Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is Maddox's first Birthday! I can't believe it's been a year even though it seems we've lived a lifetime in the past 12 months. It all feels surreal, I haven't let myself think this far ahead. There was too much unknown, and I was trying to just enjoy the moments we had. I am so grateful for the past year and the Miracle this little man is!

We celebrated a day early, but I'm sure we'll continue the celebration today. What's a birthday without balloons?? Maddox LOVES balloons!

Mom LOVES this smile! And those cheeks! Don't you want to just kiss and pinch them??

The birthday boy just before his party! He was anxious to taste that cake!

Yummy!! This boy loved the cake and the ice cream!

So at a year our little guy weighs in at 21.5 pounds! And they told me he wouldn't grow! 

Maddox adores his sister and she smothers him right back. 

He is sitting up so well now, and even scooting backwards on his bottom. 

After some hard work (I mean play time) with a physical therapist, Maddox is rolling over like a champ, pushing up on his arms, and figuring out how to get around. With the exercises teaching him how to get on his knees, and crawl up the stairs, Maddox will be fully mobile in no time. That is both wonderful and frightening at the same time! Good for him, bad for mommy. Let the child proofing begin! 

He's got 4 teeth, and 2 more breaking through the skin as I type. 

He eats almost anything I put in front of him, the stronger the flavor/spice the more he loves it. We gave him some spicy rice the other night and even though tears were rolling down his cheeks he was asking for more. 

His favorite word is "screeeeech" though I don't think that actually counts as a 'word'. 

He is learning signs such as more, milk, eat, all gone....

Maddox loves all things Disney, and can't get enough of his Toy Story buddies, Pluto, and Mickey Mouse.

This kid is mischievous and gets into anything he can reach. Now that he's figuring out he can move, he's getting into a lot more! 

I love his baby giggles, his slobbery kisses, and snuggle time. 

Even at the end of the day when the screeching is about to send me off the deep end and the fussiness is making me crazy I can't get enough of him! It seems like every time I pass Maddox off to his daddy so I can have 5 minutes of quiet, I miss him immediately and he's back in my arms.

So Happy Birthday Baby! We're so glad to have you in our home! We all Love you so much!

In the Cath Lab and Happy Birthday Daddy!

We arrived at Primary's bright and early, 6 am! Maddox was a little trooper while we waited, and when the nurses came to get him, he was all smiles. He hasn't eaten since 11:30 last night, so I was expecting some major grouchiness. The Cath should take about 3 hours, so we're hoping he'll be done around 11. Then we can expect at least 6 hours of recovery time. He looked pretty cute in the hospital issued PJ's. They were so big on him! (I was going to post a pic, but this card reader isn't working.)

After they took Maddox into the Lab, Luke and I went and grabbed some breakfast. I realized that I've left the cell pohone in the diaper bag which is hanging out in the Lab with Maddox. Nice. So hopefully it won't ring a bunch of times and cause problems. Now we'll just wait of this pager to go off, and then go pick up our sweet little guy.

Today is Luke's birthday! I'm glad he got to take the day off, but sorry we'll be spending the whole time in the hospital. Last night we celebrated and let him open his presents. I made Orange Chicken (it was delish! I'll post the recipe soon) and fried rice. For dessert we made Orange Julius. Luke let Bailee help him open his presents, and she thought that was the best. I'm not sure that he had any surprises though, Bailee told him about at least 2 of his gifts before. Time to start keeping secrets from her! She's so funny!

Last night Mom B. told us that Luke had his surgery on December 8th. That's when Maddox's is, 29 years later. It's kind of crazy! Look back a few posts for pics of Luke before his surgery.

Bailee is loving the holiday season! I hope we can make it extra special for her, despite spending the next few weeks in the hospital. She has been dancing around the house singing "It's a Jolly Roger holiday". We think it's a mix of a song from Mary Poppins, and a Christmas song, but we're not really sure. It's so cute though. She says all of the time "Mom, I really am a rock star." And she is, unless she's Snow White. Then she's a princess. That girl keeps me laughing, and I'm so glad she's home!

Well, we'll post updates later when we hear more.

Bailee Turns 3!

I can't believe it! Bailee turned 3 on Tuesday. Where has the time gone? She is such a beautiful, independent, smart girl. I'm so lucky to be her mommy.1 day old

1st birthday2nd birthday3rd birthday (candles wouldn't light)(2nd attempt at the candles--later that night)

Bailee has been planning her birthday party for months now. I seriously wasn't expecting her to care about these things quite this early. But she decided she wanted to have a back yard beach party in Jackie's sand box. (aka the neighbors volleyball court). I told her it was ok with me, but she had to ask Jackie--which she did. There are many funny stories that I could tell concerning the planning of the party, but I'll spare you a novel.

About a month or so ago Bailee came to me one morning and said "Mom, I need a flamingo." My response...."What? Why do you need a flamingo?" B: "For my Beach Party." M: "Ok, well we can probably find flamingo decorations." B: "No mom, I mean a real flamingo to walk around at my party!" M: stunned silence followed by "I don't think we can even see a real flamingo in Utah, let alone get one for your party." She brought it up a few more times and I dodged the questions.

A few weeks ago we went out shopping for her party things. I wanted to have it done before girls camp, because I knew I wouldn't have time after. She picked out flamingo napkins, and paper umbrellas for her pink cupcakes. She even found Ariel cupcake papers. Her other request was a pinata. Easy enough. So we're walking through the party store and she yells "Mom, there's my flamingo pinata!". It took me awhile to figure out where she was pointing, but sure enough there was a flamingo pinata. I was happy that she was satisfied with that and forgot about the real one. She really had the whole thing worked out in her mind, right down to who she was going to invite. We made some invitations, which she picked out of a book and helped me put together, and she mailed them.

Tuesday ended up being perfect. And by the time it was party time, it was warm but overcast. The kids had a great time playing in the sand and water, and Bailee loved the pinata. Well, she loved everything about the day.

Gus dressed up in shorts and sunglasses for the party....poor Gus!

Her birthday wish since Christmas time.....a train.

Bailee's Birthday!

We had Bailee's birthday on the 28th because we went to a concert on the 30th. Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Tami came up to celebrate with us. Bailee had fun opening her presents. She loved her doll house, and was just checking it out. She wanted to go downstairs and get her little people she plays with, but I told her to open another present. I finally got her to open the gift bag that was full of little people. Then of course that's all she wanted to play with. We let her play for a bit and then talked her into opening another. Bailee got a trike, helmet, and a doll house from Mom and Dad. Grandma and Grandpa S. gave her a cool book all about her visit to their house, and Great Great Grandma Millie gave her a Minnie Mouse doll. She also got some money from Grandma and Grandpa B. and Pappa and GiGi, she loves to put money in her bank, so she was excited for that. We had a ton of fun!

Bailee is Two!

Bailee turned 2, can you believe it? I sure can't. We are so proud of her! Happy Birthday Bailee!

1 day old

4 months

14 months

23 months

Happy Birthday McKinley!

McKinley is 2! We went to her little birthday party, and it was fun as usual. Bailee was super excited to give McKinley her present. She picked her out a cute stroller for her baby doll. Bailee helped me wrap it and then wanted to carry it to Kinley. What fun! I think she'll be excited for her own birthday party this weekend.

I need to get some party hats. Bailee LOVES party hats, and she got a purple one to match her dress!