L's ONE YEAR OLD

M'lady has been one year old for too long and I'm finally getting back to sharing her glory with the world.
She is growing into a beautiful lady. Seriously. She is gentle, feminine, social, snuggly, and full of emotions. Such a lady. She communicates and listens like a lady. She points and says ever so sweetly, "da" and I just can't help but respond and reassure her that mama understands. My favorite moments are when she comes over to me from playing and burrows her head into me and moans softly, no matter where I am. If she can reach my knee, she'll burrow into my knee. If she can reach my arms, she'll burrow in there. And then moans or hums. It's the B.E.S.T.

She LOVES food now. She's picky and fickle, but loves food nonetheless. With two teeth and a third on the way, she's a regular pro. She did not handle them cutting through very well, but I think she's glad to have them. She has wanted to eat table food since she started noticing her world around her. She has always wanted to be part of the group and do what mom, dad and brother are doing. She eats three helpings sometimes, more than her brother most of the time. You just wonder where it all goes, because she's so small.

She was mad she had to stop taste testing.

To celebrate her big day, I made a mini apple banana cake with homemade raw milk cream cheese frosting. And she would not put up with anything short of helping me every step of the way. Then we used the cake so our friend and fellow Joy School mama could take amazing pictures of L's cake smash. Thank you Tabitha!!! Check out her incredible photography skills at http://www.tabitharheaphotography.com. Tabitha said she has never seen a one-year-old so focused on eating, and eat so much of the cake. Like I said, she loves food.

notice she grabbed the entire top layer and threw it behind her

 She's walking! She started weeks ago, before her birthday, but is much better now. She is cautious but undeniably adventurous and determined. She looks too small to be walking though. She is still a tiny peanut wee-nut.

She and big brother share a room and have for a long while. They are buddies and sleep 12 hours a night. I am SO grateful this plan worked out because when she was 5 months old I never thought that day would come. But they do well together and just chat in the morning if they are both up and moving before us. But usually they sleep great together, her in the crib, him in a big boy bed (a new addition as of last week!)

Aren't Tabitha's pictures outstanding!?!?! All those were hers. 

Now here are more of my growing girl since then!

S's birthday party

It was super fun and a bit tardy. He loved it all. 

This is how big my kid is getting. He's practically a man.

Wow, thanks to the generosity of many friends and family this birthday was cooler than all his Christmases combined. We are not good at gift giving in our family, so thanks so all who shared the love!

One wall was the coloring wall, with frames ready to fill in. It was fun to see what people chose to fill them with.

 

Other than the full coloring wall, the kitchen table was set up to make brown paper bag puppets. Complete with crayons, markers, stickers, tape and yarn. Although not all the kids colored the wall, most kids made a puppet. 

Then all the kids gathered on the living room carpet. Above on the "draw bridge" balcony Jared dropped down a bunch of balloons on their heads all at once and that was fun. Next time we'll have more balloons and maybe make a game out of it. But this time it was just grab and hit the balloons. That's enough for a three year old. 

Next we had two rounds of wheelbarrow races on the grass. That was pure entertainment. Jared was the finish line and the poor birthday boy came in last place. He didn't seem to care though. It was fun. We finished with opening presents - GALORE - and cake. I made homemade carrot cake and butter cream frosting. It was Marcia's recipe. We love that cake!! It was a full house filled with people we love. Thank you to everyone who came and shared love, laughs, and gifts with our Guy. Thank you again and again!

Happy birthday my boy. I cannot thank God enough for the privilege it is to be your mama!

happy birthday to our guy!

I can hardly believe that it was three years ago that we welcomed this little man into our lives, our family, and our hearts. He has changed me for the better. What a complete joy these three years have been with him. He makes motherhood feel like the best dessert to adulthood and you just want to keep coming back for another bite. S is imaginative, self-soothing, active, forgiving, inquisitive and verbal. His common response to questions this week is "I don't know." 

chocolate cake like he requested!

He loves pretending to be African animals, especially lions. He loves bread, although we don't eat it much. He coming outside for any reason he can find. Yesterday we was disappointed he didn't take the trash out with me. 

we spent the a.m. at the animal farm with friends

I adore putting him to bed for that is the moment that he gets the most spiritual. He asks questions about prayer or makes observations about heaven that cause my heart to sore there and back. His prayers melt my heart and soul with warmth. 

He want to be a part of the big kid games and likes going outside when he hears them playing.

He still loves helping me around the house, especially in the kitchen. He must push the blender button loves washing the dishes in soapy water. 

He requested that he watch a show and go swimming on his birthday. We did watch something, and were going to borrow a friend's backyard kid pool but it really wasn't a swimming kind of day. It was VERY windy and would have been cold. 

