1 YEAR OLD!!!

Actually more like 13 1/2 months but I wanted to at least post through Blake's first year!  What a great year it has been as Blake managed to make his way easily into our hearts, lives and schedules.  Not posting pictures because I just want to get this up for posterities sake!

Here's what you are up to these days!

* You have settled into a great sleeping routine.  You easily go down about 8-8:30 and sleep until about 7-8:00 the next morning.  Occasionally you wake up a little earlier but will go back to sleep if I give you bottle.  

*  You don't need to be rocked to sleep, but I do rock you while you drink your milk and then lay you down with your pacifiers.

*  You have transitioned to one nap a day (much earlier than your brother did).  You nap at 1:00 and lately have been sleeping about 3 hours...which is fabulous!  Your brother will usually nap for about an hour which overlaps at the same time :)

*  You are an independent eater and a slightly picky eater.  You don't like to try new things but usually once I can get a bite in you like whatever it is I'm feeding you.  You seem to like fruit, veggies and carbs more than meat.

*  You are fully weaned which was a little bittersweet for me.  You weaned at 13 months and transitioned well.  You drink 3-4 bottles of milk a day.

*  You say quite a few words and jabber all the time (dada, addie, hi, up, that, out, yeah, yum), I'm sure there are a couple more I can't think of for now.  Unfortunately, there has been no "mama" yet :) 

* You are super affectionate with hugs and cuddles, but withhold kisses!  I think it's because I ask for them constantly and you like to play hard to get.

*  You love to listen to music and will shake and dance when a beat comes on.  You are also doing hand motions to some of your favorite songs. 

*  You are officially a walker!  You took 1-2 steps for a couple of weeks and then on June 5th you decided it was time and really took off!  You haven't looked back since and are now walking at least 90% of the time.  Your balance is getting better and better on various surfaces, uphill and downhill.  I think this makes you an official toddler!

* You have quite an opinion on things and are not afraid to share it with others.  You can't be tricked or distracted very well and can throw quite the fit if you don't get your way!

* You are figuring out quite a few of your toys and are starting to play with them in the appropriate way.

*  You are so stone faced around other people they think you never smile or giggle...but around us you are a jokester and have the best personality!

*  You are also a rough houser like your brother!  You love to wrestle on the couch, get thrown around and have fun being tossed in the air.

* You love your mommy, daddy, brother, Addie, your bottle and your pacifier.

*  You seem to be quite musical and love playing the toy guitar that we have.

* You are in size 12 month clothes and size 3 diaper.

* Your hair is brown and your eyes are still brown (slightly hazelish at times)

* Not sure how much you weigh exactly but it was around 19-20 lbs at your appointment.

The last year was a whirlwind full of love, sleepless nights, laughs, crying, craziness and all the joy imaginable!  So blessed to be your mama and am in awe everyday at the miracle you are in the way God molded you, formed you and perfectly placed you in our lives!

Goodbye Butlers

Tonight we had friends over that have been friends for a loooong time.  

Jared has known Brett since they were in high school and we first met Shannon when we were Sophomores in college.  

They have been great friends and a family that we love getting together with.

The sad thing about this post is that they are moving to Salt Lake City on Monday :(

Hopefully they will only be gone for a couple of years, but you never know what the Lord has in store.  

Tonight was a great night of eating dinner, watching our boys play (our oldest boys are 9 months apart and our baby boys are 9 days apart), catching up, sitting outside in the amazing evening weather, laughing and talking.   

They will be missed for sure by us and by Landon and Blake.

Looks like some trips to SLC will be in order!

Before they left we decided to get a pic with all the boys together.

Sounds simple enough in theory...not simple enough in reality!

The boys were confused,

Delighted

and extremely cute!

We love these dear friends and pray that the Lord blesses them greatly in their move and this new chapter in their life!

1st Birthday Party

This post has A LOT of pictures!

But I wanted to chronicle all the details of Blake's first birthday and I am SUPER proud of myself to get a post up about his birthday party on the day of his birthday party :)

We had a great day celebrating the life of our 1 year old!

It was a small affair with just us, my parents and Jared's parents.

Although it was small we had it all

Decorations,

A festive highchair,

Balloons,

Cupcakes,

Smash Cake,

Presents,

Cake,

Lots and lots and lots 

of LOVE

And last but not least a wonderful,

Cute,

Joyful,

Sweet,

Lovable,

Fun,

1 Year Old

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

You have completed our family and added so much life and love.  We can't express how much you mean to us and how much joy you have brought to us over the last year.  You have your own unique personality that is really starting to shine!  We pray more than anything that you will love Jesus with all your heart, choose to follow Him, have compassion and empathy for others and grow up a strong man of faith.  We can't wait to watch you and your brother grow up and grow closer. 

Mother's Day and The Zoo

I wanted to quick get up a post about a couple things we have been up to!

I had an amazing Mother's Day...probably the best Mother's Day I've had!

After church we went to a Mexican restaurant with the boys and then Jared took the boys home and then I got to go shopping...alone...for 3 HOURS...all by myself!

It was glorious and so much fun to actually get to look, try clothes on and not feel a bit of stress.

Then we went up to my in-laws for dinner.

A Great Day!

And the two reasons why I get to celebrate this day in the first place...my loves!

Last week we went to the zoo with a couple of friends.

I am so thankful for these little boys that are such great friends!

It is such a joy to watch them grow up together and to go through the joys and trials of motherhood with their moms!

I told them all to put their arms around each other and it caused major confusion and stink face!

 The zoo is always a great way to spend a couple of hours!

Wildlife Safari and Trip to Medford

After we visited my brother and SIL in Eugene, my mom came and picked me and the boys up so that we could spend a couple days in Medford with them and see my grandparents.  

I also flew home solo for the first time with both boys...YIKES!  They actually did great but I was one tired mama when we landed :)

The Wildlife Safari was soooo much fun!  It is only about 1 1/2 away from my parents house but we had never been before.  Well worth the stop even though Blake decided to scream the last 30 minutes in the car from my parents house because he was so tired!

It had a zoo aspect and then a huge area where you drive through.  The nice part is that the kids didn't have to be in carseats since it was private property, so I held Blake and Landon sat on my mom's lap or looked out the sunroof.

We saw a ton of cool animals roaming free and walking just feet from our car...a giraffe, zebras, long horn cattle, cows, birds, antelope, camels, yaks, sheep, and so many others I can't even think of.

We also saw neat ones in huge caged areas...lions, cheetahs, elephants, tigers, bears and monkeys!

It was a gorgeous afternoon and the scenery was spectacular!

I had a wonderful time with my mom and boys, another GREAT memory :)

Once we got to my parents we had a lot of fun too!

We explored a construction site!

Visited my grandma in Northern California

Watched a dove build her nest and lay her eggs

Spent a lot of time my grandparents

And practiced going up and down grandpa and nana's stairs!

By the time we flew home we were all tuckered out!

Now that we are home we have been enjoying amazing weather

Eating snacks outside

Getting into mischief 

(Landon actually pushed this super heavy piece of furniture all the way over to the pantry by himself so that he could get a piece of candy!)

And learning new skills

We are all excited for summer, to be outside and have some summer fun as a family!