Big Moment in our house tonight. (drumrole)…Lainey opened her…. FIRST. BIRTHDAY. PRESENT. EVER. She’s never ever opened a birthday present in her entire life. Until tonight. (still dealing with it. I’ll come to grips). Our good friends Matt & Dede couldn’t wait any longer and thought it fitting seeing as today was Kentucky Derby day and their present was…. a beautiful rocking horse! BIG smiles from Lainey. Adores it. Smiles so big when she rides it that she gets that embarrassed/shy grin where her tongue comes out and she looks down ‘cuz she’s trying to hide the fact that she’s so happy and she knows everyone’s lookin’ at her. And the horse’s name? Eight Belles. In honor. (If I ever break two ankles, do what you can to save me…don’t be so hasty. I can live with it. Please don’t put me out. Seriously.)

Peek-a-boo!

Look at her mouth! It’s all gapey and surprise-y like, “FOR ME?? REALLY!?”
OH, I LOVE IT!!! I ALWAYS WANTED A HORSE!
Here comes the shy tongue-stick-out smile
Love when she looks at me like this…seeking my validation of her happiness…”this is special, right, Mom?”
Not to get all new mom cry-cry on you, but this picture SO makes me teary because she’s just SO happy and I’ll never forget watching her get on that horse and how happy it made her.
Oh, did I say happy? We pushed the ear to make the horse “neigh”…. Baby no likey.
But Baby likey paper!
There’s only one thing that brings more happiness than getting a new horse….watching your daughter get a new horse and knowing she’s happy. right here. right now. …enjoying the small things. ~k



So so fun! Love that you named it Eight Bells. And the cry face! I love that you are laughing while she is crying. Hilarious! Still can’t believe she opened her first birthday present, tho. How can she be growing up so fast, and she doesn’t even know me!! 🙁
i love that you put the birthday hat on her to open her fist present. Love her sad face, so pathetic. haha and your face – bust a gut laughter. she gets better with age!
I feel like I was there! I can’t wait to see everyone sing happy birthday to her! I’m tearing up just typing this!! I may have to leave the room!!!!!
LOVE the one of her looking at you like that!
Every girl should have a horse. Just sayin’. Love her face and yours, in every picture.
What a neat memory!!
love the pouty cry face. it’s so sweet and irresistible when babies and toddlers do the bottom lip pout face. too cute!
Aw, I felt so sorry for Eight Bells, I’m glad Lainey named her pony after her! She looks so cute on it 🙂