A Letter to My Daughter

Dear Magnolia-

Now that you are one year old, I get to reflect back on this first year of mommyhood! Wow---what a year it has been. No one really prepared your mommy and daddy for all the hard work it was going to take to care for you. I remember hearing both that those first few months would be the hardest or the easiest. I can say that for us it was a mix of both---extremely hard at times, and at other times, like all the nights you slept six or more hours at a time, extremely easy. Mommy couldn't stop worrying about you when you were first born. I woke at every little snort, grunt, and lets be honest, every little baby fart. And with the way you passed gas, and with as many bowel movements you had in the beginning, we'll just say that this was a very frequent and noticeable occurrence!

I remember saying that I would "never co-sleep," and there you were, this little bundle of baby curled up right in between mommy and daddy (and Boston of course, who still claims the bed) for the first three months of your life. Now I can't get you to take a nap with me for anything! I sure do miss "those days" already.

Just this week you've shown me how much of a little girl you've become. You understand everything we say, you are signing, and trying to say new things all the time. You seriously hate getting your diaper changed, mostly if it's mommy doing it, and I've never seen a baby strike such a perfect bridge pose when angry (you must remember all that pre-natal yoga we did before you were born).

Some days your daddy and I just can't believe how much everything has changed since we had you. To be quite honest, I think we are still processing this new life. The life of being a parent above all else. Daddy's actually fairly certain he's content with just one child--he says your perfect, so why would we ever want another. I agree, you are the most perfect little girl I could have ever imagined, but I'll keep working on Daddy to see if we might be able to negotiate a brother or sister for you some day!

Being a parent is hard, it's sometimes frustrating, but it's the most rewarding profound thing either of us have ever done. We love you so much!

Just look at you and Daddy dancin! It's these little moments that made this big change in our life the best choice we could have ever made!

Love you,

Mama

The Birthday Party

We had a beautiful birthday party for Magnolia at Elm Grove Park, a park in our neighborhood that we go to often. She really enjoyed herself, and she also enjoyed her soy free/dairy free/egg free cupcake--much to Mommy's relief!

Here's the pictures...enjoy!

Birthday Pictures

Reading her birthday card from Mommy and Daddy.

Refusing to give Mommy a kiss!

Playing in her kitchen--apparently she made herself a nice drink!

Glaring at Auntie Julie who decided to check her teeth right in the middle of dinner.

Great Auntie Julie, Auntie Hailey and Auntie Sara celebrating Moo's birthday.

Tomorrow, I Promise!

Sorry folks, it's getting way too late, and I just can't muster up the energy to download and organize all the photos Zac took tonight. We had a very busy first birthday today, and Mommy is just too tired (as was Magnolia)!

We did get some cute pictures though so I'll post them tomorrow, I promise!

Good Night!

IT'S HERE!!!! OUR BEAUTIFUL MAGNOLIA ANNABELLE IS ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!

Maggie and I have had a great morning. We went to baby story time at the library, had a snack at the Anne Frank Memorial--she loves the water feature, and I made her favorite lunch (anything that includes avocado), now she's taking a nice rest.

I'm going to do another post tonight with pictures, but I thought it might be nice to share the most memorable top ten moments since July 23, 2008.

10. Okay, this was actually July 22, 2008, but it was way too funny when Sara insisted I go over and check out the wedding photos, after a long walk to induce labor, and my water broke all over their house!

9. That first night in the hospital when Zac and I realized that doing a "natural" childbirth means your baby isn't anesthetized, and will be wide awake ALL night!

8. Memorable, just because I'll never forget it, but the day Maggie and I met Zac for lunch at his office, and we discovered that first bloody diaper. That was the day I went on the diet, which lasted for six months--well worth it though!!!!!!

7. That first afternoon Maggie napped in her crib. She looked so small!

6. Seeing my grandmother hold Maggie (whom Maggie is named after) for the first time. And ever since watching the pure joy Maggie brings out in Gramma-Gramma!

5. The first time Maggie curled up right on Zac's chest and fell asleep. It was when I realized that my husband is an amazing father. Also, that Maggie is a lot like her daddy--they both woke up so sweaty from that rest!

4. When Maggie ate rice cereal for the first time. I realized at that very first feeding of solid foods that she had a great love of food!

3. Our first family trip to Moscow. Not only did Maggie do great on that long car ride, but she was so happy all weekend, and of course Mommy and Daddy were too--we were in Moscow!

