Happy 1st Golden Birthday to our Carrine Faith Celestine!

Happy 1st Golden Birthday to our beautiful baby girl
Carrine Faith Celestine!

She has been an absolute joy since the day she entered this world and Jake and I are so thankful for her.

I really can't believe Carrine's already a year old. Sometimes last March seems like yesterday, other times it feels like a lifetime ago.

All I know is that CC has single-handedly changed our outlook on life for the better and I can't even remember what life was like before her. 

We love you Carrine more than you can ever know.

"A little stroll down memory lane"

Carrine's 1st bath less than an hour after birth.

She had (and still has) such a beautiful head of hair!

Our first photo as a Family of 5!

I will never forget Andray and Roslyn meeting Carrine for the first time.

Andray was hoping for a boy (aka - Bruce the Moose) and Roz was holding out for a girl (aka - Skinny Jeans Dora!)

They both just hugged Carrine when they first saw her...and they approved of her "real" name.

Looking back, Jake and I didn't realize how scared we were during the entire pregnancy until Carrine was delivered safely. Jake and I looked at each other in the delivery room after she was born and with tears in our eyes we said in unison, "We did it! We're all okay!" What an unimaginable amount of relief.

Thanks to all those who prayed for us last year - all those prayers really did help!

11 Days Old

Andray and Roslyn loved Carrine from the first time they set eyes on her!

They both take ownership in protecting her and teaching her new things.

Andray's initial nicknames for Carrine:

Lil' Meatball

Lil' Strawberry

Lil' French Fry

Hardees

Roslyn's initial nicknames for Carrine:

Skinny Jeans (yes, the name stuck!)

Jake's initial nicknames for Carrine:

CC (this one will stick forever)

Lil' Tator Tot  (Roz loves this one too!)

My one and only nickname:

Rinny

Brand New

So tiny and perfect in every way.

She was a great baby from day #1. Ate good, burped good and was sleeping through the night by 6 weeks old. Very much appreciated!

11 Days Old

Little did we know at this time how Carrine's contagious smile and laid-back demeanor would change our family for the better. 

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

Her unique personality was starting to blossom.

4 Months

The MN summer humidity did wonders with her curly hair!

5 Months

By this time, every day we were saying, "Rinny, Rin, Rin, thanks for the Grin!"

6 Months

One of the happiest babies I've ever been around!

This 6-month photo will be special forever.

Same dress Roz wore for her 6-month photo (thanks Gma Carol for the keepsake!)

And the beautiful baptismal blanket my Gram crocheted for the girls.

What an heirloom!

7 Months

8 Months

Early on most thought Carrine looked like Andray.

There are definitely some photos that have a resemblance of Roslyn.

All in all - you are perfectly YOU Carrine!

9 Months

A Baby's 1st Christmas is always so special and memorable!

10 Months

So laid back that she's in no rush to be on the move.

(And we are secretly in no rush for her to be on the move either!)

11 Months

Love her bright blue eyes and bottom chompers!

Slowly but surely she's figuring out this crawling thing and is pulling herself up on things.

12 Months

IT'S FUN TO BE ONE!

Thank you for all the smiles, happy tears and and joy this year Carrine!

You are "one in a million!"

No matter what birthday we are celebrating...Happy Birthday to our Baby Girl!

Hard to believe we no longer have a baby in our house.

The infant stage is behind us...bring on the toddler stage!

Can't imagine our life without these three kiddos.

Thankful every day for our good health.

God is GOOD!

Our family is complete...we've conquered our fears and couldn't be happier!

What a year it's been!