9.12.2013

Happy Birthday Arden Grace!

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Serious cuteness.

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Happy birthday to our sweet baby!

Arden Grace is sweet and cheerful. She’s a easy going, good natured baby. She’s funny and most of the time loves to perform. She likes to flirt. She loves people and MUST be the center of attention. She is a little bit hot tempered and has a feisty side! Don’t take something away from her- she will bite!! Stratton can attest to this (on multiple accounts). She’s not usually fussy, but if she is unhappy, you will most certainly know about it! She can be mad one minute and smiling the next. She is busy, busy, busy. Curious and attentive and very alert to others around her and what they are doing. She’s very sociable, and just about every time we go out to eat she makes friends with at least one person sitting close to us. She’s either smiling at the kids beside us or waving to the lady across the room, she just has a way of engaging with others. We get stopped by so many people just so they can tell us how cute she is or they will just stop to ask us how old she is and make small talk.  She is an absolute joy (with the exception of when she’s teething) and is instantly loved by everyone she meets. Honestly, you just can’t help but fall in love her. There is just something special about her. (And those exact words have been said to me by so many people, I can’t even count how many!) It’s not uncommon for her to “reach out” and want to be held by someone she doesn’t even know! She’s done this so many times and it always surprises the other person! She did this just a few weeks ago at church in Hickory Ridge to Mr. Sherman Cullum, he couldn’t have been happier who knows when the last time he held a baby was!- I’m telling you she has a way with people! She will just melt your heart and make you happy just by being around her. We are beyond blessed that the Lord placed her sweet precious soul in our family! We have our hands full to be sure, but we couldn’t imagine our family without her!

You know when you name a baby, in today’s world, most generally it’s before they are born. And I always wonder if it will fit them. Well, Arden Grace is owning her name like a champ. In Greek Arden means “to lift up high”, and it's Latin origin meaning "burning with enthusiasm". I think it’s 100%  a perfect fit.

I still can’t believe she’s one. I feel like the past year has been a dream (or some days a nightmare!) but it’s just hard for me to grasp onto the fact that my BABY is a year old. I just want her to stay a baby forever. . .or ate least a little longer! But I don’t see that happening. All I can do is enjoy this moment, I know that in a blink of an eye we will be celebrating 2. . . .then 12. . .and I really can’t go thinking about anything further at this time without being completely moved to tears!!

Arden’s Smash Cake Pictures

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