Oh My! Baby's Turning One!

Our sweet Morgan turned one today! I can hardly believe it. I spent the day choking back many tears, and filled with much emotion. I am amazed how quickly one year has flown by. I will never forget the feeling when I got to hold her for the first time. A feeling of being complete, of pure joy. And it's just grown every day since then.

Dearest Morgan,
I remember the moment I knew you were coming. I was so happy, so excited, and scared, not sure what to expect of this journey, but knowing my life was going to change forever. Seeing your perfect face, tiny nose, lips, and chin, I couldn't believe how much I loved you, and was amazed how God paid perfect attention to every detail.
I spent hours reading books, understanding the science of your development, how you morphed from tiny embryo to a willful one year old. Still, it amazes me, stumps me, humbles me. Every night I watch you sleep, counting breaths, marveling at your long lashes, and the rise and fall of your chest. You have always been ahead of the game, eyes open and searching even those first few days of life. Later, you would lift your head and arms trying for hours to push yourself up, wobbling, concentrated, determined. How strange it seems those months ago you could barely grasp a rattle and now you march triumphantly around the house, banging a pot lid on the floor, carrying your baby. At 5 months you decided to crawl, rocking carefully, then springing forward. Soon came pulling up, then standing, then at 9 months you took your first shaky steps. The rest is history, you run circles around us, climbing and rolling, squatting and reaching, always learning.
You have taught me so many things this year, the delicious cuisine of soggy puffs, the joys of saying the same words over and over just to get a laugh. You have taught me that the simplest things are the most fun, and that a piece of paper can provide hours of entertainment.
You have taught me patience, love, and terrible fear. Crouching over you with the nose bulb as you struggled with your colds, reaching you seconds too late after a nasty tumble, and whacking your back every time you cough while eating. Every day brings me to my knees in thanks for your existence, for your love, and for your health.
And so, my dearest daughter, on the anniversary of the greatest day of my life, I salute you. May this next year bring you many discoveries, may you feel loved and cherished by your family. May you keep that wonder, and may you continue to find the joy in the small things.
I will always be here for you, when you want to play peekaboo, or snuggle, or when you want to be a monster and chase me. When you wake up at 4 am crying because your teeth hurt, I will always hold you and keep you close. I will try to let you go, to let you discover, I know you need that. As I watch you explore your world, always know, I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN.
I love you always and forever,
Mommy


PS: Birthday party pics to be posted tomorrow:)

Just born: April 4, 2008



One Month Old



Two Months Old



Three Months Old



Four Months Old



Five Months Old



Six Months Old



Seven Months Old



Eight Months Old



Nine Months Old



Ten Months Old



Eleven Months Old



One Year Old

A Fun Weekend!

Things have been pretty crazy around here lately, and I have been a bad blogger/emailer as a result!
Friday my good friend Jenny and her son Zach were here from Birmingham so we got to have a brief visit. It was so good to see them. Tried to get the perfect picture of the 2 kiddos but they just weren't having it! Zach was so tired, and every time we got him settled, Morgan had walked away to play! So here's the best of what we got!

What a little cutie!


Morgan loooves blowing kisses!



Morgan had her first taste of vanilla ice cream on Saturday....she was in heaven :) It was so cute to see her get so excited about it!




After the ice cream we went into Pottery Barn Kids, and she sat at the little table for over 20 minutes playing with the play dishes/play pots and pans. It was amazing...how does she know how to do that?? She loved it and didn't want to leave! Good thing she gave us some birthday ideas.....



She has never really had a lovey or any kind of security blanket/toy. She has plenty of things that could work, but just never showed in interest in anything. Well that changed last week...she will not go anywhere without her baby "Susie" (named after dear friend Susan, who bought it for her in Canton!) She carries it everywhere, and loves on it constantly. Hugs, kisses, the whole bit! She will walk and then just drop on the ground to hug it! She even tried to take her in the bathtub! So I guess that's her security toy now?? It's just adorable. Here is a video of her loving on Susie.

It's Official!

