Happy Thanksgiving

Last year we were in the hospital for Thanksgiving...our little Turkey was really a little turkey!

This year we went to the Heller household and enjoyed a yummy dinner with my family. Thanks Mom and Dad...everything was beautiful!

We didn't get pix of the fam, but we did take a few of Alivia we want to share!

"Where's Alivia's nose?" (this is her response)

Happy Happy!

We just want to say Happy Anniversary to Jack and Malea and a Happy Birthday to Malea! Hope they were both wonderful!

Watch Out World...Alivia's 1!

I'm ONE!!!!

Mommy made yummy cupcakes and my cake!!

Look how tiny I was last Thanksgiving!

Soooooooo Big!
I love you, Grandpa Jack and Grandma Jill!

We are blessed!

I love you, Nana and Grandpa Kent!

I was just so excited after my party I couldn't sleep! I had to stay up and play with all my new toys and introduce them to all my old toys!

Auntie Meem, I love to play in my tent!


I don't even know where to start...

Our little miracle is 1 year old now. Her birthday was November 21st!! We are just amazed at how quickly the year went by. She's learned so much;learned to roll over, learned to sit up on her own, smiled, laughed, crawled, talked and yes, walked!! She went from 9 lbs to 24.o lbs and 21.5 inches to 33 inches. Her little personality has shown itself...our funny little charmer! She makes funny faces like her Daddy and loves to cuddle. She dances by wiggling her bottom and shaking her arms and even claps to the beat sometimes! She's full of smiles and has "hi's" for everyone around her and can brighten anyone's bad day. She loves her babies, Heidi, Laney and Sophie and takes wonderful care of them by sharing her binky and giving them their bottles. She's a pro at climbing up the steps and, unfortunately has no fear of the edge of the bed. She loves to read her books and can tell you what a monkey says! She give sweet kisses and hugs you to show her love and has no problem at all filling Mommy and Daddy's heart with joy, pride and love.

The days have zoomed by, never to get them back BUT the memories fill our hearts and mind and will remain there forever. We feel so very blessed to have had such a wonderful year and look forward to all the upcoming years!!

We'd like to thank everyone who thought of Alivia on her big day. We had cards in the mail,emails and a few phone calls too! There was a wonderful turn out for her party and everyone was so generous! She loves all her gifts!! It really means so much to us to have each and everyone one of you in our lives and now, in Alivia's life. We're all so blessed!

Oh, and Staci! Thanks for the bag of hand-me-downs...they're wonderful!!! I'm so thankful!!

Anyway, we have a new journey beginning...her second year in our lives! We look forward to all the unknown, and hope that you all are just as much part of her life this year as you were last!

Thank you all, but above all, Thank you God! We're truly blessed.

Grandpa Jack's Bday Bash!

Grandpa Jack turned another year young on November 8 so the Heller's got together on the 9th for a birthday party. We also were able to take a family pic for Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas card. I think it's the first one of the entire family!

Everyone was there! It was so cute to see all the kids running around like crazy and Libby and Alivia playing together.

Happy Birthday Daddy! (With love from your "Kid")

A Milestone!!!!!!

Well, a big moment occurred in the Ball Household. Alivia took her first steps on Friday, November 7th (Happy Birthday Uncle Bobby). We are so proud of our baby girl!

It happened at the babysitter's. Becky has strict instructions that NO firsts happen there until they happen with Mommy and Daddy! :) When Craig and I went to pick her up (which it's rare that the two of us go together), Becky put her down right away. I didn't notice until later, but this isn't our normal mode of operation! Anyway, when she put her down, Alivia took 3 steps to me!!! YAY!

She's been practicing a little bit, but is still working on it! It's so cute; she gets so excited because she knows she's going to do something good. She starts screaming and shaking her hands and loses her balance! hahah! Let's hope she doesn't get her Mom's grace! I have been known to fall a couple times (right Grandma and Gramps!)

Here is our best video we've gotten so far.

Can I eat it?

Craig and Alivia had their first pumpkin carving experience today. Yes...today; a little late, but still worth it! She had so much fun! I guess the goop looked yummy because she kept wanting to put it in her mouth OR maybe she was just dreaming about her first piece of pumpkin pie and was trying to get a little pre-taste!

Maybe she does have a little of me in her...she seemed to like to get dirty! haha!

Halloween Party with the Hellers

On October 25th, we went to a Halloween party with the Heller family! Everyone looked so cute in their costumes! Alivia got to dance with Daddy, make a pumpkin, and even won a ghost beany baby!

Here are some pix from the event

Jack (Stan Musial), Lucy (Tootsie Roll), Molly (Annie), Libby (Butterfly), Alivia (Ladybug)

That's the end!

We've had all our first holidays now!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

This is our tired little Alivia getting ready to go to the babysitter. It was the only picture I could get with her pumpkin binky! :)

Alivia's first Halloween was fun! It's so neat to see all the little kids dressed up...and we saw alot. Although, not what we had intended to do, the mall ended up being just the right amount of time and activity.

Craig had to go in for a while and was supposed to take the candy for the store to pass out. Unfortunately, he forgot the candy by the door, so Livvy and I loaded up and went down to South County. We had Uncle Jack's ladybug wagon and had fun walking around the mall with all the other kids dressed up! She was the prettiest little ladybug! What fun!