Anniston is Three

You are 3 Years Old Today!

While Anniston was 35 Months She: 

Watched Uncle Tyler and Auntie Paige get married! She got to wear a fancy dress that mommy designed for her. 

Spent her last days at Carol's house. We will miss her so much! We wish her a happy retirement.

Learned to ride a tricycle!

Loves learning with her hands - shaving cream, rice bin, water table, etc.  

Went to the MN zoo two times this month and loved playing in the fountains. Her favorite animal was the monkeys! 

Spends many days at the park and going on bike rides or walks on the trails. 

Amelia is 14 Months

You are 14 Months Old Today!

While Amelia was 13 Months She: 

Watched Uncle Tyler and Auntie Paige get married.

Spent her last days at Carol's house. We will miss her so much! We wish her a happy retirement.

Started walking at the end of the month! 

Stays occupied for long periods of time by playing with playdoh, the water table and in her rice bin!

Went to the MN zoo two times this month and loved playing in the fountains. 

Giggles at  anything that play music or make noise!

Loves "talking" to herself in the mirror and thinks that she is hilarious.  

She loves bath time and sticking her tongue under the water. 

Waves "ello" to everyone and everything.

Claps when she is proud of herself or excited. 

Amelia is 13 Months

You are 13 Months Old Today!

While Amelia was 12 Months She: 

 Could stand up alone and pull herself up on things. 

Babbled all the time! She says Mama, "Onnie", Daddy and "ello"

She is a food fanatic! Typically there is more food on her, than in her, but she loves trying new things!

Loved  feeling different objects in her hands - sand, rice, fabrics. 

Got 1 new teeth this month for a total of 11! 

Had her first ever birthday party with Uncle Tyler and had cake for the first time! She ate more of the cupcake than the actual cake. 

Got into everything and loves pulling things out. And then putting them back. And then taking them out again...

Mother's Day 2015

Happy Mother's Day

Amelia is One. Tyler is Done. Oh the Places They'll Go!

May was a busy month. And with family living all over, we knew that it would be hard to celebrate all the big events without things getting too hectic! So, naturally we celebrated Uncle Tyler's SDSU college graduation AND Amelia's first birthday all at once. I know what you are thinking.

A college grad party and a one year old birthday party.

Isn't that a paradox of some form? I'd like to think of it as genius actually. 

Take a peek...

Amelia is One and Uncle Tyler is Done!

52:52 12 Months

52:50 Spring has Sprung

I Want to Remember 

Spring has Sprung

I want to remember that spring has sprung. Watching you play in the grass for the first time was adorable. At first you just stood there and cried - picking up your foot one at a time. But now, you put your face in the grass and just giggle. We love sitting in the sunshine and watching you take in the world for the first time. 

52:49 My Baby You'll Be

I Want to Remember

My Baby You'll Be

I want to remember my baby you'll be. Meaning this, no matter how quickly time is passing. No matter how hectic this time may seem. No matter how messy you are making things. No matter how many times I pick up the tupperware, just to have you take it out again. No matter how many times you will wake me in the middle of the night.  

You will always be my baby. 

Time is passing so quickly. So quickly that my heart aches. As I write this Anniston is running around, talking insanely well, giving you directions and being so....independent. I vividly remember when she was at this age. Getting into everything and making messes and I thought that was busy. I thought that was hectic. This life is busy. And some days its too busy. But it's beautiful. Wildly beautiful. 

And as long as I am living, my babies you'll be. 

52:48 11 Months

52:47 Your First Easter

I Want to Remember

Your First Easter 

I want to remember your first Easter. You continue to melt our hearts more and more every day. We went to church in your beautiful Easter dresses, we had a delicious lunch, we opened Easter baskets filled with goodies for you to grab and then we went on an Easter Egg Hunt at Great Grandpa's house! You loved squeezing the eggs to see if they would pop open. You were happy with just two eggs, one for each hand, and you were adamant about not letting them go! 

52:45 Comparing and Contrasting

I Want to Remember

Comparing and Contrasting

I want to remember comparing and contrasting you and Anniston. I am amazed every day when I look at the two of you. We made you! But there are days where it all just blurs together and it's hard for me to imagine where the time has gone - how do I have two growing girls already!? 

