Let the Birthday Celebrations Begin!!!!

♥ This is another photo intensive blog post! ♥

♥ Enjoy!! ♥

11.11

My little Sofia is a year old.. A whole year old.. My little baby, my little 8 pound 15 ounce, 20 inch long baby is one. year. old.

One. Year.


One


Year.  .  .  .

I'm ready to cry again!!!

She turned one on November 8th, at 8.12 pm, but her birthday celebrations began 6 days earlier!

We went to Orlando, to Disney for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party..
It was so much fun!! Nery and I had gone a few years ago.. both in costume, but this time was extra special! We got to take our Sofia, and all 3 of use were in costume!! We really had an amazing time.. We got to Magic Kingdom at 6ish and we got lots of great pictures and even took Sofie on one of the rides {Dumbo! I wanted to do more rides, but Nery kept my head on straight and told me Sofie wouldn't do well in a long line.. In hind sight, I have to agree.. Don't tell him!}

That night we got to see Donald, Mickey and Minnie, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Cinderella and Prince Charming, and Snow White and her Prince! Sofie isn't really scared of the characters, but since it was past her bed time she was a little shy.. No tears though, which was great!

We stayed for the fireworks {at 9.30} but about half way through the fireworks show she got uncontrollably cranky and started crying.. So we left.. She passed out as soon as she got into the car and slept through the entire night without waking up once! If that's not Disney Magic, I don't know what is!!!

My favorite place!!!

On the Monorail

Breathtaking!! 

This moment brought tears to my eyes!!

Fun Balloons!

AHHHHHmazing!!!

Drinking her milk on the Monorail back to the car!

-   -   -   -

11.13

I fell asleep trying to finish earlier.. 

Time to continue.. The day after Magic Kingdom we took her to Animal Kingdom! It was such a lovely day! The weather was beautiful and we met Rafiki, Pluto, Mickey and Minnie again!! She, once more behaved wonderfully well.. She enjoyed watching the African musicians, the animals we saw on the Safari and train ride! We tried to watch the Lion King show towards the end of the day, but she was a little cranky and didn't want to watch the show..  But that was ok, because we left the show early and there were no lines to see Mickey, Minnie and Pluto! Good job Sofia!

This was the weekend before the election..

Hope all my friends voted!!!

Always happy and smiling

Waiting for the tram with Daddy! ♥

On the Train! 

Stretching her legs

Can you tell that mommy is scared and Sofie, of course, isn't!

Oh hi piggy!

I see you mommy!

Looking at the animals on the Safari

Waiting for Mickey!!! ♥

When we got back to the room, Sofie had a little trouble getting to sleep.. Don't know why she stopped sleeping in places that aren't her room, but she did.. I had to sit next to her pack and play for about 20 minutes, in the dark, trying to keep her from crying and getting her to sleep.. She finally settled down and I was able to leave her side.. She woke up once in the middle of the night and I gave her a bottle.. She calmed down, but again I had to sit next to her.. Thankfully it wasn't as long as earlier in the night.. 

Sunday morning we went the Polynesian Resort to have breakfast at Ohana with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch! Thankfully, Sofia was well rested and she was interested in the characters and wanted to get closer to them.. She even gave Mickey and Stitch a kiss!!! 

Breakfast was delicious and so much fun!!! =) I was really sad to leave and already looking forward to taking Sofie back!!  

Hi Lilo!!

Besitos for Stitch

Love this!!!

Hi Mickey ♥

More besitos!!! 

-   -   -   -

11.15

Every time I try to start writing again, Sofie wakes up or I get distracted by something {mostly, Sofie!}

Case in point.. I just started writing and Sofie started crying.. It's 9.45 pm and she was asleep, but thankfully she just rolled over and didn't need anything from me!! I think she can hear me typing!

So, our trip to Orlando was a lot of fun and I can not wait to take her back to Disney!! I always have such a great time when I'm there and this time it was even better because I got to share it with my baby!! 

So, on her actual birthday we went to her Gymboree class and they played a special happy birthday game, where everyone says Happy Birthday to Sofia {or whoever is the birthday girl/boy}.. That day we finished buying the stuff to decorate for her birthday party on the following Saturday and tried to take it easy since we were getting all the family together for dinner and cake that night! 

Around 6ish, we went to my moms so Sofie could spend some time with my parents and with Nery's family. Nery's mom made some delicious arroz emblanacada and I ordered cake and cupcakes from Publix. My parents, my brother and his girl friend, along with Patty and her hubby Thomas where there as were Nery's mom and sister. Sofie's BFF Dawn tried to make an appearance, but she fell asleep in the car before they made it to the house, so her mommy Jackie came for a little bit to bring Sofia her first birthday present.  

Yummy

Opening her present from her BFF

With Titi Jackie

Opening Titi Nina's gift

Happy little Birthday Girl!!

