18 Months

Holy Cow! Where has the time gone? Seriously I can't believe that Ady is already 18 months old!

Here is some info on our little girl. She is a fiesty little girl. She can kick and scream and throw a fit like a pro. She really likes to pull Annika's hair if Annika takes something away from her or just makes her mad. She loves to follow Annika around and do whatever she is doing. She loves to take whatever Annika is playing with and run away as fast as she can. She loves babies and her baby dolls. She loves to push them in the stroller. She loves reading books, especially the three little pigs book that Brian reads to her. She loves it when he huffs and puffs on her. She also loves to read any book that has animals in it. She loves to see animals. She doesn't like it when the neighbors dogs try to lick her. But she always follows them around and wants to pet them. She is learning so many new words right now. She surprises me everyday when she says a new word. When she likes what you say or wants to do what you are asking her, she raises her hands in the air and says "YAY"! She loves shoes. She is always trying on any shoes that are left out. She loves blankets. It doesn't really matter what blanket, but it has to be soft. The other day our bed had almost a dozen blankets on it that she was snuggling with. She also loves her binky (kiki). It is going to be a bad day when I decide to finally take that away. She takes really long naps, which is nice. She might now be asleep the whole time, but when she wakes up she just plays in her crib. She will grab a book off her dresser and sit in her crib and read it. She really likes to dance when any music is on, and she really likes to listen to the tangled CD. She always makes her finger into a hook, on I have a Dream song. She loves to say "no no no" and point her finger at you. When she is hungry she walks into the pantry and starts climbing on boxes or whatever she can find to reach what she wants. She likes to color and for the first time colored on my wall with a blue crayon yesterday. And she is addicted to the Ipad and our Iphones. She wants to play with them all the time. and she knows how to use them. she can find the games she wants to play on them and if you ask her if she wants to watch a movie she will open the netflix app. (I don't know if this is a good thing or not!) She is such a smart little girl.

I took her to the Dr. for her 18 month check up and she had to get some shots. She cried and kept pointing at her leg where they gave her the shots and said "owie". It was really sad.

She weighed 23.1 lbs. (32%)
She is 32 inches long (61%)
Her head is 46 cm (63%)

Like I said she is pretty much saying a new word everyday. Here are some of the words that she says.
Hi
Hey
Mama
Dada
Puppy
Shoe
Sock
ki ki (binki and blanket)
yay
baby
cheese
Kate Kate (she has a friend named kate)
ball
moo
duck
quack
baaa
Sorry
plate
(and I am sure there are more that I am forgetting.)

She is a fun little girl. I love her so much!

Halloween

I have been horrible at keeping our blog up to date lately. It seems like time has been flying by. But I realized that I need to do better. Addy just turned 18 months old and I will do a post on that in a minute. But I know that if I don't blog so that I remember all of these things that are happening right now I am going to regret it later.

My calling in Primary has been keeping me busy. I can only think about one thing at a time, or else I get so overwhelmed. So I am just trying to keep things going.

Well Halloween has come and gone, but my girls loved dressing up and we had a full weekend. On Friday night we went to the ward trunk or treat. Annika had a table full of her little girl friends and they all wanted to sit and eat dinner together. It was really cute.

On Sunday night Heidi held her annual Halloween party. we ate some dinner, carved some pumpkin, decorated some cookies, and ate some donuts off a string. It is always so much fun!

On Monday Halloween day, Annika's preschool did a little party. That night we went trick or treating. We only walked down our street, and around the corner to two houses. We hit a total of 8 houses. I think that Annika had just as much fun opening the door for the kids and telling them "take just one ok!" :) Neither of the girls wanted to go to bed that night, I'm sure because of their sugar high. But it was a great weekend full of lots of candy and lots of fun!

OUR LITTLE DUCK



CINDERELLA

Sewing by hand

I have been sewing a blanket for my new niece. I was sewing the binding on when I decided I didn't like how it looked. I told Annika actually I think I am going to sew it by hand. She then said "Like you'll get under the table and push it?" I was really confused at first, but I understood that she has seen me pushing the pedal and when I said I was going to sew it by hand she thought that I was going to push the petal with my hand. :) ha ha ha! Made me laugh.

