Daddy's girl

I just got the cutest pictures of Cecily with her daddy, and then being just like her daddy.....

Looking SWEET with their sweat bands...

This may not look like much, but there are two very important elements to this picture:

1) She is holding corn

Ryan loves corn more than anyone I know. And in any form ...popcorn, corn bread, etc, and he pounds about 4 cobs of it if I ever make it with dinner. Tonight we went to Famous daves, and she would not let this go!!! She gnawed on it the whole time, and then carried it around with her for about 20 minutes after we got home. I was afraid she was going to sleep with it!!!

2) She's sticking her tongue out

Ryan is so cute--whenever he's focusing on something really hard he sticks his tongue out just like this. I've always playfully teased him for it, and now she's doing the same thing. It's kind of funny to me.

Already technologically ahead of me!!

My mom always says how different our generation is from hers since we've been raised with technology. The poor thing has so much trouble even just drafting a word document. She is finally pretty good at copying and pasting, and she's got emailing down!!! The big challenge now is that I'm trying to teach my parents how to blog! That's quite the feat, let me tell you!!! (Sorry mom and dad, but you know it's true.) It took about an hour to help them learn how to post a picture.

My point is, I'm not even very good with technology so I just know that I'm going to have Cecily trying to teach me stuff when I'm older, and she'll be like "mom, seriously, this is so easy, I can't believe you don't get it." (I'm actually very patient with my mom, I hope Cecily will follow suit...)

Anyway, I think I get really philosophical at 4 am, because all I wanted to do is post pictures of Cecily with my iPod, (which is almost completely unrelated to what I just blabbed on and on about for two paragraphs. But I can just see her downloading podcasts for her preschool lessons.) It's super cute though, the pictures speak for themselves. Every time I get it out, she must listen to it. She puts the little ear phones up to her ears and starts dancing. She thinks she's so cool!! And she totally is, look at the do!

She also got really into it and started turning around in a circle--I guess a new dance move. She's got quite a few now--and they seem to have a common theme of spinning in circles....I tried to get it on video but she stopped every time I got it out! Figures.

Can't sleep!!!!

If you look at the time this was posted, you'll realize I'm having trouble sleeping!!! Usually I just have trouble falling asleep, (that's when I blog the most--check the times, my posts are often anywhere from midnight to 2 am) but tonight Cecily woke up about 2 and couldn't get back to sleep. She kept coughing--but she's not sick, it's a strange dry cough--and then she was crying I think in pain from teething. So when I finally got her calmed down and back to sleep I was wide awake. I've been reading and am nowhere close to dreamland so I thought I'd do the usual: blog! But I just have to vent and say how annoying it is to not be able to sleep!!! Does anyone else have this problem and advice to go with it? My wonderful mother-in-law is getting me some lavender oil that she swears by, because she's had trouble sleeping too. I think it's a mom thing. I remember my mom saying all the time that she couldn't sleep, or wakes up and can't get back. I think this officially makes me a mom!!! Oh no, I've got a lifetime of this left! If it's this bad now, what happens when my kids are teenagers......

Sunday walks to the Park

This sunday Ryan and I combined our families for Sunday dinner since the Christians are missing our parents, and the Stevens are missing three kids! It was really fun, we barbequed burgers, and then took a sunday stroll to the elementary school park. I have the best families ever!

Pics of the lone tooth

Ok so I managed to get a couple pictures of her little tooth. Some of them I had to force because, of course, you can never get kids to smile when the camera's around. But I had to tickle her when she grabbed for the camera and I finally got some good smiles. So here's the little guy!!

Giggling....

This is Cecily's post-pony fauxhawk. I love it!
This was the funniest little smile ever!

See my trick!!!

Friday night we went over to Dave and Melissa's to watch the Jazz game (oh sad!) and out of the blue Ceci whipped out this sweet move. I don't know where she got it, but it cracked me up!!! My future little B girl!

Late bloomer

So I'm posting this now even though I don't have a cute picture yet so that I won't forget to document this! Cecily just barely got her first tooth about 3 weeks ago, on the 28th. So she was almost 13 months old!! Late bloomer I guess. I gotta say, I was pretty relieved because I was starting to have nightmares of her being 5 and still no teeth, and pictured my little kindergartener bringing baby food for lunch!! JK, I was kind of glad she's getting them late--I haven't had to deal with trying to brush her teeth! I just will be glad when this next one's through...she has not been my happy little girl lately!

