Bee is for BLESSED ...: Happy First Birthday Zoe!!!!

It's hard to imagine that Zoe has been in our lives now for 365 days ... That's 525,600 minutes ... a couple of days before Zoe's birthday I started to get really nostalgic about how I felt in the days before January 14, 2011 ... I can still remember all the anxiety, the worry and the fears I had going into the c-section ... I still remembered how fervently I prayed before the blessed sacrament the night before the big day. I wanted so much for everything to work out perfectly -- for me to be ok from the dangerous c-section Dr. Leung had to perform and of course, for Zoe to be ok. Now, 365 days later, I have a beautiful, happy, healthy and amazing little girl to show for it. How good has God been to me and my family this year! It's so easy sometimes to take each day with Zoe for granted ... all it takes is to take a few steps back and to remember every single thing we've had to go through as a family in the months prior and after the birth for me to realize just how much God truly loves me. I still have to pinch myself how blessed Michael and I are to have her. Yes, I know it kind of sounds cheesy. But really, I don't care. All I know is that I really do feel extremely blessed and lucky and loved and special to be able to say I have a daughter like Zoe. She's such an amazing person already. I've learned so much this past year about myself ... about love ... about sacrifice ... about family. This little girl has been such a powerful teacher and I can't wait to see what the years ahead of us hold. This past year has definitely been the happiest and most fulfilling year of my life. I've felt more "wife-like" and "mom-like" and "woman-like". I've gained a tremendous amount of strength and stamina and joy and bliss. Yes there were times that tested my patience but those moments are so incredibly miniscule compared to the amount of fun and laughter and happiness I've felt every single day. One thing I did do every single day of these past 365 days is to thank the Lord for the day He's allowed me to have with my daughter. No matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I haven't failed to say, "Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to spend today with Zoe and for keeping her safe and healthy." Sometimes, I don't get any further than that one sentence because I'm lulled into sleep, but I do make it a point to at least give thanks for the day =). That's the one thing I know I haven't taken for granted this year -- the fact that I've been blessed with the opportunity to spend the first year with my baby (and more God willing). I am so grateful that I didn't have to go back to work after 3 months and had to take Zoe to a daycare. Again, just another reason why I feel so extremely blessed.

I think Michael and I have grown as a married couple this year as well. Sure we've had arguments here and there about Zoe or the usual small silly things but having Zoe as part of our family has made us both want to be better. Better to ourselves, better to each other, better to her. She's showed us just how awesome family life can truly be and she's made us so excited for the new traditions we can create as our family grows and grows. I know Mike and I still have a long long long way to go with raising children but I find solace in the fact that we have a great foundation and Christ at our core to keep us on the right path.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of Zoe ... we are so humbled by Your love for us and for her. Thank you for the guardian angels You've assigned to her that have done such an amazing job at keeping her safe and healthy this past year. I know it's not an easy task -- with her being so active and thinking she can do anything -- so we do appreciate the extra attention that's been given to her to ensure she stays her bubbly happy self =) . Please continue to be with me this upcoming year -- help me to stay patient and to be able to adjust and learn and grow accordingly so that I can be the best mommy to Zoe and the best wife to Michael.

And now ... here's a recap of Zoe's big day!!!

For her first birthday, we decided to go with a safari theme. We wanted to make sure there was something for both kids and adults so we ended up having two mini parties -- we called it a "choose your own safari adventure party". That way, those with or without kids could decide which mini-party they wanted to attend. I had the help of Tita Bot, Tito Charlie, Tito Ton, Jeric, Tasha, Jay and Mao for all the decorations and mom and Michael's parents provided the food.

Safari adventure #1 was at an indoor playground called Naya's Garden. It took place from 10 am - 12 pm and it was Zoe's first experience at an indoor playground. There was a great turnout at Safari Adventure #1 -- we had about 15 kids + parents. Zoe had a blast playing with all the kids, the toys and everything else the playground had to offer. Too bad we only had the place for 2 hours because I think none of the kids wanted to go home yet with all the fun they were having =). Since we were saving the big birthday cake for Safari Adventure #2, we had Zoe blow out a candle from a cupcake. And, since it was her birthday, we decided to let her have a taste of her first cupcake. Needless to say, she LOVED the cupcake and almost didn't want to stop eating it! She even kissed Mike on the cheek with frosting all over her face =). Too cute!

After an hour and a half nap, it was time for the next party! Safari adventure #2 was at Sunbeam Hotel (Jimenez Residence) and took place from 1 pm - 7pm-ish. There was actually a huge turnout at this party and I was thankful that my mom and parent-in-laws prepared enough food to feed an army. Zoe also had a blast -- she really loves big parties with lots of people =). She enjoyed playing with the kids and had no problem handling all the attention everyone was giving her (it was her big day, after all!). As a special surprise, Michael and I played a slideshow that featured pictures and videos of Zoe from the past year. It was a great way to remind people how much she had grown up and how quickly this first year went.

Once everything was cleaned up, Mike and I took Zoe to the blessed sacrament chapel at Holy Family church. My parents always made it a point to either go to mass or to visit a church on my birthday and I wanted to continue that tradition with Zoe. Praying before the blessed sacrament at the end of Zoe's birthday was truly a perfect way to end a perfect day. Happy First Birthday Zoe Grace!!! I love you so very much! Thank you for being such a precious blessing in my life!