My Baby is 1! *tear*

Little Miss Carly Rae turned one year old last week! So crazy. I love first birthdays. For some reason I just feel like it's such a milestone. Maybe more for the parents than anything. Woohoo I survived the first year and my kid is still alive!

On her birthday she got balloons in her bed......

And a new baby doll!

She was pretty happy about it too!

This little firecracker is such a joy. She really is such a good baby. Some special things about Carly:

• Such a good sleeper!!! This I think was the one thing that has kept me semi-sane with having three young kids. Especially in the beginning. She has slept through the night since she was born. No joke. At the hospital I would send her to the nursery at 10 pm with the request to have her brought to me when she woke up so I could nurse. I wouldn't see her until 7 am. Bless you Carly.
• She has 4 teeth. Two on the top and two on the bottom. So cute.
• She has a reverse mullet. Her hair is super long in the front, almost to her chin, and then doesn't even reach her neck in the back. Kind of bizarre.
• She isn't walking yet but walks along furniture and can stand on her own for long periods of time. Just hasn't taken any steps.
• She is such a happy and friendly baby. She will pretty much go to anyone which is so unlike the other two kids. They weren't so friendly as babies. And she smiles all the time. The only time she cries is if she pooped her pants or she's tired.
• She is NUTS about food. Oh. My. Gosh. She goes absolutely bat crap crazy over food. If you have something you better be willing to share. Don't even think about sitting at a table unless it's to eat. She's eats everything.
• Loves to dance! If I tell her "dance Carly" she'll start to bounce up and down. And she always dances whenever she hears any music. Adorable.
• She's super affectionate. Loves to snuggle and give hugs. I don't remember any of our other kids being so affectionate.
• She folds her arms during prayers. It makes me smile. We say "time for prayers" and she immediately folds her chubby little arms. She also folds them after every song in sacrament meeting. She always thinks a prayer is coming. Or maybe she's just hoping. :)
• Now after sharing all these sweet nice things about her I have to say she can be down right mean! Maybe it's a third child thing. She gets this look in her eye and she will crawl right over and smack you in the face, pull your hair, scratch you, whatever she feels necessary. Because she gets this distinct look on her face it makes me think it is absolutely premeditated. Such a stinker! She can definitely hold her own in this family but it makes me a little worried if we ever have a fourth kid.

Some pictures from her Little Lady(bug) party

Trying so desperately to get that bow out

You can't just have plain water bottles. That would be absurd. Or is it absurd to have decorated water bottles? I get confused.

Banner and tissue paper pompoms I made. Says "Happy 1st Birthday"

Ladybugs on a log. Man I thought I was so clever to think of this! Craisins instead of raisins. Haha! Not really that clever.

Present time. Lot of things that play music. She loves=I hate.

Cake! I thought she would go bananas over her cake seeing that she loves food. But she just ate it like a normal baby. Maybe it's because she had previously eaten 2 rolls, half an apple, and about 10 grapes.



I had to include this one because it is very rare to get a picture of the faces of these two! Chase and his cousin Kylie have become quite good friends.

Sleep Habits

Every night before Robert and I go to bed we check on all the kids to make sure no one is going to fall off the bed or suffocate or anything. And I swear, every night they are in the most bizarre positions. So I decided to document them. These were taken over three consecutive days and I was standing in the same spot every night. I don't know how they ever get any sleep. And how do we not have more falling off the bed incidents?!

He apparently found a sippy cup somewhere and decided to spill it all over his bed. And then lay right on top of it.

Under her is her comforter, pillow, ladybug pillow pet, and puppy.

Carly's pose of choice.

Crazy kids!

Randomness

*Emily made her first competition dance team! Woohoo! She's so excited. I'm excited too.

*Did anyone watch the show "The Week The Women Went?" I want to go on that show. Mainly just to get a break for a week. But the premise is that all the women over age 18 in the whole town leave for one week and chaos ensues. My favorite line from the first episode was from a dad with two kids. 9 year old son has severe ADHD and has to have his medication very regulated, which his wife always takes care of. Then they have a 7 year old girl and he said "She's a drama queen. And there ain't no medication for that." Haha.

*Michelle Obama is my hero. I just love her. Not even for political reasons. I just think she's an awesome lady.

*During the Olympics I got barely 5 hours of sleep per night. And thanks to Carly it was not consecutive. Ever since they ended on Sunday I've been sick. Lame.

*Is summer over yet? For reals.

The end.

A few months ago we were up at the Capitol to try and take some family pictures. Let's just say it didn't go so well. But I love these ones of each of our kids. They are so true to each of their personalities. Emily is the bubbly happy one. Chase is the more quiet and reserved one. And Carly is well, a baby, but she is always taking everything in. Very observant with her wide eyes. I love these kids!

Summer

It's no secret that I absolutely HATE the summer. And this one has been particularly bad since it's been so hot. I just hate being hot. Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy it and do some things with the kids even though I would really just like to sit in the basement all day and try not to melt.

At the end of June we went with some friends to the drive-in to see "Brave." It was really busy so we ended up putting the kids in the back of the car so they could see. They LOVED it!! They pretty much thought it was the funnest thing they've ever done. Robert and I enjoyed it too. Definitely something we want to do again.

Summer isn't complete without Taylorsville Dayzz. The parade was the morning after we went to the drive-in. So the kids went to bed at midnight and then were up early to go to the parade. I was a little worried because I took them to the parade by myself. But it actually went really smoothly. Other than being hotter than hades.

Chase took his flag waving duties VERY seriously.

And Carly spent the majority of the parade like this. Which, let's be honest, is fine by me!

And of course the letter carrier band

Happy Fourth of July!

So long old friend

The Escort is gone. Robert's older brother drove this car when he turned 16 (he's now 32) and then when he went on his mission Robert took over. So this car has been in the family for 16+ years. Crazy. Crazier thing? This car is a 1991 and it still works.

I can't say I'm really all that sad about it being gone. It has sentimental value for sure. We made out dated in that car. But it was time. It has sat undriven for about a year and weeds were starting to grow around it. And I'm glad to have our driveway back. Thanks Raul or whatever his name was for knocking on our door and offering us $150 to take it away. :) His exact words "This car no look good here my friend." Couldn't agree more.

Thanks for the memories.

Princess Festival 2012

This is the third year we've attended the Princess Festival. It was at Thanksgiving Point again this year. It's been pretty interesting to see the evolution of it over the last three years. But Emily always enjoys it and that's what matters. I really enjoyed it as well. It was nice to have some mommy-daughter time. That doesn't happen too often.

Every princess needs a carriage

Storytime with Belle

Belle

Getting her nails done

They have these princesses that they basically made up that teach different values of being a true princess. This is one of them. Princess Ilisa.

Another one. Princess Mila.

Storytime with Cinderella

Cinderella

Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. Captain Hook was there too (in the background) but Emily wanted nothing to do with him.

The Princess and the Pea and Rapunzel

Just a little quilting with Sleeping Beauty and Snow White

Sleeping Beauty

Snow White

Ariel

Tiana

Gotta have the face paint. Not the best picture.



They had to curtsy to the Queen of Hearts before she yelled off with their heads!

Playing crochet with the Queen of Hearts

Coloring with the Mad Hatter and Alice

Playing Queen of Hearts Says (Simon Says)

Alice and the Mad Hatter. They were my favorite of the whole day. They were really good with the girls.

They had a show during lunch time with a parade, dancing, and then the Osmond Girls sang.

I love my princess!