It was a Lupe evening!!

Dear Maizy,

Last Thursday night (August 25th) we went downtown to the Twilight Concert to see Lupe Fiasco perform.  I got home from work, got ready and we headed into town.  We found parking and walked to Pioneer Park for the concert.  OMG!!  We were SOOOOO mad at ourselves for forgetting the camera.  You were so amazing to watch.  We got into the park and put you down so you could walk around and walk/run around you did.  You were waving at people and people were waving at you.  You made everyone smile that saw you.  Some people were sitting on the grass in a circle and you would walk over to them and sit down - SOOOOOOO cute!!  Everyone responded to you with open arms and smiles - how could they not!?!? One lady even said that she could kidnap you! Um, yeah we snatched you up and walked away real quick. 

I love nights like that where you put your father and I in awe, but that is every night of course.  I just wish I could pause those moments and take it all in - the sky, the smells, the sounds - everything! But time goes too fast.

Aunt Brittany bought you this darling onesie, it says Easystreet Records!

We left the park when it started getting more crowded and dark.  We stopped on a grassy area to listen to the music for a bit and met a group of ladies sitting by us.  The LOVED you!  They all picked you up, chased after you, held you and talked to you, it was all really cool.  They teach baby survival swimming, which I would love for you to do, they argued about who would teach you if we signed you up!!



I LOVE your face!!  I can't smooch you enough.

After we hung out with the nice ladies we walked back to the car and you fell asleep almost immediately - you were worn out!  So were we.

It was a great, great night!  We sure love you kid.

You are always SOOOOO happy!!!  I love you more than you'll ever know.

Love,
mommy

Go Bees! Go Bees!

Dear Maizy,

On Thursday August 18 your father and I took you to your first Salt Lake Bees game.  It was a beautiful evening.  We received tickets and a complimentary dinner from my work.  We arrived, got some food and sat down at the pavilion.  Right off the bat (no pun attended) people were raving about how adorable you are and how beautiful your eyes are.  There was a girl on our table that didn't smile or say one word until she saw you.  She saw how I was feeding you and wanted to help - you made her night. 

After dinner we walked around a bit.  We brought your stroller, but you didn't have time for that you wanted to walk and pretty much run! And run you did. 

You father had put you in a darling little dress but by the middle of the evening we had to change you - you get pretty dirty playing nowadays.  You walked along the sidewalk in the middle of hte hustle and bustle and smiled and waved at most everyone.

Other kids would come up to you and play, it was really cute.  We love nothing more than watching you explore and learn things for yourself. 

You also made friends with a really cute, friendly couple from Australia.  Chris and Wendy.  They even shared their lemonade with you.  They were all about you.  We talked to them for a while about you,  Utah and baseball. They were from Sydney and were here in the U.S. traveling all over.  They were in Alaska where your Aunt Brittany was, it really was very fascinating.

We had a great, great night!  Baseball games last forever and we stayed to just about the end of the game.  We just let you wear yourself out and that you did.

I know you had a great night and that makes my sleep much more peaceful at night.

I love you baby!

Love,
mommy

Too much fun!!!

Dear Maizy,

It's already Wednesday and I am just getting to talk about our weekend now and what a good weekend it was!!

Friday when I got home from work we decided to take you to Instacare.  You had a diaper rash that would not go away.  There were a few late nights that you were in pain - SOOOO sad!!  It had cleared up a little but not a ton.  So we got to the clinic and the doctor just adored you!! She commented on how beautiful and busy you are (that's a compliment to me.  Who wants  a slug for a baby).  She, Dr. Sarah Croskell , commented on your awesome temperment and hwo you will always be awesome.  You were so cooperative and great while she checked your ears, throat, heart beat and belly.  She looked at your rash and told us it's completely normal for a baby your age, it's just an infection that likes to linger where it's warm and moist.  She gave us an ointment for you and it's healing nicely.

After the doctor's we went to dinner at Kitty Pappa's.  You were being a little character.  You were lifting your self up on the booth to see the people on the other side.  You are SO strong.  You have these amazing arm muscles!!  I was telling your father that we can't be surprised when you climb Mt. Everest at age 11!!!

After dinner we went home and relaxed, played a little and went to bed!! 

Saturday morning we slept in a little then got ready for the day to go to your cousin Trevin's birthday party.  You and I took a bath together - we had to after you decided to try dad's coffee and got it all down the front of you - good thing it wasn't hot!!

After bath time we went to Target to get Trevin a gift and you as well.  You needed some shoes to go with your new outift and had a gift card from your birthday you needed to spend.  This is the toy I maybe picked out for you.

