Growing so fast

Ireland's birthday was a week and a half ago, on the 8th. I cannot believe my baby girl is one year old, and less of a baby every day. Her party was excellent, even though it did about bankrupt mommy, it was a great time. We had a bbq and bonfire at my house and lots of our friends and family came to celebrate. Her Aunt Britney and Uncle Ryan even drove up for a quick one night visit from Missouri so they could be there for her. She got so many presents it was ridiculous! And she had a great time ripping all the paper off, and she dug into her little cake. I'm still trying to get it out of all the cracks in her hi-chair. So a big huge thank you to all our friends and family and everyone who we love that was there for her big day. And yes her father did show up after much guilt tripping by his sister, me, and probably Heather too. For all it was worth he might as well have not been there, he sat on the couch for a couple hours, then sat out by the fire for a couple hours, didn't talk to me, didn't try to hold her or play with her. I wanted a picture of the three of us for her to have later and when I tried to give her to him to hold she threw the only screaming fit of the night, it was pretty much just sad. The whole situation with him usually just makes me very sad anymore. How it got so horribly wrong I don't know, but I don't really see it ever being fixed, which is so not fair to any of us, but life's not fair right. Anyway, my little boo is growing so fast and doing so many cute and funny and even naughty things. She's obsessed with the dog, who is not her biggest fan, she follows him around everywhere and grabs him and climbs on him. If you tell her to give him lovey she hugs him and cuddles him and it is so freaking cute. She takes steps, but no official walking yet. She hates having her diaper or clothes changed and besides me my dad is her favorite person in the world. She won't have anything to do with my mom after 9 at night because she knows Grandma's the one who puts her to bed. If mom even looks at her she makes a mean little face and runs away. Aunt Ashley got her a little leather chair for her birthday which she loves, if anyone else sits in it or puts their feet up on it she comes over and yells and pushes until you move out of her way. She climbs everything, stairs, the babygate, shelves, furniture, into the diswasher. If she can get a hold on it, she's there. She hates when I clip her fingernails and she bit the hell out of my arm the other day when I was trying to trim those little claws that will gouge your skin. She got mad when I was cleaning the kitchen and she was stuck in her high chair so she stuck her finger down her throat until she finally threw up. She's only ONE! I don't even know what to do about that, but she thought it was hilarious and was laughing forever, like ha-ha, screw you mom leaving me in here and not letting me climb in the dishwasher. I've done some research on it and I guess it's pretty common for kids to threaten their parents with this. But no matter what, we still have a great time, we play all day and we still love our baths and going bowling and anywhere with mommy. As for me, I'm still pretty much hating my job, but it's a good job that pays the bills (I have alot of bills, a year of raising a child by myself has put me in more debt than I ever thought possible) And hopefully work will get better, there's some big changes going on right now so we will see, and I do get more sleep getting off at midnight instead of two. October 28th is the big day for mediation with Chris and our lawyers, I'm sure that will not be emotionally traumatic at all. We shall see. I'll keep you guys posted. Gotta get ready for work now. Enjoy the pictures! Oh and exciting news, I'm going to be an aunt and Ireland will get a little cousin in may. My sister Ashley is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Nick. Yay little Asian baby! (Nick is Korean) I can't wait to have another baby in our family!