clapping with each step.

Aimee, you are almost 15 months and have changed so much over the last several weeks.  You finally started taking steps and at the beginning would clap for yourself each step that you took.  It was darling!  You would inevitably fall back on your diaper-cushioned seat every step or two, but would instantly get back up and try again.  I was so impressed by your unphased determination.  This week you have gained a lot of coordination, are taking step after step without falling and are even starting to turn by pivoting.  It is delightful to watch.  We are so proud of you!  I imagine that we will have a similar sentiment as you try and persist and master other things in life.  Way to go, Aimee dear.  We love you so.

Aimee is 1!

Aimee, I think the inspiration for your party was finding this adorable headband ($3 at Cute as a Button) for an even more adorable baby girl to wear on her 1st birthday.  Especially since I call you my sweet muffin and sugar pie.  I thought cupcakes fit right in there with the sweets theme :0)  I also knew that I wanted to use similar colors (different shades of pink with gold) and elements (the fabric garland that had been on your bassinet, gold dots from the wall, picture frames, and paper flower garland) from your baby corner.  The rest just kind of came together. 

Mémé had sent cherry chip cake mix and frosting for Valentine's Day, but I set it aside to use for your party.

It was sad not being able to share your first birthday with family, so we thought of who we could invite from town.  I thought of several families and individuals who had been instrumental or involved in your first year somehow (The Cashes, Stacee Madsen, The Nowlands, Olivia Ross), but didn't want to invite a bunch of people over and be anxious and ovewhelmed instead of celebrating you.  So we decided on one cute Brazilian family, the Gregorians, from the ward who have always doted over you. 

We opened presents first.  90% of what you got was clothes (including 2 beautiful dresses from the Gregorians and from the Nowlands).  Dad & I bought you a few snacks and a fun music stand up toy from a garage sale, but the majority of what we got were outfits.  Boring yes, but I had so much fun shopping for CUTE little outfits for our sweet girl.  The whole family got in to the present opening, as you can see by the picture Kelly snapped :0)

 The only funny thing about having an extra family there was that you were bashful with all the extra attention.  You barely ate your cupcake (just the cherry off the top) and were shyly staring at the little crowd surrounding your highchair.  We did get a few great smiles, but had to coax them out of you...

...until Dad came and stole the show!  You lit right up as he was teasingly playing keep away with your spoon.  It was so sweet to see!  And there you have it, your 1st birthday celebration.

Aimee how are you already ONE?!  This last year has flown!  But we just have LOVED having you in our family.  If I were to sum up your sweet little self, I would include that you...

-are getting more and more mobile.  You've reached the ATB (All Terrain Baby) stage where you are all over the place.  You officially started crawling in the middle of April and have really taken off.  A few weeks ago you started going up the stairs and are getting pretty fast. I have to keep an eye on you though since you don't know how to get back down. You are started to pull yourself up next to things and it won't be long before you start taking your first steps.

-are eating mainly table foods now.  We will occasionally mix the remaining purées with dry cereal, but most often we are feeding you some sort of version of what we're eating: cereal, pears, peaches, bananas, bread, cheese, graham crackers, crackers, {frozen} peas, corn, beans, etc.

-have the SWEETEST smile!  I just love seeing you smile with your 4 little teeth (2 hippo teeth on the top and hamster teeth on the bottom) :0)

-are getting weaned sooner than I would like, but with a procedure coming up in a few weeks and then Dad and my trip in June, it's better that you're used to not nursing all the time.  However, I am still hanging on to our morning "breakfast in bed".  I love snuggling you close, nursing you, singing to you ("Good Morning" or "You Are My Sunshine") or reading to you from "Le Livre de Mormon".

-are finding your voice and are starting to get squawky and loud!  I guess you need a little bit of that being the 4th and having 2 older brothers.

-and I enjoy reading baby books each day.

-love taking a bath and splashing in the water!

-do the funniest thing when you are pooping.  You sprawl out on the floor in a tight line and become stiff as a board.  It's too funny.

-are always trying to grab my phone.  If you're holding it you start squeaking with excitement as if you're talking on it :0)

-babble a lot.  I love to hear the sounds that you make and am excited for when I can understand more of what you're trying to say.  The words that I can identify at this point are: Dada, Mama and Uh-oh.

-are still the celebrity sibling.  Your brothers and sister just LOVE to wake you up and see you when you wake up.  They are often helping you with toys, on the stairs, etc.

-usually sleep in Brie's room now.  You have a pack 'n play in there and still in our closet.  Depending on what's most convenient we pick where you nap and sleep during the night.  For the last month or so you've done a really great job sleeping through the night.  Hooray!!!