Frolf!!!!

This weekend was so much fun! Melissa had the fabulous idea to go frisbee golfing (or as Dave would call it: 'frolfing') for a date night this Saturday. So we got sweet Bishop Derksen and his wife and girls to watch Cecily for us and we went. It was so fun to enjoy the beautiful weather--the sun was starting to go down so the light was golden and it wasn't too hot. And it is such a fun game! The park has cement places for where you tee off, and these metal basket things with chains to keep them from bouncing out--we even had the official frisbee disks that the 'pros' use cuz I guess Ryan used to go all the time with his buddies in college. He was good too!! We won every hole cuz of him, I was so impressed. I felt like we were dating again--we haven't done a date 'activity' like this for such a long time. Now that we have a kid, just being able to go to a movie and get popcorn is such a treat. But I'm so happy it's finally warm and we can really enjoy doing outside things. I so wish I would've brought my camera, I have no fun pics to share!! But I'll get some next time, we'll definitely be going again.

Look at me Nani and Opa!!! 2 videos now!

We took this clip on Saturday. We were washing our cars at Ryan's parents house, and she was trying to balance walking on the slanted driveway. She has a couple good saves. I got her to do "so cute" too. The first time she did it, I was at lunch with Amelia for her birthday, and Ceci was smiling all cheesy, so Amelia said "Cecily you're so cute!" and she totally put her little hand up on her cheek and tilted her face. We laughed so hard, I don't know if she knew what she was doing, or how fitting it was, but it was perfect. So that day I just reinacted her little gesture when I told her she was cute, and she picked it right up and has been doing it 'on call' ever since. It really came in handy when we got her 1-year pictures taken!! What a little ham!

So I finally got some batteries for our little digital camera so I can get some video clips of Cecily toddling around. I haven't figured out how to download actual video tape footage from my camcorder, but this will work perfectly for now. I wanted Cecily's Nani and Opa in South Africa to see her walking! This is such a fun age, I love all the things she is learning.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: Blog Edition

Yay, I finally have a cutesied-up blog header. But this was my first attempt, so those of you who are pro, just tell me I did a wonderful job anyway!!! I really am super proud of myself cuz I did it on my own!! I feel like a little toddler that says "I wanna do it myself!!!" I'm such a big girl!!

Silly Seats

Being a mom can be challenging, especially when it comes to figuring out how to keep a child busy and entertained, (and safe!), while one tries to do one's hair!!!! Not an easy task, that's for sure. But luckily, I've found a special little spot for my little one that she loves! I plop her right in the sink, on a towel to make it a little more comfy, and toss in some hair elastics for her to make a mess with, and a comb or whatever is within reach, and she stays quite content for as long as I need! She always gets her turn too, and loves getting her hair done. I've had so much fun trying out little hair dos! Her other favorite thing is to do her makeup while I do mine. She grabs a brush and MUST dip it in the powder, and then put it on her face. She is always so proud of herself!

Had to include the super cheesy smile....



And of course the cute little hairdo..... I love the curls!

She also found an interesting place to sit today at our playdate. She sat right on a mini soccer ball at Tiffany's house. I don't know how she balanced, but she wiggled as it moved, and stayed on. She's just trying to strengthen her core I guess!

Painting (Again!)

Well, those of you who have known me for a while will not be the least bit surprised to hear that I've been busy painting! I am pretty much notorious for not leaving any walls white! It's an addiction, there's got to be a name for it.... Anyway, this time the victim was my piano studio. I've actually been needing to do this for a while, since almost two years ago (wow, I can't believe it's been that long) I painted the walls half-way up, intending to paint the top half a different color and put a chair rail, but never did, and also put up home-made drapes that never got hemmed!!! It's been a really sad sight for a long time, and it's just one of those things that's been last on my priority list. So the other day, we went to Lowe's to price out carpet-- (Cecily spit up A LOT when she was tiny, and we've got the stains to prove it)--and we ended up walking out with a gallon of paint! It happens. So I've included some before and after shots. I would love to hear what you guys think!! I would like a rating of 1-10. (I'm just trying to force everyone to leave me a comment!) Thanks!