Blowing out her first candle! 

Friday was a long loooooooong day for both of us.. Patty and I finished making all of the decorations for Saturday's party and abuela Cianci made a Costco run with me to buy all of the drinks and cups.. Sofie didn't get to nap and was a little cranky most of day.. We also bought her party shoes that day.. I planned her outfit, her accessories, my outfit and accessories, along with all the details for the party and completely missed her shoes. Thank goodness for Payless!! I found some really cute sandals for her to wear..

So Saturday morning I went bright and early {well, 10 am} to go get my hair done by my lovely friend Alessandra at Anthony G Salon {contact her for your hair needs!! She rocks!!}. After that did some last minute errands - buying Sofie's candles, picking the pastelitos for the party, and meeting up with another lovely friend, Paula, to pick up the banner she made for the party.  Paula is going to be opening up and Etsy shop soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that, or you can follow her crafting blog: More Than Favors by Paula.

All my little worker bees came to my mom's early to help set up for the party! Thank goodness for them! Patty, Lulu, Jill, Swapna, Monique, Norma, and of course my momma, papi and my brother! Everyone helped me get everything set up and looking perfect! I also need to say a huge thank you to Nery for doing all the things he did that I didn't see him doing.. He helped me more than I know! 

You know when you plan a party and you hope it comes out the way you planned? Well, everything turned out exactly how I planned.. It all looked just how I saw it in my head and I could not have been happier! I was happy dancing all afternoon!! 

So thanks to Pinterest for all the ideas I used, and a giagantic thank you to my family and friends for helping me execute those plans and helping me give Sofie the sweetest party!!! 

First we start with the decorations and the details!

This is the banner that Paula of More Than Favors made 

We made a photobook to have people sign for Sofia

Goodie bags for all the kiddos

Centerpieces! 

They came out exactly like I saw on Pinterest!!

PINTEREST WIN!!!! 

Hanging candies!

The Birthday Sweetheart!

Sofie did a mini-photo shoot with her Titi Patty

Love those yummy toes!

Nom nom nom

Still can't believe I have a One Year old!!! 

Love my girls!!

With her Nonno and Lala

Bouncing!!! 

YAAY IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!

So determined

Bouncing with momma 

I love this picture!

♥ ♥ ♥

Hi Daddy!! 

Yummy cupcakes made by Sofia's Titi Monique!!

Titi Jill signing the guest book

Thank you Titi Momo for making the yummy treats!!

She didn't want to wait to taste them!! 

Titi Swaps

All my little worker bees!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you titi Patty for the pictures!!

10 years of Friendship and counting!

Tia Lula ♥

Paula's little Peach, Jude!!! 

Love this!

♥ ♥ ♥

FOOD!

More details!

Munching on her croquetta!!

My only craving while I was pregnant, by the way!

Dawn, Sofia's BFF

Matty ♥

♥ Justin

I love them together!

Bri

Annie

My favorite new accessory!! 

My in-laws! 

So excited about all her presents!! 

Jocy and Jenny

Christopher and his daddy!!

Sofie's grown-up BFF, Maria!

Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday"!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFIA!!!!

Besitos to everyone who came to celebrate Sofie's special day!

It was such an amazing day! We had a little too much food {hello 14 pizzas!!} but besides that it was great! Sofie is a very lucky little girl to have so many people who love and care for her and she is only one!

There were way too many presents to open that day, and the birthday girl was a little cranky by the end of the night, so we opened the presents the next day at my parent's house.. We got to enjoy left over croquettas, pastelitos and cupcakes while Sofie opened her gifts.. Nery took a ton of pictures of her opening the gifts, so I'm only going to share a few of them {it was over 200}

I think Sofia had a happy birthday.. I know I enjoyed every minute of it!! Well, I enjoyed most of it.. It was a bittersweet day.. I spent most of her birthday on the verge of tears.. Every time I got a nice message, Facebook comment, or text saying Happy Birthday to my doll I would get choked up and sometimes even cry.. It is incredible to me how fast this past year has flown by! She is always going to be my baby, but she is looking more and more like a big girl! She doesn't want me to cradle her, she doesn't want me to feed her {she wants to feed herself!!!!} She wants to walk, almost run, and is just amazes me every day when she learns or does something new!!!! 

I love my baby girl and have enjoyed every minute of this past year.. Even the hard times.. She is such a blessing and I am so thankful every single day that she is a happy healthy little girl. Nery and I are truly blessed that Sofia is our daughter..

Very excited to see what is in store for is this coming year!!! 

You may only weigh a few pounds and you are small enough to fit in our arms, but the amount of joy and happiness you have brought in to our lives is larger than life itself. Happy First Birthday baby girl!! Mommy and Daddy love you more than words can express!! 

Hugs,