ONE YEARS OLD!

from a baby.....


to a big girl!


**CLICK HERE to see more BEAUTIFUL pictures that my sister, Tara, took to celebrate our one year old!** (once there, click "slideshow" for the best view)

It's hard to believe that our "baby" turned ONE last Sunday, January 4! It's amazing and humbling to look back at the past year and see the way we all have changed and grown. Thinking back to those 10 days in the hospital, so exhausted, running on adrenaline and praying for healing for our tiny babe who was hooked up to all those monitors and IV's and feeling anxious about what life was going to be like as new parents ....to now...having 'survived' the newborn phase and watching our "big girl" laugh and run to us, draping her arms around our necks, and giving us a big, open mouthed kiss. :) God is good!

It's difficult to put into words the kind of JOY and LIFE that Teagan Alise has brought us this past year. We are humbled and grateful that God has chosen us as her parents! We love her more than she will ever know!

We excitedly planned a 1st birthday party for Teagan last Sunday, inviting our parents and siblings to join in the festivities. Sadly, three days before the big party, she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, double ear infection and pink eye! Per the recommendation of the doctor, we ended up canceling the party and letting our lil' one have more time to heal and not expose her sickness to other people. Nonetheless, being the sentimental mother that I am, Tim and I enjoyed throwing our birthday girl our own lil' party...complete with the birthday sign on the fireplace mantle (an Oosting tradition), :) balloons, singing, and cupcakes! She was not so much a fan of eating her birthday cupcake. A little bit of frosting on her finger tip and on her mouth was enough for her! We gave Teagan a riding toy (the "Dora The Explorer's Fairytale Adventure Ride-On" to be exact!) which she loves. It plays a lot of different songs which she loves to dance to. It also has a storage area underneath the seat. This is ideal as one of her daily rituals is to take things in and out of drawers, baskets...anything that you can store stuff in. :) Despite the original party plans not working out, we ended up having a really fun and memorable day with just the three of us!


Our sick lil' one a few days before her birthday.












Daddy being goofy


Bailey, the party animal!






A birthday bath to end the day!