-are SO loved little one.  

Thanks for being in our family, sweet Aimee!

Alex is Awesome & Amazing AND 5!

Alex, I happened to buy some really cute space wrapping at the Dollar Tree this Spring and I think it's what inspired you to pick the space theme for your birthday.  It was SO fun looking on the internet for pictures of planets, piecing together Neptune for the pin the flames on the rocket game (all your idea, I just helped you bring it to life), reading LOTS and LOTS of space books, coming up with the dinner menu (rocketship hotdogs, peas, tater tots and lemonade) AND designing and making your AWESOME birthday cake together.  There were so many hours of mother-son time leading up to your birthday and I loved spending that time with you!  Happy 5th Birthday to our awesome & amazing Alex :0)

 

Dad & I went shopping for your birthday presents and decided to put most of them in your "rocket blasters" (made out of oatmeal containers :0)). We found $10 Sesame Street walkie talkies at Walmart (unfortunately they were--should have known--not stellar quality) and decided to use them to do a "Space Mission" to find help you find your biggest present, a hauler launcher toy, that was hiding in the guest room.  Dad was the control tower communicating with you via walkie talkie to guide you to your gift.  Fun times.  We did most of the celebrations on Saturday since your actual birthday was on Sunday.  Then on Sunday we sang to you, looked at pictures from when you were a baby, relit candles on your cake...and had more space cake :0)  P.S. Your favorite color has been green for a long time, but during the month of space exploration you fell in love with Neptune's blue and now love all things BLUE.

Alex how are you already 5 and getting ready to go to Kindergarten this Fall??  Before you grow any more I need to take a minute and write about your 5 year old self in a nut shell.  Alex you...
-are getting SO tall!  You are wearing size 5 and 6 pants because of your height, but thankfully most have the built in "belt" cinching system because your skinny self doesn't hold up the pants very well.
-have been going to preschool for the last 2 school years and have your last preschool class next Monday!
-are such a handsome (little) guy!  With your blond hair and beautiful eyes...still can't quite figure out what color they are, a mix between brown and hazel.  And you have such a handsome, handsome smile!
-have been going to Easter Seals for 1 1/2 years now and meet with Miss Veronica Touhill.  I honestly have been confused on how much of your negative behavior is sensory related, but I do feel like you've made progress.  When things don't go your way your tantrums can be epic with throwing, kicking, hitting and screaming, BUT we're trying to work with you so that you'll be better able to handle things while in school and in life!
-love to be big and frequently talk about when you're a grown up and have a truck :0)  I joke with you that I will miss you so much when you grow up so I better not let you eat any more fruits or vegetables.  You respond that you will stay here with us...so I guess I can let you grow up after all ;0)
-have learned your letters so well this year at preschool.  You sing your ABCs, can recognize them and write many of them.  I've also been working on teaching you finger spelling.
-love PBSkids on our ROKU, especially "Ready, Jet, Go!"
-love to ride your bike and since your birthday have learned how to ride without training wheels.  You're doing a great job!  With the weather being nice we're going on more bike ride/walks which is so much fun!
-are really great with your baby sister Aimee.  I love seeing how sweet you are with her!
-really enjoying reading books and it's one of my favorite things to do with you.  We often snuggle up on the couch in the family room and read book after book.

Aimee's first Spring Celebration.

This was Aimee's first Spring Celebration.  I hit up the post Easter clearance sales to get candy, then waited til a beautiful Spring day (18 April).  Aunt Em had sent a package with Easter paraphernalia and it happened to arrive that day, the timing was perfect.  She's the one that sent those adorable paper bunny ears.  We had BBQ Chicken Cobb Salads for dinner with strawberry lemonade then did an egg hunt.  Brie was the "winner" having gathered the most eggs and Lij contently opened his eggs and ate his candy as he went.  Afterwards you kids followed the bunny prints to your Easter baskets. The adorable bunny stuffed animal was from Mémé.  It was a FUN evening spent together.

The Easter Egg Hunting Crew.

I loved this CUTE bright vinyl tablecloth that I found at Target on clearance. The adorable bunny napkins are from Aunt Em.

1st & Last of 1st Grade.

Wow, can't believe we are going to have a 2nd grader!  And look how much you've grown up this last year, Brie.  Way to work hard in Mrs. Goelitz's class.  We are proud of you!

According to Motorla, 15 (March).