On our drive down to Grandma Annette's I couldn't help but take these adorable pics!!

Gosh you make my heart smile!!

 We went down to Grandma Annette's to drive down with them to the party.  It was us, Grandma, Sienna and Uncle Paul, but before we left we had to have another photo op of you adorable girls!

We got to the party and NOTHING was set up yet - no chairs, no tables, no drinks and no food!!  You kids were just running around playing.  They were blowing up balloons for the party and they were too tall for you so I got a balloon and just blew it up for you to play with on the ground - well kids liked your balloon and would take it away form you. Needless to say, I turned into Mama Bear!!  I don't know what it is about older kids but whatever you had in your hands they wanted to play with - I was NOT happy!  But no worries I got your back girl! The birthday boy thought it was a good idea to push you down!  That made my blood boil especially since no one made him apologize or hug you better.  Have I mentioned I am not impressed with any of your cousins manners!?!

Anyway, you were having fun until your tiredness kicked in.  We were there for 3 hours!!  That's a long time and we didn't even get to see Trevin open his presents.  We didn't get home until 10pm so we pretty much went to bed.

Sunday we woke up, ate some pancakes for breakfast - thanks Dad!  Played and cleaned up the house.  It was a great day just being with you and your daddy!! We did run a few errands and stopped at Costco to get some stuff for the week.  I just cherish our weekends together.

Monday you and dad just kicked it at home.  Then when I got home from work we had Green Bean Casserole and bread for dinner then you and I went to the park.  It was lovely!!  You were kind of tired so you were just taking it all in from your stroller while we went around the park then we did stop in on the swings for a few - that always makes you smile. You also managed to try some sand - you didn't like it very much!

I love you dear Maizy!  I am loving every minute of being your mom!!

Love,
mommy

More Birthday Celebrating!!!

Dear Maizy,

We celebrated your birthday more last night.  Since your Grandpa was out of town for your birthday he wanted to take us out to celebrate and give you your gift. 

Grandpa came to the house about 7:30pm last night.  You were sleeping so we woke you up when Grandpa arrived.  We opened a gift to us, it was a camcorder!! YAY!!!  To capture all of your milestones, I wish we would have had this on Sunday to record your birthday!!  Then you opened your present.  You received this piggy bank full of silver coins!!! $115 to be exact.

Grandpa also gave you a big, soft blanket of Tangled!!  Super cute!!!  Then we got you dressed all cute for our adventure.  See.............

We headed to Orchard Lanes for some dinner and fun!!  And fun we had!!  The boys got burgers and you and I shared chicken fingers, fries and salad.  Then we went to the arcade.  You really like the arcade for it's music and bright lights, it's cute!!
We all played skeeball and I believe your dad won the most tickets from that.  Then the 3 of us played a game against each other and I WON 100 tickets!!!  After we played for a while we cashed in our tickets for some loot. See............

We got some dice to hang from the rear view mirror or better yet a toy for you to munch on - it's soft and feels good on your teeth I bet!!  Then we got a hacky sack and some tootsie rolls!

It was such a fun, fun night!!  I love my dad so much and know what an important role they are in your life and that is why I am so glad that you and your father have a special bond!

We all had a great night!!

Yay for Dads. Grandpa. And Birthdays!!

Love you!!
Love,
mommy



Happy Birthday!!!

Dear Maizy,

Yesterday was your first birthday and what a great one it was.  I know it was only your first birthday but it was one of the best days I've had too.  Your father and I heard you in your crib so we made our way to your room and busted open the door while singing "Happy Birthday!"  You love it!!  You were so cute and we really think you knew it was a special day for you. 

We played for a while and got ready for your party at the same time. Challenging.  Grandma Shelly came and got you and took your to her house to get you all ready for the party while we did the all the party prep.

Your father smoked a pork for 8 hours the day prior, it was very labor intensive but it was worth it. Then I made about 48 cupcakes and your "smash" cake!!  I had so much fun decorating your cake.  I wanted it to look lovely and show that it was special and made for one adorable girl in particular and it did!  I think so anyway.

So your father and I decorated the park pavilion with crepe paper, hanging signs, balloons and sidewalk chalk. 

Your party was supposed to start at 11:30 but that all came too quickly.  So we were running a little behind and you didn't show up until 12:30 - fashionably late.