Popsicle

The other day Annika and Adalyn had Popsicles. Ady had a go-gurt, and started crying because her hand was cold.
Annika: Mom, Ady is crying because her hand is cold. But my hand isn't cold because my popsicle is on a tongue depressor.
Me: A what?
Annika: A tongue depressor. Like the dr. uses.

What a funny girl! :)

PreSchool

On Tuesday Annika had her first day of Preschool. She was so excited. We had been counting down for days. I was nervous because Annika has been going through a phase where she doesn't want me to leave the room. I wondered how leaving her at preschool for 2 hours was going to go.

We woke up bright and early. She got dressed and did her hair. We took some pictures and then headed down the street to preschool.

We got there and she saw her friend Morgan. They started doing puzzles, and I told her I was going to go home. She gave me a big smile and said ok bye. Definitely easier than I thought it was going to be.

(Ady had to get in the pictures too. Don't you love her cheesing face?)

On the way home I think that Ady was already enjoying the alone time with mom. We walked all around the neighborhood and I just followed her. She kept looking back and smiling at me. We came home and I wondered how ady would enjoy her mom time. We played for a minute, then she went and got her blanket so we cuddled and she fell asleep.

(Ady on her first day of being home alone with mom for 2 hours)

While Ady was sleeping I took advantage of the time and did the dishes. It was really weird having the house quiet. And It made me realize how much I talk to Annika or how much she talks to me. It was kind of lonely I am not going to lie. But the time flew by and before I knew it, it was time to pick her up. She had so much fun and is looking forward to going back.

Annika is growing up so fast, she is such a cute little girl and makes me happy.

Annika riding

Tonight Brian went out to put the chain back on Annika's bike. After a few minutes Annika came running into the house and said mom I am riding my bike all over and guess what I am riding without my training wheels on, with only 2 wheels. I totally missed her first try but Brian said he followed her down the road and she didn't even need his help. I would say she is doing great! Especially for only having the training wheels off for a few minutes! Here are some videos of her first rides!

7*1*2011

On Thursday night as soon as Brian got done with Pack Meeting we were on the road to Portland. It worked out really well I thought, because we were supposed to meet up with Brian's family on Friday morning sometime at the Mt. St. Helens Visitors Center. We were the very last ones to leave. But Heidi, Jeremy, Eric, and Dom were only a couple hours ahead of us, and they were driving through the night to get there as well. I think that Both girls were awake until about 9 and then they were out. I stayed awake talking to Brian and then took the wheel in Twin Falls. As we were pulling into the gas station Annika shot awake and said "I was just going to tell you we are almost to Abe and Henry's house" (Can you tell she was excited to get there) Earlier in the day I was packing and she was sitting on my bed, and she said "This is the best day ever, I can't wait to see Abe and Henry!" Well Annika stayed awake through Boise, and was saying look at that pretty purple star mom, oh you missed it. I guess it was good, laughing at her kept me awake. I drove until about 4:00 and then I made Brian take the wheel again. We made it through the night and we were not to far outside of Portland, which can I just say if you have never driven to Portland, it was beautiful. You drive along the Columbia River, and it is so pretty. Then we got a phone call from Heidi saying that they ran out of gas and were along the side of the road. So we stopped and got them some gas, went to their rescue and then followed them to breakfast.


This is my happy girls after our long drive all night.


(Scott, Allison, Brian, and the kids looking at what we have to climb the next day!)

After breakfast we headed up to the Mt. St. Helens Visitors Center. It was interesting listening to them talk about it blowing up. We met up with the whole family and enjoyed some lunch. After lunch we headed farther up the canyon to a lookout. You could look up into the crater. It is just amazing to see all the ash and dirt, and the huge trees that were knocked over. Any picture that I had ever seen did not do it justice. It was huge and amazing and so pretty!
(Ady and me in front of the Mt.)
(
(Ady loved to kick her leg up, and she was incredibly happy for almost all of the drive.)

Annika enjoying dinner with her favorite cousins Abe and Henry!

After we headed to the lodge that we had rented for the night. Seriously the lodge that Allison reserved us for the night could have slept probably 50 people. We only had 14. So we all had our own room. The room that Brian and our family slept in had at least 12 beds in it. Needless to say there was more than enough room for all of us. Allison had made us a wonderful dinner, and we hung out for a while and then we all headed to bed after setting our alarms for 3:30 am.