Alex, you were so proud of putting these puzzles together by yourself :0)

Putting together singing time for "Stand for the Right"

 Having the Talbert boys over while Lenay was living it up in the UK :0)

Aimee and Jack, getting so big.

Dad headed off to campus, sporting his newly decorated-by Brie "ugly tie"

 After taking down Valentines decorations.  It looks SO bare.

 Getting ready to send Em her March package.

Brie I hope you will forever love {stuffed} animals as much as you do now!

Lij's 3 yr old checkup.

Lij sitting on the awesome trike that Bompa & Mémé, Dad & I bought you for your birthday.

Good thing, "I'm snow cute" when it's snowing in March!

Alex napping on the couch

Shopping with Yuling, for the first time in YEARS, at Pier 1 Imports.  Their Spring displays were SO stinking cute!

If this bunny hadn't been so pricey I would have bought it in honor of my awesome accounting hubby.

I keep finding these messages, it must be true ;0)

Another reason we love Meatheads...

 After an singing time activity in primary

Bring on Spring!

The little clay elephant that Dad & I made for Aimee

This little cutie is starting to crawl!

One of the adorable birthday cards Elijah got for his birthday

LOOK, the Eiffel Tower!!

Aimee finally getting a chance to ride in the cart!  It must have been a tad bit warmer.

Love this!

Dad made himself this makeshift desk so we could work side by side at our computers

Still sporting the infant carrier!

Lij, you LOVE riding this combine harvester

Look what Alex made!

Olivia coming after school so I could pick up the carpool

The lovely new-to-us couch that providentially found its way to our home

Aimee starting to crawl up the stairs

Brie's friend over for a pizza party play date

Hooray...credit cards can be used at ALDI!

Final prep list for the double baby celebration

Kathryn's sweet gift and timely words about Alma 32 and having the faith and patience to let ourselves grow

Mother-son date with Alex :0)

Prepping "Mother Dear" singing time, thinking about some of my very favorite women in the world

Aimee helped out in singing time as one of the "sisters in our ward so dear" ;0)

Brie and Alex, you helped me make Sweet Sister Celia to use for singing time in May

Lij and your love for all little things that move!

I have so much fun decorating this mantle!

A surprise and impromptu visit to Dad's office

Aimee is still in the sitting up and crawling around a little bit phase

Love you kiddos!

The pie Alex helped me make for PI day

I loved seeing this sign while leaving a local presbyterian church here after voting

I voted.  But wow, are the politics in our country mixed up right now!  With no better way to say it, someone said that picking a favorite politician right now is like trying to pick your favorite STD.

Trying to sort out and put on paper all the ideas floating in my head for singing time

Lij in my galoshes

Alex after Kindergarten registration.  This is happening.  How are you already this big??

A late night visitor

Hippo teeth on top, hamster teeth on the bottom :0)

Baiting the leprechaun traps

All ready for St. Patrick's Day

Siblings having fun in the hall

After helping me wipe down the siding on our porch.  Wow was it dirty.  You guys are great helpers!

A box + lights = insta fun

I'm glad you guys can have all the messy painting fun at the Children's Discovery Museum

Dad & Brie's freezing cold and rainy camp out.  You guys are good sports!

Attending the temple WITH Dad, thanks to Sister Apperson watching you kids

I love these quotes!

My Easter carrot cake helpers

I couldn't resist buying this mini pot of tiny daffodils

Some PJs I made for Brie from a pair of 3x PJ pants

Cute girl!

Nursing my Aimee...sad that this phase will be over soon

Sunday post nursing snuggles!

Picking out a wardrobe for Paris (& Berlin) just in case it works out.  Fingers crossed!

Love seeing the fields like this with latent potential ready to sprout and grow and flourish.  Sometimes are growth is the same, temporarily under the surface

Me & my Lij

Little partners in crime ;0)

First Tea Party Tuesday of Spring

Brie's ADORABLE soil sammy...she coiffed her herself :0)

Aimee's current playground while I get ready

Cute little project from Brie's pen pals

Keeping the Paris dream alive!

Chelsea and Vivian coming to play while their brand new baby sister goes for a check up with her parents

Sweet little story on seeing past differences to find friendship

Sleepy Alex

New PJ pants for Grace too

Dad helping me to cut out and laminate and cut out ALL the pieces for Alex's schedule

On a date with Roo--watching the train go by before playing at the CDM

Great sensory activity and yummy cookie results

Bring on the messy self feeding!

Alex's schedule!

Cute girl

Dad & I on a date to find decorations and accessories for updating our sitting room to feel more like the Nauvoo Temple celestial room