BEFORE (ignore the candid photo of me, Tiffany, and Lizz)

AFTER Yes, I did sew those drapes all by myself, just don't look too closely....and I'm not done with the wall decor yet...waiting for more funds

And the bathroom is under contruction, stay tuned for the update (I know you all just can't wait!!!)

All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother

This mother's day is the first that I cannot personally hug and kiss my mom and tell her how much she means to me since she is in South Africa! But I wanted her and everyone else to know what a beautiful and sweet mother I have!!!! I really have the most perfect and wonderful mom in the world!

I have a fond memory of my mom that seems really simple and insignificant, but represents so much for me. It was about 3-1/2 years ago, and we had planned to attend the Women's conference in the conference center. In order to get a seat you have to arrive 30 minutes early, but I had to work that day and would be cutting it really close to make it on time. We'd just planned to meet there, at the fountain in front at a certain time. Well, I left my shift a little late, and traffic and parking were horrible, and I was a mess having been in the sun all day, and was so stressed and flustered trying to run to make it in the doors. I couldn't call my mom because she didn't have a cell phone at the time, and I thought for sure she would have just gone in, or at worst was looking around anxiously for me. Well, as I was running up, there was a break in the crowds just enough for me to see her, sitting so calmly and patiently right where we were supposed to meet. She wasn't looking around, wasn't even looking at her watch. I don't know how to describe how sweet that was for me to see my mom amidst the chaos, sitting there knowing I would come, and knowing she wouldn't move until I did. Then she saw me coming and smiled and didn't even ask why I was late or looked like such a mess. She was delighted to see and just gave me a hug and we walked in together.

That moment flooded a lot of emotion of me because it represented what a rock my mom is for me in my life. Amidst all the ups and downs, the chaos and confusion that life can bring, my mom has always been my rock and my sanctuary. I've always known that I (and my siblings) came first above everything else. I have never felt like her job as a schoolteacher or anything has taken priority over us and our needs. I can't tell you how many times she has dropped what she has planned to do to help out one of her kids in some way, whether it be to go shopping, or watch grandkids, or whatever.

More than anything she has been my spiritual rock. Everything she has taught me I've learned from her example. She is one of the most faithful and valiant members of the church that I know and loves the Lord with all her heart. Where she is right now is a perfect example! It was so hard for her to leave her family and go on a mission, but she wanted to do whatever she could to serve so she went! I only hope to be half the mother and person that my mom is!!

I love you mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Girls just wanna have fun

So I had the funnest weekend with some awesome friends: Keelee, Lizz, Brooke, Tiffany, and Melissa. We've been talking for a while about how fun it would be to do an over-nighter at a hotel, and figured this weekend was perfect since we were all planning on doing the Race for the Cure 5K the next morning. So we got a room at the Radisson and made it happen! I definitely think this is going to have to be an annual thing!

For all our husbands who wondered if we were gonna have pillow fights and braid each other's hair, we just couldn't disappoint, so.....

I've been blessed with some incredible friends! I feel so lucky! Thanks for a fun weekend! Love ya!

Enjoying Springtime!

Well, since it's been over two weeks since I last posted, I thought I should update our little blog!! I swear I'll get the hang of this, don't give up on me yet. But I got some cute pictures of Cecily at the park at our play date with Tiffany and Brooke. And Camille and Miranda joined us this time, fun stuff. The more the merrier! Sayer and Ceci had a great time in the swing together. And Cecily loved the slides---in fact she climbed right up the stairs and went down the big huge swirly slide herself! She got to the top before I could reach her, and then sat right down and she took off. She plopped right onto her bum off the slide, and seemed pretty alarmed, but didn't cry or anything. Needless to say, she steered clear of it after that, but had a fun time crawling all over the jungle gym. We are just trying to enjoy the beautiful days when they decide to make an appearance!

Cecily's 12 month photos

Ok, now that Cecily has turned 13 months I am going to post her 12 month pictures. Makes sense right?! Anyway, I had to include a look-alike comparison with me when I was little. See the resemblance?