Baby Shower

My amazing mother-in-law, Nancy, and a friend from church, Gaëlle, organized a baby shower for me the 1st of July.  It was really special, and I'm thankful to be surrounded by people who love me and care for our growing family.

I must admit that it was bitter-sweet... I so wished I could have invited my mom, my sister, my grandma, my sister-in-law, my cousins, my friends from the states.  People have often told me that once you establish your own family, it gets easier to be far from your own.  They couldn't be more wrong!  In my opinion, it gets harder.  I'm extremely thankful for technology, though.

Even though it was an effort to stop the pity party, I ended up having such a wonderful time!  I'm so thankful for these girls who went out of their way to make me feel loved and special.  A few of them are even in my same position, far from loved ones themselves.

Enjoy some of the fun and fancy details!

Gift table.

Snacks.

Cupcakes with little baby feet and rocking horses.

The girls who made it all happen: 

Gaëlle, Anne-Laure, Lydia, Nancy, Corinne, Anna, Caroline.

From another angle with me and baby belly (Gaëlle taking picture).

Craft time.

All the girls came with Bible verses to decorate for me and little buddy.  So cool!

Opening gifts.  2-second pop-up tent for future beach outings with the little guy.  Thanks Corinne and family!

"Mr. Sunshine" outfit from Gaëlle and Caroline.  These two had WAY too much fun buying lots of cute gifts.  Thanks girls!

Little PJs.

It fits!

A beautiful top from Anne-Laure for when I'm un-pregnant! =)

3 generations... Thanks Nancy for the great baby book!

Little hooded towel for baths.

"Little Sailor" outfit from Lydia.  Thank you!

New diaper bag from Papi.  Merci!

"It's a brand new day" outfit.  Such a good reminder that God's mercies are new every morning.  We get to start with a clean slate.

Baby Sleep Trainer book.  It's written by the gal we worked with to help coach us to get Daphné to sleep.  The only sleep book I would ever recommend a new parent, but I'm biased because I know the amazing affects of her method!

Daphné playing with Anna's little guy, Joshua.

Nancy, Lydia, me, Caroline, Gaëlle and Daphné.  

The last of the crew.

If any of you ladies are reading this, thank you again for giving me such a sweet baby shower.  It was a real blessing!

Love Linz

Cousins!

A couple Mondays ago (November 28th), Tonio and I got to take the cousins on an outing!

Back seat drivers.

Shopping cart for 2.

Tonton Tonio pushing the girls around Target.

Then we hit the park.  Isn't this so sweet of Tonio walking with our niece Rowyn?!!!

And here comes Daphné, pine cone in hand!

Swings!

Weeee!

The squirrel hunt.

"Là-bas!" (Over there!)

Grandma Kathy love.

Post-bath cuties opening up some slippers from Grandma and Grandpa.

Tonio and I are really thankful to have this time with family.  Seeing Daphné with her Grandpa, Grandma, cousin Rowyn, Auntie Chelsey and Uncle Brett is such a blessing.  Soon, she gets some time with Uncle Tanner and Auntie Sarah too!

Love Linz

Daphné's First Birthday!

Joyeux Anniversaire to our belle Daphné Christiane!

ONE YEAR-OLD 

9 Janvier, 2016

first picture of the birthday girl

thanks Aunt Kellee Lindauer for the beautiful dress

too cute

this dress comes from Janie and Jack - I'm a fan

   

cupcake from Emilie's Cookies in town

I want to start traditions for birthdays, so each year I'm going to buy a book and have everyone at her party sign it =)

Papi and Mamie

two tatas (Cricri and Elodie)

gifts

her face while we sang "Joyeux anniversaire!"

Facetiming with my parents for her first cupcake

we are all a big gaga

she's saying, "Oooooo."

she didn't really like how the frosting stuck to her hands =)

Uncle Seb helps break apart the cupcake

her biggest fans in Nice

thirsty girl

It was more fun for us to watch her that for her to actually eat the cake - she wasn't the biggest fan.

Now, presents on the other hand...

Big fan!

from auntie Lotta

Elodie, Tata Cricri, Tonton Robinou

Papi, Daddy, Uncle Seb

Trying on her Moomin onesie for size =)

thanks auntie Lotta for the tags... haha!

opening a Bible for kids - yay!

the whole group in our livingroom

a new book from Tata Cricri and Tonton Robinou

fun hat from auntie Lotta

cool old school fisher price phone from Rob and Cricri

she knows what to do

who you gonna call Daphné?

la galette des rois - Nancy got one of the fèves

I really like the bow on the back of this dress

cozy with Mamie and Tata Elodie

All the fun gifts - thank you everyone!!!

After all of us signed the book =)

Another tradition I want to start... taking a picture of her by this cute measuring stick from our friends Thomas and Maëva.  Next year, she'll be standing all by herself next to it!  She is currently about 72 cm (28.3 inches).

We love you Daphné!!!  You are a blessing given to us by God Himself.

Love Linz