eleven months +

We just can't believe how old she is getting! She has taken 10 steps in a row, but still prefers to crawl. She finally has some teeth growing in--her two bottom ones. She also is finally sleeping through the night (let's hope it lasts). Oh, and she is potty trained! OK, just kidding.

She loves to eat dirt and play with the hose. She could put her shoes on and off and read books all day long. She's climbing stairs like a pro (still working on the belly-slide down the stairs, though). She hates her car seat but loves her stroller. She is quick to point out all the flowers, school signs and fire hydrants. Oh, and the doggies of course.

And she is building quite the vocabulary. Daddy, doggie and ducky all sound the same...but those are three of her favorite things so we tend to hear it a lot. She also says mommy and hi and hat. She knows a few signs, too. She will do the sign for please and come here and loves to do the hand motions for "no more monkeys" and "itsy bitsy spider."

at Deer Valley with the ladies

trying on her suit

painted her toes for the first time!

some people are pretty surprised to see this little thing pop up. 

Molly and Rosie at her first Fourth of July scone breakfast! 

my favorite part of the day--seeing this face!

Christian's office had an activity day with a caricature artist

Christmas in July

carter boy and rosebud having fun at The Lodge in Bear Lake

told you she doesn't like it.

swimming with Jen & Whit

mmm. go ahead, call me a terrible mother.

out for a walk on Smith Hill Road

her first dip in the lake. it was just her toes, but she liked it!

I am in love with this age

Not my own age (27 today!!), because I will forever be 22 in my made up world. Either that or 85. I want to be wise or be carefree. Perhaps I will be both one day! Anyway, I am in love with Rosie's age--ten months!!

She has finally decided to take real naps, she dances to pretty much any beat. She really likes Regina and Nickle Creek. She stands up all the time and crawls like crazy. She is almost always happy. Someone in the ward even asked me if she ever cries. And of course she does! But it's usually only because I took her out of the bath too soon or she is trying to fall asleep.

She likes to be outside, eating rocks and dirt and helping with the gardening. She also likes swinging, especially with Christian. She loves reading books and doing patty cake. She also has a magic finger and will cast spells on people! "Abracadabra!" She loves her stuffed pig, that I have named Patty. We will see if it sticks.

Still no teeth, but she will try any food I put in front of her. Her favorite is probably my fresh wheat bread. She loves helping me in the kitchen and finds excitement in anything baked. Yes, yes, she is my child!!

We are becoming the very best of friends.

103 degrees. Fighting her first fever! She was a champ!

Guatemala should hire her for a model. Thanks for the dress, Kimber!!

piggy gets dressed up

Mark it with a "b"

and throw it in the oven for Rosie and me!

weeding with Daddy

10 months old on the dot! 

Better Late Than Never

Oops. Rosie is now, much more than 5 months. But here's a post about it anyway!

     

The fifth month was huge for Rosie. She's happier than ever and we are having lots of fun. She is still pretty teeny-tiny according to the charts (third percentile), but I'm pretty sure her personality makes up for it. She loves looking at herself in the mirror, or in this case, Photo Booth.

Her most favorite thing in the world is "real" food. Her heart races every time she sees any food--or anything she thinks is food. So far she's tried sweet potatoes (yams), spaghetti squash, carrots, apples, pears, rice cereal and oatmeal. Oh, and I think a little bit of strawberry sorbetto. Her favorite song is "Five Little Ducks." Sometimes it's the only way to keep her happy in the car. 

Here's a picture I took a few days before her 5 month mark.

After being super busy at work, Christian was able to take some time off, and finally use some of his paternity time! We had so much fun with him home, and Rosie even let us sleep in! How considerate! I could snuggle with her all morning long (and sometimes I do just that). I am so lucky I get to spend my days with her. 

Of course Rosie had her first Christmas during her 5th month. 

We hung our stockings!

And Santa came!

The framed print is something I (i mean Santa) made for her. At a Mabey/Smith family baby shower, I had everyone tell me what trait of theirs they would pass on to Rosie. There were some awesome responses like "a love of colors and flowers," "longevity," "resilience," "curly hair," and "a love of watching University of Utah football."  I always want to remember these things...and remember to tell Rosie about them...so I made a little print out of all the responses. 

some day her hair will be able to hold a clip (and maybe curly, if Aunt Kathy passes that on...).

of course her favorite part was the wrapping paper 

No mistletoe needed!

It's true what they say...

When you love someone and you love something, you just HAVE to share the thing with the one.  I couldn't bare the thought of an entire year passing without visiting my favorite place on earth. So, it was perhaps a bit selfish to drag little 15-day old Rosie on a long car ride in a seat she hates...but I think it was all worth it.

The lake was beautiful as usual.

Miss R loved looking at it. All day long. When she should have been sleeping.

I got to watch the sunrise both mornings while she ate her first breakfast.

She fussed and was fussed about.

And, as is usual for this place, some good memories were made!

1 week already!

Thanks to Heather for her amazing photography skills!!

It's all a blur! But I am beginning to forget the labor pains already. Here are a few (I'll admit, somewhat cliche) things I've found to be true after one week of mommy-hood:

I am so blessed to have so much support from friends and family.
Christian is the absolute best daddy in the entire world--I totally scored, people.
I never knew how fast 9 months would go.
I never knew how stinking hard labor is.
I totally forgot what it's like to hug my husband without a big belly.
It feels SO good to sleep on my back....that is when I get any sleep.
Hearing her cry is really really hard.
Watching her sleep is fun and boring sometimes.
Crying when she cries isn't a good idea.
Knowing she is alive and growing means I did a good job!
Breast-feeding is such a cool thing...totally weird, but cool.

I can't imagine life without her--what in the world was that like?

I never knew I could love anyone so much.