Happy Birthday to Ruth Ann

Rise and shine little girl...it's your birthday!!



Ruth Ann woke up bright and early around 7am and I started thinking about what I was doing at this exact time one year ago today. At 7am last year I was eagerly waiting for some drugs because in just 3 1/2 short hours Ruth Ann would be making her arrival! All day long I kept thinking about this day last year and wished I had stayed home from work to share this day with Ruth Ann...it was a big day for both of us and I can barely believe it's been a whole year. Most of you who follow my blog & know me personally are already aware of how much I have struggled with Ruth Ann turning one. It's not that I don't want Ruth Ann to grow up...I know good times are to come and I can't wait to have lots and lots of fun with her in the future. What makes me sad is how fast time is going by and I just want it to slow down!! I often find myself living for the weekends and by doing so I'm starting to realize I'm wishing my life away...where's the fun in that? This last year has flown by and I don't want to see the others go by the same way.

So today we slowed down and enjoyed Ruth Ann's day. I got her dressed and ready to go to Grandma & Grandaddy's house. She had just finished crying because I wouldn't let her put everything from the changing table in her mouth...hence the lack of smile.



Then she decided to check out what Griff was up to...he recently turned one himself.



Then she spent the day with her grandparents and I spent the day wishing I was holding her. So I went to pick her up a little bit early and went home to get ready for her birthday dinner. Growing up my family did not eat out often, but on your birthday we went out to eat at the place of your choosing. I almost always picked El Chico's (Tex-Mex deliciousness!). This is a tradition I plan on continuing with Ruth Ann but since she can't tell us where she wants to go...I had to decide for her. Ruth Ann L-O-V-E-S chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-a, so to Chick-fil-a we went...and as expected she ate all 4 of her nuggets. I also brought her favorite fruit...diced pears. And in typical McCarty fashion...she cleaned her plate.



She also has started drinking from a straw, so she washed her dinner down with a little apple juice.



Then we went home to open presents. I gave Ruth Ann a Widgeon coat a few weeks ago that was suppose to be a b-day gift, but she needed it while we were in Alabama. Her gift from us is also her birthday party this weekend. But Grammy joined us for dinner and then followed us home to shower this baby girl with gifts.

Here she is showing off her first wheels...



And this tiger is HILARIOUS. My mom is always adding to Ruth Ann's tiger collection, but this is my favorite by far. This tiger rolls around and laughs...it's hystarical! In this picture he's laughing and Ruth Ann is trying to hold him in her lap...



My mom also got her a Little People nativity set...it's so cute. Ruth Ann thought the baby Jesus looked yummy...





We've been borrowing my friend Brantley's Baby Signing Time videos, but Grammy bought Ruth Ann her own set with audio cd's. She also got her a really cute Melissa & Doug puzzle.

After we opened gifts we had a little birthday cupcake. There are some extras for her to practice her cake eating technique before the party this weekend...cute she did pretty good on her first try!