Fathers Day

Fathers Day weekend was a busy one.
We headed up to Logan on Friday night. We didn't get to my parents house until about 10:00, just in time for the girls to be past ready for bed. We stayed up and talked for a little while and then went to sleep.
Saturday morning we woke up and my dad made us a great breakfast! The girls got to see the new lambs that Austin gets to raise and show in the fair. And they spent quite a bit of time jumping on the trampoline. Jen and Mike came up and after they got there Austin, Mike, Brian and I went over to the church and played some basketball. After Basketball everyone got ready and we went fishing. It was a good fishing trip. I am pretty sure that everyone caught a fish. Seriously mine was the biggest.

It was 25" long and guessing it weighed about 5 1/2 lbs. I was sweating when I got it in. I think I was just nervous it was going to get away! We went back to my parents house and grilled up my fish (yes that is right it was so big that it fed all 10 of us! ).

After dinner was over we hopped in the car and headed down to South Jordan. Brian's family had a BBQ to celebrate. We hung out and played some Volleyball. It was a lot of fun. At the end of the night South Jordan even did some fireworks! It was a fun and busy weekend.

On Sunday FATHERS DAY we were pretty relaxed. We went to Church where I got put in as the new Primary President for our ward! let's just say that is all still just sinking in. I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. Annika didn't want to go up with the Primary kids and sing the songs to the dad's. So Brian missed out on that. (sorry Brian).

We came home and opened up some presents. Brian got a new golf shirt, and a very cool marble track thing. Which took a long time to put together. But it was a fun activity for the night after dinner. For dinner, we had some steak and lobster tails. It was so good. Have I ever mentioned that Brian is the best cook? (I know kinda sad, he cooked his own father's day meal.... but he did a great job!) It was actually a really fun relaxed night hanging out at home.

While Brian and Annika were putting together the marble track that was his father's day present she was talking to Brian and telling him what she wanted for Big Sisters Day. She asked when it was. Pretty funny. Maybe we will have to invent a holiday at our house for Annika called Big Sister's day!

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day weekend we went camping with my family! It was a lot of fun. Even though it rained most of the weekend, and even snowed on us Saturday night, it was a fun trip. We went camping at a place up by Coalville. Even though it snowed and rained we still had fun. The girls slept out in the tent with us both nights, and even though it was freezing cold, I think they slept better there than they do at home. On Saturday night when it was snowing, we brought Annika into the tent and got her in her sleeping bag, and all of the sudden she was silent. Brian said "I think someone is finally warm" she looked at him and said "who?" he pointed his finger at her, and she got a big smile on her face and nodded. She looked so comfy all cuddled up in her sleeping bag. Both girls were amazingly happy for how cold and rainy it was. But when there were bits of sunshine we did some really fun stuff.

We went fishing. Then the boys played some Basketball. Then we went swimming. We got a couple games of horse shoes in there, and built a couple of fires. and we sat around and talked and ate a lot of good food! It was such a fun trip.

Goodbye

I know that this is a funny reason to post, but I keep looking through my pictures of things I need to blog about and I keep seeing this picture.

Funny it really makes me sad. I am no longer the proud owner of a beautiful pink Chevy Cavalier. (sad). And even though Brian has been the proud driver of this pink car for over 3 years ( I passed it to him when I was pregnant with Annika because I needed a car that was easier to get in and out of with my huge belly!) I am still so sad to see it go! The cavalier was such a great car, and has been with me since before Brian and I were a couple! (see I am getting all teary just thinking about it!) Ok I'm done. It was a good car and it was sad to see it go.

We got a new car, and we asked our neighbor to help us look for it. He said we needed to make up a list of things we wanted in our new car and things that we didn't want. He said joking "and I expect to see on that list no pink!" :) So we have a new White Honda Pilot. I love it, and I know that Brian loves driving a silver SUV over a Pink Cavalier. It is just the end of an era. But I can't wait for all of the memories we will have of our family in the new car. :) Good bye pink Cavalier! You will be missed!

Gymnastic Meet

Annika had her first Gymnastics meet. She did so good and was so cute! They had a cowboy theme and they all wore cowboy hats out at the beginning. She did the spring board, then the uneven bars, then the balance beam, and then some stuff on the floor. I was impressed that she didn't care at all that there were so many people watching. In the end she got a metal and a gatorade (She called it an alligator! Good Job Annika!