Especially on days like today. You were wearing an "oldie, but goodie" from Anniston's collection and I had this feeling of nostalgia looking at you. I vividly remembered seeing Anniston wearing that same outfit and making a mess in my closet. So for fun, I set you down in the closet - you love playing with shoes and making messes anyways - so I grabbed my camera. And this my dear, is what I got when I compared the two. Amazing isn't it?!

Don't get me wrong the two of you definitely have your differences. And I know that you'll both grow and become your own unique individuals even more. I already see little changes every day. But for now, I love looking at my two beautiful babies and just smiling at the similarities. 

52:44 Your First St. Patrick's Day!

I Want to Remember 

Your First St. Patrick's Day

I want to remember your first St. Patrick's Day! You have been so smiley lately! We feel like in the past week you have really started growing out of that infant stage and into the toddler stage. And as sad as that makes me to say, it also makes me so excited for you. Your personality is coming out more every day and we are constantly giggling right along with you - especially Anniston! On this St. Patrick's day we feel so lucky to have you in our lives. 

 This morning you kept giggling in the mirror and tapping your head! 
It was too cute not to take a selfie with you!

This morning at Carol's house. Anniston felt extra fancy because she got green sparkles on her eyes!

52:40 10 Months Old

52:39 Getting a Bunny

I Want to Remember 

Getting a Bunny 

I want to remember getting a bunny. I guess Easter came early this year in our home! We went to go see the bunnies randomly at the pet store one night, and thought, well lets just get one! You love watching James jump around you and you love grabbing him - he does not love it so much! We are working on petting him, but for now, you are simply fascinated by watching him hop around. 

Bunnies are A Lot of Work

Well...we couldn't just buy a cage and call it good. Oh no...not even close. 

Nick HAD to create a cage, a play place for this bunny. We went to several furniture stores and looked on Craigslist even to find this gem below. And naturally, we found it on a day it was blizzarding and blowing. That was not fun. 

What was fun was seeing this "file cabinet" transform into a unique bunny cage for our James. He seems to really like hopping from level to level and burrowing up in his top hide-away! 

Luckily Nickolas got creative with the litter tray because let me tell you, bunnies poop. 

Bunnies poop a lot. 

I was very overwhelmed by this and actually thought we had a defective bunny he pooped so much! So luckily now, the MAJORITY of it drops into the lower level litter tray. Making easy clean up and keeping James clean for snuggles. 

52:38 My Birthday

I Want to Remember

 My 29th Birthday

I want to remember my 29th birthday. I love birthdays. Who doesn't? I love the celebration, the well wishes and just taking time for yourself. And that is why this birthday felt so special. We had such a wonderful weekend at home, as a family, just playing, crafting (you got me a new serger!) and just being extra sleepy and snuggly! That is what family is all about. Taking time to really slow down and enjoy all the little moments and blessings that we have. 

Thank you for helping me celebrate my last year of my 20s Millie Grace! 

Birthday Selfie! 

52:37 Your First Valentine's Day

I Want to Remember 

Your First Valentine's Day

I want to remember your first Valentine's Day. My heart is so full this Valentine's day! This morning you woke up to stuffed animals, Valentine books and matching jackets with your big sister. We also made little heart prints with your feet! We want to freeze this moment in time with you and at least we have your little footprints to remember how small, snuggly and sweet you were on your first Valentine's Day! You are loved Miss Millie Grace. 

52:36 Nine Months Old

52:33 A Winter Wonderland

I Want to Remember 

A Winter Wonderland

I want to remember having you in a winter wonderland. This expression says it all. You really were in wonder about the snow. We haven't had much of it this winter and when we have it has been miserably cold. So this weekend was a rarity. There was snow, and it wasn't below zero! So we bundled you and and took you out finally! While Anniston buried her head into the snow, you just sat, expressionless and stared. You didn't cry. You didn't smile. You didn't try to even move. I'd like to think you were in "wonderment" about this winter wonderland. 

We will try again...next year. 

52:32 Eight Months Old

52:31 Your First New Years

I Want to Remember 

Your First New Years

I want to remember your first new years. We danced to music, dressed up, blew horns. And you. You just observed it all. You are "talking" a lot more now, meaning you squawk when you want our attention and army crawl to us when we aren't close enough. This year brought us so many big blessings, but adding you to our family was the biggest blessing of all. Cheers to 2015!