Happy First Birthday, Bug!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Evie Bug, I can't believe you are one year old already! The past twelve months have flown by and we've had some awesome adventures. The best adventure of all, though, has been watching you learn and grow every step of the way. 

I could spend hours reminiscing about all the fun times our family has had together--hiking to Jones Hole and letting Lucy trespass, playing airplane in the living room to chase Lucy with you strapped to my chest (you couldn't even hold your head up), to the many times you tried to eat Lucy's dog food... and the few times you succeeded. But so much has happened in the past month alone, I'll stay there. 

Every day your sweet little funny personality shines more and more. You are the light and center of Mommy and Daddy's lives! You have the sweetest smile that lights up any room and the silliest laugh that sends us all into giggles. You have the saddest cry that Mommy and Daddy break all the rules for to dry and the best most snuggly cuddles ever. You are so beautiful and we are so lucky to have you!

You are so smart and are learning to communicate with Mommy and Daddy so well. You only say "Da-da" so far, but you use some sign language to tell us the rest. You know how to ask for "food" and you always ask Mommy for a treat when we get in the stroller to go for a walk or as I'm laying you down for a nap. You know how to say "again" and you understand when Mommy tells you "no more treats" and "get your knee off the dishwasher". 

You love to help Mommy do laundry and clean the dishes by pulling dirty spoons out. You love to help Mommy unload clean dishes from the drawer onto the floor and to chase the broom as I sweep.  You love to hold onto the hose and help Mommy water the grass. You love to sneak into the pantry to pull cans off the shelves, to sneak around the makeshift barricade and scurry up the stairs, to climb on Lucy's box of toys to bang on a box. 

 

You love playing with Lucy's toys and have to be reminded often to not put them in your mouth. You're starting to understand what toys you throw for Lucy and which ones you can chew on. You love playing with Lucy and will go wake her up from naps by slapping her nose so she'll play with you. You're learning to share and always share your food with Lucy even when Mommy and Daddy would prefer you eat it. 

This last month you took your first step and within the week you were off toddling around on your own. Now you're so speedy on your feet that you practically run. The other day you kept running off from Mommy at the park so you could explore all of the grass. 

You eat real food most of the time but you still have a dairy allergy so we're being careful. We give you lots of food with soy in it, though, and your tummy does great! You love bananas and Cheerios, portobello pork chops and spaghetti. You don't let oatmeal sit on your tongue for more than a heartbeat and chicken always find its way onto the floor.  

One of your favorite games is to scrunch up your face and sniff really loud and then to blow all the air through your nose as fast as you can. You laugh and laugh especially when Mommy and Daddy do it back to you and we have 'sniff-offs'. Sometimes you blow so hard that boogies come out! 

More than anything, you love to make a mess. Nothing should be where it belongs. You pull your toys OUT of the toy box, toss rocks AWAY from their trails in front yards, UNFOLD clothes folded in my clean laundry pile, slip cans OFF the pantry shelves, take Lucy's dog food OUT of her bowl, throws food OFF your tray, spits food OUT of your mouth... 

But we love trying to keep up with you! 

At the end of such busy days, you sleep soundly like a pill bug all night long. A pill bug because your favorite sleeping position is with your booty as high up in the air as you can get it. 

We've had lots of adventures this past month and each one only helped you grow away from being our baby girl into a little one. 

We went to Utah County and spent a day at Deer Creek Reservoir with family. You played with your cousins and grandma and grandpa. You kayaked and floated, ate rocks from the dry sand and dug in the wet. You fell asleep for only forty-five minutes the entire day and were a rockstar! No sunburns for you either--just a lot of fun! 

The fourth of July was a blast as we watched your first parade up close. You got your second wind come Pioneer day and we got to watch all of the horses, floats, and performers for the second time! You loved watching all the commotion and trying to escape off our blanket onto the oily road. 

We hiked up Flume Interpretive Trail but could only go a mile before Lucy got heat exhaustion and burnt paws and we had to turn around. 

You are up for any and all adventures! We couldn't imagine life without you and are so grateful Heavenly Father sent you to live with us. We love you and can't wait for what this next year will bring!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

And of course, because I have too many photos I just love...

Library Play Time -- Look at that concentration!

Learning to slurp your eggs from a bowl

Library Wiggle Time

Playing with new friends at the library