2. Watching her roll over from back to stomach on our trip to McCall. For some reason this milestone sticks out way more than the rest. Probably because she did it for Zac, Sara and Brad like three times before I actually saw it.

1. The first time I held my beautiful daughter in my arms, and brought her to my breast. Zac, Sara and I had to laugh when the nurse thought she had to "help" Maggie latch, and then we all watched Maggie scooch up a little, latch on herself, and start sucking without any problems. The nurse commented, "Wow, I haven't seen that before!"

I love you so, Miss Magnolia! Enjoy your very first birthday beautiful girl!

Mommy

Okay, Now It's Really Almost Here...

Just one week away, and Magnolia will be one year old!

Today we were dancing to some good music, and I looked down at her little smiling face and I realized I have a little girl now. Although I miss my baby, and have spent quite a bit of time reminiscing over baby photos and videos, I'm so grateful that I get to watch her little transition to becoming her own little person.

Here's some pictures of her big girl stuff that's already arrived...

Gramma-Gramma and Gramma Tara got her this book shelf. She spends so much time going though all her books--it's perfect.

It arrived! Zac and I are way to impatient to wait and give it to her next week. Besides, you only have so long to play with your first kitchen!

She's checking it all out and making sure it will do.

Doors that open, knobs to turn, a sink to fill with water and bubbles when you needs to "wash" your dishes, a stove to cook on---she thinks it will work just fine!

We've placed it right in the kitchen so she can "cook" with Daddy. I'd say "with Mommy," but we all know that Daddy cooks way more than Mommy now.

The Lavender Baby

Lakeside Lavender Farm Festival...

We missed the lavender ice cream (which she couldn't have eaten anyways) so she decided just to go for the fresh lavender.

Maggie and Daddy walking around checking out all the cool art vendors.

Gramma Gramma and Marley listening to good music.

Lots and lots of honey bees!

What a beautiful day!

Sneaky Peeky Paci Finder

I helped Maggie say "bye-bye" to her paci when she woke up the other morning. Oh don't worry, this wasn't an "official" good-bye or anything, just a "I'll see you at nap time good-bye," She glared at me, grunted, and then I helped her place paci back in her crib. Earlier I had scavenged around the house for spare pacis, fairly confident I had gotten them all.

So as Mommy is trying to get some work done, suddenly I realize I haven't heard or seen my daughter for a few minutes--every parent of an almost toddler knows this equates to them getting into something that they most likely shouldn't be getting into.

Well I found her...

As you see there is a paci in her mouth.

As you can also see, she's reaching into her crib for the one I made her leave in her crib when she woke up.

What you might not notice is that she had to actually crawl under her crib to get to this corner of the room, where apparently she has stashed some emergency pacifiers----sooooo sneaky that Moo!

Here's just a few more pictures I thought might interest all of you.

Almost every nap, and each night we find an appendage hanging out of the crib--it's just how she sleeps now. Look at those cute feet!!!

Stylin' the vintage t-shirt compliments of Mommy and Auntie Sara's classic 80's wardrobe. If you think this one is awesome you should see the rest! She's also wearing her "camping pants from Omah. Although I'm fairly confident they are supposed to be capris, but she's still a shorty with mini feet as well.

(oh ya, I gave up on trying to keep the pacifiers in the crib for naps and bedtime only, this will be Mommy's homework the rest of the week!)

Maggie Hearts America

First of all, Happy, Happy 50th Birthday Grandpa Crist!!!

Maggie loves you.

Maggie had a great first Independence Day.

Maggie went to go visit Gramma Gramma, which is something that they both love. Gramma Gramma's house is full of all sorts of stuff to play with too. We wrapped up the evening with some dinner with Aunt Sara, Uncle Brad, and Marley (he's her favorite--there it's been said Auntie Sara!). Maggie mastered climbing up their back steps (not an easy task), and eating dirt off their patio (not a delicious task, but apparently she needed to explore that stuff thoroughly).

She was a huge goofball all night, and just full of smiles, laughs and kisses all around. We got her home and in bed a little late, so of course there was all sorts of raucous outside with the neighborhood celebrations in full swing. We could also hear the city fireworks from our house. Maggie slept right though it all though! She was tired after a busy day!

We hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July's.

Here's a picture of Maggie playing over at Gramma Gramma's. Thanks to Grandma Crist for the very cute 4th of July outfit!