Here is a list of everyone that attended:  Grandma Annette,  Aunt Jen, Aunt Deb, Siennna. Great Aunt JoLynne, Great Uncle Ed (Kookie), September, Misty, Great Aunt Tina and her daughters - Emaly, Jenna and Isabelle. My friend Kristy and her son Gavin.  My friend Shalese.  My friend Tasha Long and her two kids - Taylor and Colton. Nahum Sebastian and a girl friend of his. Tracy (Grandma Frank's bestie).  Uncle Paul came later.  Grandma Shelly and Grandpa Glen.  Great Grandma and Grandpa Hatch.  My friend's Sara and Todd. 

Aunt Brittany would have LOVED to be there but she is in Alaska working on a cruise ship but she did send you the cutest little outfit ever!!

Grandpa Frank was on a motorcycle ride for the weekend but we are going to celebrate your birthday with him this week. More fun to come!!

After a delicious lunch of pork sandwiches, potato salad (Aunt Jenn), baked beans (Grandma Annette), cold drink and chips (G-ma Shelly and G-pa Glen) we opened gifts. Everyone was so giving and wonderful.  You got some really, really nice gifts.  It was just such an awesome day to see everyone and for everyone to see you!!  They LOVED you!!  You were in a good mood as always, was walking around and being passed around a lot too!!  I couldn't have asked for a better day.

After gifts we took your shirt off and gave you your smash cake to go to town in.  You did awesome.  You grabbed all that frosting off the cake and ate a handful!!  SO CUTE!!!  You were making everyone laugh.  They were especially laughing when you saw the dress that cousin Misty gave you, you were hugging it like crazy and making us all roar with laughter.

After presents we just mingled while you played in the grass with Aunt Deb and walked around in the sun.  Then we had to clean up the pavilion and head home. 

We got home played with your toys, you got in a much needed bath,  Uncle Paul came over for a few, we munched on leftovers, Uncle Paul left and we all took a much needed nap!!

I just can not believe how fast the year has gone by, it's been such an awesome year.  You fill my heart with so much love.  You make me want to be a better person and mommy every day. I can't thank you enough for everything that you bring to my life.  I know your dad feels the same way. You are just so full or life.  I love the innocence and curiosity you have. 

I love you baby girl!!  I am already starting to think what we're going to do next year to celebrate your birthday!

Love you tonz and tonz.

Love,
mommy

3 More Days!!

Dear Maizy,

You are going to be one year old in about 72 hours.  That just sounds crazy to me.  It went from going days old, to weeks, to months and now a year.  Where has the time gone!?!  They say time flies when you're having fun, well, they ain't lyin'.  This has been the most awesome year of my life full of laughter, tears of joy, smiles and an overwhelming amount of love.

It's going to be really hard to type this without bawling my eyes out.  I've loved your before you were even born and now that I know you the love I have for you is unexplainable. 

I have loved every stage of your life so far. Some of them are so brief too.  Like your growling stage comes and goes for short periods at a time as for your bubble blowing.

I loved the "just born" stage with the peace in  watching you sleep, hearing your little noises you'd make, feeding you from my body into yours, feeling your warmth on my chest or nuzzled up into my chin, wondering what you were dreaming while sleeping, your weightlessness while holding you,  kissing your wrinkled little forehead, comparing your small hands to mine, looking at your toes and trying not to devour them every minute of every day, just staring at you and wondering what parts of you came from me or your father. 

I loved the stage where you started smiling more and more, taking an interest in your surroundings,  didn't sleep as much so we could interact more,  watching your eyes light up at a familiar face, sound or toy you liked, dressing you in your darling outfits, watching you roll over for the first time and  watching you want to crawl so bad.

I remember the first time we gave you solid food, it was exciting, but also sad for me.  I was no longer your only source of nourishment, your were growing .And. Fast. It made me. Sad.  Then there was seeing you hold your sippy cup for a drink and grab your spoon to feed yourself. My heart broke a little. This was a small step towards your independence. Natural progression, I suppose.

I loved watching you discover the stairs at the house and climbing them at lightening speed.
To this day I can say you have never fell down them. Good Job Baby.

Then watching you take your first steps brought tears to my eyes.  We were so proud of you.  You were proud of you.  You are such a strong willed, happy, good, funny, sweet spirited little girl.

We are celebrating our first year together on your actual birth day at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake by our home with friends, family and good food.  I know it's going to be a wonderful day!  I may be a big bawl baby that day, but understandably so.  I just know that our life is only ever going to get better and better.

I hope your first year was as wonderful as mine.

Love you!!

Love,
mommy

*It* Happens

Dear Maizy,

I hear that all kids do this and I was patiently waiting for your day to arrive and was also hoping it'd occur on a day I was at work and WHEW it did!

