1 Year Old!

Today is Clara's birthday! This has seriously been the fastest year of my life! She is such a cute, fun, smart little girl and we love having her in our family. Here is a look back at the last year.

One day old

Six months old

Almost 1 year old

Clara loves to try new foods, especially big people foods.

We recently discovered that she loves playing in the dirt, but what kid doesn't?

Her dad is her favorite person ever and I am A-Ok with that!

She LOVES to swing and do pretty much anything outside.

Did I mention that she likes food? And she hates getting her hair done, that's why this hairdo had to be documented because it may never be repeated!

She has quite the personality and has learned how to make us laugh. Her dad taught her this little trick.

Ripping up magazines is her absolute favorite past time. And she spends a lot of time doing it. Whatever makes her happy, right?

She loves her stuffed animals and will give them hugs and say "awww". It's pretty darn cute! She also has become quite the champion sleeper at night. She says lots of words. The ones we hear most frequently are mama, daddy, hi (more like hy-ee with her whole face), je-joo (Jesus), and she can sign milk and more. She LOVES books and will sit and look at books on her own or sit while we read books to her for quite awhile. She has always been very socially aware, but now that she is more interactive she loves to make friends. She will smile and say hi to just about anyone we walk past in the store and at church. (Any tips on keeping a social butterfly from being a distraction during sacrament meeting?) She is really good at waving bye-bye (backwards), crawling (frog style), giving hugs, and giving kisses. She just started pulling up on stuff and I know walking isn't too far away. She is our munchkin and we love her to pieces! Happy birthday Clara!

Sicko

Nothing is sadder to me than a sick little baby. While she's had her share of runny noses and coughs, this is the first illness that has really knocked her out. She's had a pretty high fever since Monday afternoon. The doctor said it was probably Roseola which starts as a fever then turns into a rash. The fever is gone now (thank goodness) and still no sign of the rash. We are crossing our fingers on that one.

This is what I saw a lot of this week. When she was really grumpy and just not feeling well all I had to do was turn on Signing Time (a movie with baby sign language and songs), give her her blankie, water, and a stuffed animal, and lie her down on a pillow. She would instantly calm down and stay in that position for a good 20 minutes. It was the saddest, sweetest thing ever.

Today at lunch I was feeding her yogurt, but she didn't want it. I left it on her tray with the spoon just to see what would happen. Well, see for yourself! I think she's feeling better, what do you think?

Painfully Cute

These are her 2 favorite toys.

Her latest trick is to "talk" on the phone. She holds the phone like that and says "daddy, daddy, daddy" over and over.

Don't those eyes just kill you?

This girl is so much happier now that she can crawl!

Being silly at the park with dad. (Yes she's in her jammies. Don't judge me.)

Idaho

First Clara helped me pack

Once we arrived there was lots of time for play at the park.


Clara loved to play with cousin Olive. I don't have too many pictures of them together, but here Olive is coloring at her "desk"

We were able to go to the wedding of Nate's good friend Chad and Rachelle.

These three were the 3 Musketeers the summer I met Nate. It was fun to see them all.

Aren't those the most beautiful and exotic looking flowers you've ever seen?!

Of course we made time for bowling.

Nate and Andi celebrated their birthdays together like old times.


We went to dinner at Red Robin to use Nate's birthday coupon and Clara got her first balloon. Lucky girl!


Clara loved playing with her Nana and Papa by the end. (It takes her a couple days to get warmed up to people.)


Thanks for having us. It was a great trip!

California

Our trip to California pretty much consisted of food, family, fireworks, and fun! Here's some pictures to prove it!

Look what we found when we got home...

We were in Idaho for 9 days (more about our summer adventures later) and look what we found out back when we got home!

Carrots and beets

enough lettuce to open a salad bar

green beans and snap peas

and out of control zucchini!!! Nate doesn't even like zucchini so I promised I would make him eat it, enjoy it, and not know he was eating it. Here's what I came up with...

Chocolate zucchini cake...yummm!

Grilled zucchini (ok this obviously wasn't hidden, but he did say he liked it.)

and pie! Not apple pie but zucchini pie!!! It looks and even tastes just like apple pie. Trust me it's good!!!
Any other ideas out there? I've still got tons more growing. Maybe next year we'll skip out on planting zucchini. ;-)

Why am I not going to my Grandpa's funeral this weekend?

I have looked forward to my Grandpa's funeral for many years. Don't get me wrong, I have not looked forward to his death, but rather to his funeral. I see it as an opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to a wonderful grandpa, father, marine, cowboy, patriarch, and man. (For his obituary click here.)Reflecting on his life, he accomplished a lot in his short 89 years. He fought in WWII, had 8 children, 41 grand children, and 60 great-grand children! He served diligently in the church and never faltered from his faith. He was a real life cowboy. So when my mom informed me that EVERYONE (meaning his children and grandchildren) would be there with the exception of my cousin who is due with a baby anytime and is on bed rest, my brother who is serving a mission in Argentina, and me, my heart sank. I knew this day was coming. He had been sick for awhile. We went to visit him in April and it was clear that his days were numbered. If he had his way he would have left us years ago, shortly after my Grandma passed. I always thought, flights from Denver to Salt Lake are cheap, or it's only an 8-10 hour drive we'll just jump in the car and go when the time comes. However, my life is not my own anymore. I am a mother. I cannot think of a scenario that would not be traumatizing for my sweet daughter. Some of you may not be surprised to hear that I have not been given one of those easy, go-with-the-flow type of babies. Instead I have been blessed with a lively, opinionated, determined child. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame her for our absence. I love being a mom and would not trade it. However, I've learned in my 10 short months of mothering experience that sacrifices will be made. Believe me I WANT TO BE THERE! I want it so badly. If I thought I could leave her without traumatizing her I would (P.S. That would require weaning her cold turkey.) I know what some of you are thinking, just suck it up, get in the car, and go, it's your Grandpa for Pete's sake! Well, we just got home from 8 days in California and we leave for Idaho for 9 days early next week. Clara needs some predictability and consistency for awhile. She needs her mom, her dad, her bed, her toys, etc. Trust me, I have played out every possible scenario in my head and none of them work out. Funerals also happen to double as impromptu family reunions. Who knows when my family will have a reunion that is so well attended again. So, to my cousins, I'll miss you. To Grandpa, I love you and tell Grandma I said hi! And I have a feeling that you understand.