Mothers Day

Mothers Day was wonderful! we just spent the day at home and relaxed. Brian made me some empanadas. ( I am married to the best cook ever! Just if any of you didn't already know.) They were so good! I got a beautiful bouquet of Gerber daisy's and Annika picked me out a very cute Minnie mouse mothers day card! :) So much fun.







Brian also gave me a wonderful little get away. So the next weekend we went up to Logan and left the girls with my parents. It was so much fun! I was so nervous to leave the girls... Ady especially because it was the first time we had left her over night. But they did great! I am sure they were spoiled to death while we were gone, and probably didn't even miss us!
Brian and I spent the night at the Anniversary Inn. They have a bikers Roadhouse room, it has a pinball machine, and a pool table. The description of the room showed a fountain drink machine, and the description said it had soda. I was just expecting to drink my heart out all night long. and we got to the room and there were four little bottles of soda... So we made a trip to Albertsons and stocked up on 2-liters, and we were good. It was a great Mothers Day followed by a great little getaway! So much fun!

The next day after we picked the girls up, my family went to Willow park to look at the animals. Ady liked looking at the birds. (Bird is one of the few signs that she will do.)

Birthday Party

We had a little party for Ady's first birthday. We had our families over and celebrated. Brian made some really goo BBQ pork. I made a selection of cupcakes, and different frosting, and set out different toppings, so everyone got to decorate their own cupcake. It was fun to see what everyone came up with.
Ady got spoiled by all of her grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles. It was so much fun to have family come over and celebrate Ady!
We gave Ady a big cupcake, and she dug right in and loved it!
Thank you to everyone for coming, it was a fun party!

Ady enjoying her cupcake





Opening presents. Of course Annika was in on all of the action!



My mom, Austin, and Grandma Jarrett


Annika enjoying her cupcake!


Ady is the center of attention! There were so many cameras pointed at her. :)


Ady got a swing from my parents and we had to try it out.

Adalyn turns 1

Can you believe that a whole year has gone by since we brought this sweet little baby home from the hospital?


In a way it seems like soooo long ago, but on the other had it seems like just yesterday she would curl up and snuggle with me.

Ady has been so much fun to have in our family. She is such a mellow little girl. Most of the time she just sits back and watches what we are doing.

Here are some fun facts about Ady:
-She stood up in the middle of the yard all by herself for the first time on her birthday! (She has been standing up next to things for a while, but she stood up without holding on to anything!) But she still isn't walking.
- She only has 4 teeth, two on top and two on bottom.
- She weighs 20 lbs. 7 oz. which is 40% (as compared to the 95% when she was born. remember 10 lbs 2 oz.)
- She is 29.5 in tall
- She loves her little stuffed puppy and he goes pretty much everywhere with us.
- She loves to play with her ball she will roll a ball back and forth with you.
- When she pats the ball, it means she wants you to dribble it.
- She loves to play outside, she loves her swing and the cozy coupe car.
- She loves to eat dirt and sand
- She loves her big sister, and tries to do anything that she does.
-She waves to the cars out on the road, when she is standing on the chair in the living room.
- She gives kisses, and is really good at puckering up.
- She really like animals, and gets excited to see them.
-She says mama, dada, and when ever she sees her stuffed dog she says dodo.
- She points and the fish and then signs fish, and when I am cooking she puts her hand out and does the sign for hot.
- She climbs on anything that she can. She has been found standing up on top of chairs and tables.


She is such a smart, fun, determined little girl. We are so glad that she is ours! Happy Birthday Adalyn we love you!

Hogal Zoo

On Monday May 2nd I took the girls to Hogal Zoo. It was a fun little trip. Both girls really liked looking at all of the animals.


I guess whatever was wrong with Annika's finger was much more interesting to look at than the camel!

Ady had been carrying around a little soccer ball the whole time through the zoo. While we were in looking at the orangutang family Ady dropped her ball and it rolled away. The baby orangutang came right over to the glass, and sat and stared at the ball and the girls. It was really fun to have it come right over to the glass.

The girls were having a great time playing on these little tigers.

It was a fun little trip to the zoo!