Lilly Grace Turns 1!

On April 20th, we joyously celebrated Lilly Grace's 1st birthday.  Unfortunately, we were driving back from Atlanta that day, so around noon we stopped at McDonalds and ordered Lilly Grace her very own ice cream cone, and that girl ate the WHOLE thing.  She loves herself some ice cream.  We got home on Friday night, so we decided to officially celebrate her birthday on Sunday.  As I thought about her first birthday, I was filled with joy and sadness.  A year ago on her birthday, we had not even met her.  Though we claimed her as ours eight days later, it pangs my heart that we were separated for the first 8 days of her life.  However, we will forever be grateful for the nun who cared for her as her own for those 8 days.  What a blessing from God the Father, Lilly Grace is.  The Lord shut my womb after Ryan, Matt did not want any more children, and yet all along, He had this blessing awaiting us.  While we waited, it was excruciating, however, we would have waited years just to get her.  There is no other baby we would have wanted. . .this is our Lillian Grace Wells, born in our hearts before she was ever conceived.  Over the past year, she has filled our home with joy and laughter and delight.  Thank you Jesus for this precious, precious gift.

Though Madeline and Ryan both had this bear cake for their first birthdays, Matt and I had decided to do a big cupcake for Lilly Grace. . .UNTIL, Madeline begged us to do the bear cake.  Since she promised to help decorate it with icing, we agreed.  Lilly Grace's first birthday bear.

We gave the girl the entire head. . .

And she LOVED it. . .

Though after a while it seemed like she enjoyed smushing it more than eating it, but it was her birthday cake and she could do whatever she wanted with it.  You can imagine how much Bobo enjoyed hanging around her highchair!

My babies!