Arizona & California Memories

Over the Thanksgiving holiday James and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary and MaryKate was blessed with many of our family and friends in attendance. We want to thank those who were able to come. It was so good to be with all the family! MaryKate sure is lucky to have so many people who love and support her.

James' mom sewed this dress for MaryKate and trimmed it with James' grandma's lace. It was very pretty.

Sleeping MaryKate...so good for the blessing!

COUSINS! Emmett and MaryKate got to go shopping together and share some cousin bonding time. Phillip & Alicia's little boy is 10 days older than her and looks a lot like her. It was so fun!

While we were at James' house for Thanksgiving our niece Madeline found my toothbrush and was having the time of her life polishing her pearly whites with it.

Elasti-Girl! Our little 5 month old niece Chloe has amazing flexibility! Doesn't her leg look like it doesn't belong to her or is severely broken. I wish I was that flexible.

My sister Mary flew me out to visit her family in the Bay Area. This is my niece Cambria. She likes to have her hair cut like her brothers, so Mary pretends to cut it with the clippers.

Mary taught me how to cut hair while I was visiting. Ashton was so good! Now maybe James will consider letting me attempt to cut his someday.

Mary and her boys showed me some of their sweet moves during their After Chores Dance Party!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things...

Being a new mom is wonderful. Despite the interrupted sleep and poopy diapers, being a mom is even better than cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels and I submit even better than door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles. (Which is saying a lot because who doesn't love a good schnitzel!) So today I want to share with you what makes motherhood so great. With no further adieu, here are a few of my favorite things:

1. The smell and softness of MaryKate right after her bath.

2. Her unexpected smile or giggle while she's sleeping.


3. Walks with her in the stroller through the beautiful fall leaves.

4. Hiccups! She gets cursed with them almost 10 times a day and they shake her to the core.

5. Her chin quivering cry... I don't have a picture of this because I'm usually frantically making a bottle or changing a diaper, but you'll have to take my word for it... It's heart wrenchingly cute.

6. Naps with MaryKate. To feel her breathing, heart beating, and snuggling close is a feeling like no other... it soothes us both!

7. The new swing we just bought her that we affectionately refer to as "The Nanny". She loves The Nanny and I do too because it frees up my hands and rocks her to sleep for me.

8. Big Yawns! She reminds me of a little cub every time she opens up her mouth and closes her eyes and gives a long, adorable yawn. (disclaimer: this is not MaryKate. She does not have that much hair.)


9.Her bum cheeks. I love them! After she peed all over me, we took this picture and decide it was time to transition from newborn diapers to size 1.

10. Watching James hold her. I'm so glad when daddy comes home! He is our saving grace at times. He radiates hope and needed relief! Nothing melts my heart more than watching him hold her. I am so grateful for him.

Photo Shoot

A couple of nights ago we decided to take some pictures of MaryKate. James pulled out his cameras and we just did some shots here at the house. We wanted to capture her before she got too much bigger. We think she is simply beautiful and feel lucky to have her. Besides being cute she sleeps for 4 to 5 hour periods at night, which makes it easier on us. I hope all our kids are like her...if not, we are definitely being spoiled.