Happy 1st Birthday Isla Frances!!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!!!!!!! 

12 months old and the last time we will take a picture with this calendar blanket! Where did time go?!

Oh that smile... you get me every time!

Oh Isla, you have been the biggest blessing of 2020!! I always felt while I was pregnant with you that your spirit was strong and your purpose here was important. For some reason, I knew that you were being born in 2020 for a reason. I had no idea that a worldwide pandemic was about to plague our world. I had no clue that two months after I gave birth to you, we would be quarantined to our home and not allowed to go to work, or school, or do anything we thought was normal. I had never experienced so much control, and lack thereof. But YOU made it all better. Your constant presence in my life this year grounded me and left me with the knowledge of what is important. YOU and your siblings. I have dedicated my life this year to loving you and ushering you through your infanthood with lots of cuddles and possibly too many kisses ;). I can't help it!! Your cheeks are just so delicious! I've given you the nickname "Munchies" because I just want to munch on you daily! You are so fun during the day while you wander around the house wreaking havoc and getting into EVERYTHING! You LOVE to dance and you can't help yourself once that music turns on! You just have to move! It makes us all laugh hysterically and then we all start dancing with you! But my most favorite moments of all are at night while I rock you to sleep. It is the only time you and I get to bond in silence and it is so so precious. We play with each others hands, or I sing you songs, or sometimes we just gaze into each others eyes and smile at each other. I love you so much baby girl.... it makes my heart want to explode when I hold you! You love attention, but it also makes you very shy and you sweetly bury your face in my shoulder and then peek around to see if anyone is still looking at you :). I love that trait a lot too :). Your siblings are obsessed with you and you are the center of attention at all times. This makes it hard to homeschool the older kids but we somehow make it work! You are so smart and are trying so hard to talk! You are forming sentences but they aren't quite understandable yet. But sometimes I swear I know exactly what you just said! And when I respond to you, you start nodding your head and smiling!! Bath time is your favorite time and you love playing in the bath with your siblings :). Sometimes you bathe with Austin and other times you bathe with Evie. You love them both so much and they have a blast with you  while you all splash around and laugh loudly :). I hate cleaning up the water afterwards but LOVE seeing the sweet bond you all have. This quarantine has been a blessing in that way because it has allowed you three to really bond together as we have all the time in the world together! In truth, it is impossible to ever find time alone in this tiny house! So I worry about how lonely you will be if life ever goes back to normal and they go back to public school.... You have started walking but you only do it on your own terms and usually when we aren't ready for it. As soon as we get excited, you get embarrassed and immediately sit back down so I think that's why you prefer to practice on your own ;). But just two nights ago you started walking all the way down the hallway and have been taking long walks like that ever since!! YAY!!!! We were all so happy and excited for you! The next day, at the park, I finally got a video of it! :) 

Oh how I love your beautiful little cake-stained face!!

Your first Birthday party was a beautiful princess party! You and Evie were both Snow White and your cousin Gracie came over as Anna from Frozen :). Because of the pandemic, we can't go anywhere, so we bought a ball pit and a play place and set it up in our living room for you all to play in! Your Grandpa Nathan and Aunt Briana (Nana) and Uncle Thomas were also here and we all had a blast watching you kids play! Your smash cake was a funny experience because you didn't know what to do with it haha! You swiped your finger through the icing and then looked at us all confused. So we tried to have your siblings and your cousin show you how to take a bite out of your cake but you just looked even more bewildered haha! So then your Aunt Nana got the genius idea to take the top level of the cake off so you could see the actual cake part below the frosting and it worked like a charm! Before we knew it, you were covered in cake and trying to share with anyone around you :). Getting you cleaned up was quite the feat that took me and your Aunt Nana together to make it happen. Then you opened presents and it cracked us up because you loved the sound/feeling of the paper ripping more than you cared about the actual present inside. You were so meticulous about it! You had your Grandpa Nate laughing so hard :). We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, eating, and playing! It was a beautiful day to celebrate our beautiful girl! 

All the pretty princesses ready to party!

You loved your new wheels from Great Grandma Wiegel!

Meticulously opening your presents hehe!

Our successful playhouse!

Because of the pandemic, we couldn't have a lot of people over for the party. We have been limited to only 10 people per household by our State Governor :(. But we made it a party to remember with the people we did have and you got lots of phone calls and birthday cards from everyone else! You are very loved Isla!

Blowing out the candles on your first birthday cake! You didn't understand any of it and Austin ended up blowing it out for you ;).

I love this picture so much and that you and Austin are gazing into each others eyes :). You love him so much! And we all love YOU so much!

Trying to get Austin to try some of your cake-fingers hehe!

You just didn't understand what was going on....

Then you tried to see if Grandpa wanted some! :)

Your Mommy and Daddy love you so so much baby girl!!

Cousin Gracie showing you how it's done! haha!

Oh my goodness, your look of disgust when Nana tried to show you how to eat it! ha!

NOOOWWW you get it! You dug right in once the frosting top part was gone!

Yummy Yummy!!!

Trying for a second time to get Austin to lick your fingers hehehe!!

Oh that face!!! I could gobble you up! Cake face and all!!!

Now for the great clean up attempt haha!

Nana had to borrow a new shirt from me by the time we were done because you were so dirty! :) But it was all part of the experience!! Happy Birthday baby girl!

You are so loved Isla girl. Your name means "Queen of the Hebrides" and your middle name means "Noble and Free". You were named after my Great Grandmother who meant the world to me and I see so many beautiful characteristics of her in you :). I am also constantly seeing your noble side and why I felt prompted to name you the Queen. You have an important life ahead of you and I can see it in your eyes. You are an old soul who is just so happy to be alive and to be a part of it all. You make our home so happy and we all adore you. I am honored to be your Mama. Thank you for choosing our family and for making our year so beautiful. Happy Birthday my love :).