Happy Birthday Charli!

I can't believe that Charli is going to be one year old tomorrow. Looking back at each month, I feel like I can remember each day that has passed. A part of me will always resent loosing so much of her infancy to her cancer, but a part of me will be thankful too. Because of her diagnosis we have treasured each moment together as a family, and "family" has been given a new definition. I know that we loved Charli before she became another NB kid, but nothing compares to your outlook on life once something like this happens. It is something I can't describe, no matter how hard I try.

When we all wake up tomorrow Charli will be starting a new chapter in her life, as a ONE YEAR OLD! I can only imagine all the wonderful things that life has in store for us in the coming year. Thank you for sharing in Charli's life thus far, what a journey it has been?!

Tomorrow is her big party, and I am so sadly-excited. We are going way over-the-top, and have no regrets about in. In our opinion, Charli has had entirely too many over-the-top BAD days, she deserves one over-the-top GOOD day - and that is what we hope to accomplish!!! I am sure I will post lots of pictures and stories about the party. I just don't want to stop writing right now, because I know my next post will be about my daughter's FIRST birthday party, where as the time gone?

before we had any idea who "Charli" was, and mommy was calling you "Cohen" the entire time!! So glad to have you here!

I will remember and treasure this EXACT moment forever, what a warm feeling to see your husband and daughter so peacefully

one month old, I was so excited this day - because it was the first day she acted like she enjoyed her swing! I remember timing each minute she stayed it, it was like 45 minutes (she napped!)

2 months...I loved this picture because it looks like a caption under her face "love bug", and she was, she loved to be held and loved!

3 months...she was the cutest pink panther you will EVER find! We took her to visit all her grandparents - and we enjoyed it. I wonder what she will be next year?!

4 months...this pink bunny from Aunt Jennifer was her snuggle buddy for so long, and the swing we borrowed from the McMeekin's - I wanted to make sure she had anything that would make her happy!

5 months...I LOVE this picture, she looks like such a big girl sitting with her gifts from Great Grandma & Grandpa Frauendorfer. We let her spend all morning in her PJ's, because it was Christmas!

6 months... I loved this outfit on her, so cute! This was after Colton's baptism.

7 months... ha ha...Charli used to LOVE to BAM-BAM on daddy's head! At this point Charli was acting sick, but we had NO idea.

8 months...ahhh, this was right after we found out about Charli's NB - that is about all I can remember about this day. That and this shirt used to belong to her cousin Ryen!

9 months...look at all that hair! I can't help but see pictures from here on out and relate them to her treatment, they make me sad and happy at the same time. She loved to discover the mirror!

10 months...the first time meeting a kitty! This was one of our fun/special weekend trips - it was right after her last treatment.

11 months! She is bigger than her stuffed animal from Aunt Kara and Uncle Randy from her first stay at Children's

(almost) 12 months...she loves my shoes, not sure why! She recently started putting them on her hands and driving them around the house! She is so grown up, I love her now more then ever - but I miss my baby!