Your dad went in to get you from your nap and you had *it* everywhere!!  All over your crib, bedding, your outfit, your hair, your bottle, your face, under your finger nails and maybe just, maybe near your mouth. Yuck!

I don't hold you completely responsible for this.  I blame the cheap diapers we had to buy at the local market because that is all they offered (last time I buy Western Family diapers). 

Your dad was given a great, big, dirty, stinky surprise, but at least you were smiling. 

He called me to tell me all about *it* and then put you in the tub.  Eeeeeeewwww!!  We felt so bad.

I got home from work and you would never, ever know what previous shenanigan you had gotten yourself into.  You were super clean, dressed all cute, had your shiny hair going on and a big smile on your face.

I did have the pleasure of cleaning up your crib and some of the bedding. Wow!

All better!!

Love you!!

Love,
mommyIf you ever want to hear about my similar experience as a young child, because yes *it* happens to all of us - call your Great Aunt JoLynne.  She will tell you all about it.

Too fast

Dear Maizy,

You are going to be a year old in 11 days.  I CAN NOT believe it.  This has been the best year of my life.  I am blessed every day to see your smiling face, watch you learn, grow and see your face light up at things you like. I think of all the great things I have witnessed and I am reminded there is a God that loves us very, very much.  This year has gone by too fast though.  There are so many moments I wish I could pause and really take in the view, the smells, the sounds and just everything that experience has to offer. 

I can remember the day you were born perfectly!  It was such a wonderful and exciting moment. That was one day for sure I wish I could have paused and taken in every single moment. That day had such a sense of peace, love and excitement that you were now in our arms for us to love, cherish and care for.  Your dad and I can not possibly love you more. There is no such greater love. 

We love and adore you so much.  We get the biggest kick out of the sounds and faces you make, the way you interact with people and your toys, the way you eat and drink and try new things, your little shenanigans, your determination, your mini tantrums you now do when tired, the way you sleep, your beautiful and contagious smile. The way you touch and look at things.  How you put everything in your mouth.  The way your eyes light up when you are excited about something.
When I get home from work, it's all about you.  We play, read books, wrestle, talk, watch Dora the Explorer, go to the park, run errands, go out to dinner or go visiting Grandmas.  You and I also have bath time.  I give you a bath every evening and I love those moments we share! You are so fun and expressive. 

This one year has been truly so amazing. You and your father make my life great!!

I also can't stress enough how much attention you get either from EVERYONE!  Hostess', waitress', bank workers, cashiers, strangers, passerbys, family, friends, neighbors, other kids, other babies, just everyone!! No joke.

I say that if you were ever to come up missing - heaven forbid - everyone would be a suspect.  I wouldn't even know where to look first.

Your first birthday celebration is on your actual birthday.  We invited lots of family and friends, we are having it at a park, I am making you your own cake to devour and I just know it's going to be a wonderful, wonderful celebration!!!!

I love you!!

Love,
mommy

Dang teeth!!!

Dear Maizy,

You are teething SO bad right now and it's super, super sad!  It is your big back teeth that are coming in.  You are drooling a ton and pulling at your ears and mouth.  Last night was the roughest night yet that you experienced.  You were screaming and it was awful to watch you go through.  We gave you medicine, but that didn't help too much, your chest was sopping wet with drool, we gave you a teether from the freezer but it couldn't quite reach your back teeth and you chucked it across the room. Oh and I also gave you a piece of twizzlers to chew on and you LOVED that! 

Your dad and I felt so hopeless and sad.  If we could take the pain away from you baby we would.

Prior to your terrible teething Sunday we went to the zoo and had a fantastic time.  We met my friend Sara Farley and her family there.  They all adored you!! How could they not look at you.

There was a drum circle by the elephant exhibit and you followed your way to the music.  In your hand is a shaker of sorts - too cute!!  See your dad jammin' out.

You and Christian (Sara's son adore each other).  It was a great, great day!!  I love every minute that I get to spend with you. 

On Saturday we had a family party and some of our relatives from Idaho were there.  They got the biggest kick out of your smiling face, busy feet taking you everywhere and the excitement you showed in watching the other kids run around - you'll be there soon enough my darling!

Today, Monday,  you are going with all your cousins on your father's side and your Grandma Annette to go get your picture taken today.  I can not wait to see them!!!!! Your Grandma got you all outfits for the shoot and I heard a rumor that you are the only one wearing a dress - too cute you are!!

Love you!!

Love,
mom