleeping. BUT, was not happy that she was missing the party in the other room. Let's be honest, my family isnt quiet. I like that! ha! Anyway, so she brought the party to her and thought it was just so funny. I loved it.




Since there is just too much to catch up on, I'll just get right to the WEDDING!!! It was amazing. This wedding turned out better than I ever knew that it would or could have pictured. The Lord was in the smallest details and just really blessed the socks off of my sister and her new husband. I want to do the day all over again. Planning weddings are not always fun, as I recall with my own. But, it ended up just being such a GIFT to our family. It's neat to see God's hand orchestrate such a meaningful ceremony. Lisa looked so beautiful. The weather couldn't have been better. And my baby and husband couldn't have been cuter!! Here are just a few of the many pics...








That day is for sure one of my favorite days of life yet.

Today, Annabelle had her one year appointment. She is still measuring small. Just a peanut. Her health is great! Her heart sounds wonderful! And, she cried some sad sad cries after her shots. Breaks my heart. I hate that part. But, she is great. I couldn't be more thankful right now.
This might be silly, but after I rocked Annabelle to sleep after the doctor's appointment, I took a little video. Her little sleepy whimpers were so sad it was cute...listen


This post took me all day to write, and I KNOW I wanted to write more. I started it this morning, and never ever had a chance to come back to it until this evening. I am sure I missed something. It was just a really awesome, super duper busy couple weeks and I loved it! :)







"The Spirit of God that moved over the waters of the young earth, that moved over the womb of a young virgin, still moves today. Just as miraculously. And just as mysteriously. Our response, it seems to me, should be awe, not analysis; worship, not reasoning; joy not jury duty on the way GOD has chosen to work in the world He has created." -Ken Gire