We decided, after much discussion, to put our house on the market! We were going to move next year anyways, but with interest rates being so low, we felt now would be a good time. We have had a showing nearly every day since it's been listed, so hopefully someone will buy it soon. We are not in a hurry, but we certainly do not want to have our house on the market for several months! Not sure where we are going yet; we have spent our evenings searching har.com for the perfect house (Which by the way, is very addicting).

Morgan is doing great, we are planning her first birthday, which is April 4th, I can hardly believe it! I remember that day last year like it happened yesterday. She's gotten so good at walking and just walks all around the house carrying whatever she's fascinated with at the moment. She loves her bear (she calls it her "ba"). Really cute.



Hugs for Mr. Doggy!


She loves playing with her babies and pushing them around in the stroller!

Happy 11 Months!

As I stood in her room last night and watched her sleeping, my heart was overwhelmed with her gentleness and grace. Her tiny little hands are so precious and so delicate. The sweetness of her lips is nothing less than perfect. I counted my blessings for my sweet baby girl, for God surely heard my heart and answered my every prayer. I love you Morgan! Happy 11 Months!

Drama Queen

We seem to have a little drama queen on our hands! When she doesn't like something (especially when eating), she does these faces:





As soon as you give her something she likes or something she wants, she's fine and won't do it anymore. She's figured out how to manipulate Mommy already! :) She has been remembering the names of lots of different things....you can ask her where many things are and she will show you where it is. She can also do lots of actions! If you ask her to splash in the tub, she will happily oblige and make HUGE splashes. She can show you where her head is, where her ear is, and Mommy's nose. (But she has a hard time finding her own nose.) She loves to give herself kisses in the mirror. Its really pretty cute!
This is a video of her showing where her head and ears are. Ignore the ridiculous giggling you hear from the video, as that would be me. Usually if I giggle she joins suit but of course she didn't this time!!






Her new favorite activity is pulling clothes out of her dresser. I was getting her dressed and I went to look in the closet for an outfit, and when I turned around, this is what I saw: (she was happily talking away the whole time)





Fortunately my camera happened to be in her room at the time so I snapped away!

Seattle

We are back from Seattle! We had such a wonderful time, and Morgan loved playing with her cousins. The babies were so cute together! We were so very busy the entire trip, but got to do so much and visit with some very special people. Thank you all for a wonderful visit, we love and miss you guys so much!



We surprised Madison for lunch at school!



Luke and Morgan hanging out! It's amazing to see the size difference in person...they are 2 weeks apart, but Luke is so much bigger than Morgan. They were so adorable to watch play together!




The joys of a doorstop! Finally someone who understands.... They both played with this for quite awhile, it was too funny!



Playing doctor with Maddie.



Hey what's that? I want it too!


Kisses from sweet Jake.



Tickling Maddie!


Helping Hama feed Luke.





On Tuesday afternoon, we went to Yakima to visit JD's Dad (AKA: Grandpa and Grandma Joan). We were having a great time, then Morgan and I both got a nasty stomach bug. Wow, there's nothing like seeing your kid sick like that. I, of course, panicked, but we just made sure Morgan got lots of fluids so she wouldn't be dehydrated. But we were very well taken care of, and we must have gone through 12 loads of laundry in the 3 days we were there! Even the car seat made it in the wash. But we got lots of rest and were feeling somewhat better for the trip back to Seattle on Friday. Needless to say, we didn't get as many pictures as we would have liked to.

Grandpa and Grandma Joan


They made Morgan this beautiful toy box!


Then when we got back Friday we celebrated JD's Grandpa's 80th birthday! We went to dinner at The Keg (where Morgan and I were both still pretty sick), but we had a wonderful time!


JD's Grandpa loves the Seattle Mariners, so for his birthday gift, he got a private tour of Safeco and we all got to come! It was awesome to see the stadium from the inside out! It was freezing that day but we stayed warm and took lots of pictures. Below is a picture of Papa with the scoreboard behind him wishing him a happy birthday.


The whole family in the press conference room.


Family pic in the dugout.




Morgan and Nana



There's nothing to it, strike a pose..........



Hama with her 2 favorite 10 month olds!

Then we came home to a very very sick dog...........SOO after having the carpets professionally cleaned and Lily taken to the vet, things are starting to get back to normal. Poor Lily was literally sick with worry if we'd ever return home!