Thank you to his dear grandparents for the floor puzzle, cute undies, loving notes and the DASHINGLY handsome little man suit. 

Happy birthday to our guy! We love you more than words can tell. What's your favorite characteristic or memory of the birthday boy?

Happy Birthday to EVERYONE!

You don't get more lame than this. I know I have missed so many birthdays the last 2 months. Please forgive me and know that I still love you. I just had a baby who has had the two most difficult months of life. More on that later. So, here are my late birthday wishes. :)

Happy birthday Dad O! Dad, I love you because you gave life to the most amazing husband on the earth (my husband) but I also appreciate you aside from him. Thank you for being quirky, self-accepting, and unique. It gives me permission to me quirky, self-accepting and unique when we are together. I know you love and accept people wherever they may be on their life-long journey. And in your somber moments you have amazing capacity to teach truth and exemplify powerful Priesthood leadership. Thank you. I love you.

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Happy birthday Adrienne! I want to grow up and be just like you. You are one of the best moms I have had the privilege to personally watch and witness. I admire your fire for life, learning, and loving. You live like today is your last and you better fill it to the brim. You learn like everything is going to be your expertise and it often turns out to be true. You love like our Savior would. Kindly, tenderly, fully, and without excuses. You are amazing! Happy late birthday. I love you!

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Happy birthday Camila! What a wretched friend I have been to this loyal and forgiving woman in my life. We have known each other since middle school and she has always been there in the milestone moments of my life. Camila, you flew out to see me in UT after I moved. Not once, but TWICE! Thank you. You wrote to me faithfully. When we were in middle school you came over after school to hang out, and I fell asleep! Blame it on those teen years of growth and idiocy, but I actually slept while you sat in my room waiting for my coma to come to an end! What a patient and forgiving gal. I was the only person outside your family at your small and personal wedding. You showed up at my wedding even though it was a very difficult time in your life. Your family welcomed me to their Thanksgiving feast one year when I was homeless. You have given my son so many outstanding gifts because you know what kids like. Thank you for being a loyal, loving friend despite my sporadic returns of friendship. Happy late birthday. I love you!

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Happy birthday Benny! Benny is such a beautiful person. I wish more people in my life knew him. He's a revolutionary thinker, a doer, a seeker of Truth, a hard worker, a lover of all peoples, and a wonderful brother-in-law. Benny, thank you for loving the Lord, my sister, your son, and our whole family. I love you and happy late birthday!

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Happy late birthday, Sara! Please don't feel ripped off. I still love you very much. Sara is quite the character. She loves helping people and has dedicated her career to serving as an oncology nurse. She is a champion for her patients, and even shaves her head each year as part of St. Baldwick's Foundation (I think...) fundraising. A.MAZ.ING. She loves puzzles, games, traveling adventures, history, learning, quilting, pumpkin crunch and goofing off. Laughing comes easily to Sara, and I admire that. Sara, thank you for being brave about the many ups and downs in life. We all have them and I see that you try to learn and make the best of them. Even if it takes time. Thank you for the recent journey you have been through to become better and happier. It takes courage, determination and faith to do what you have chosen to do and I admire your unwavering strength. When Sara makes a decision to do something, she will do it. You go, girl! Sara, that trait could take you on the most transforming adventure of all time, depending on what you set your sights on. "See that ye look to God and live." You are strong, courageous, and very silly at times, and I am so grateful you are my sister-in-law. I love you and happy late birthday.

My sisters-in law are Gorgeous!

12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
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Happy birthday, Nate! Last but not least for this GIANT birthday post: Nathan. Nate, thanks for being in our lives and for taking the time to visit our family as often and you Megan have. Thank you for popping in on your way to the airport, to the various conferences and temple trips, and for forgiving us for never coming to you. Thanks for marrying Megan. I adore her. Thanks for giving us another Ondricek grand baby so our kids will have cousins. Cousins rock. Thanks for being so proactively service-oriented. You served my family so much when you were here. Thanks for seeing a need and filling it. Thanks for listening, for talking, and for laughing. Happy birthday, brother-o-mine! I love you!

I know Nate is not the only one in this picture, but I just had to share it. Isn't it such a beautiful family!!?

Happy Birthday, Krista!

This is late, as usual, but I could not pass up celebrating my own little sister's birthday. What a treasure this woman is in my life and I cannot forget to thank her publicly.

"She's about this high.

She's smaller than I.

Sometimes I help her tie her shoes.

She's my sister.

And she plays with me

And I hope that she

Is glad that I'm her sister too."

Krista and I used to sing this song to one another, with her singing "she's taller than I, sometimes she helps me tie my shoes." We even performed it for a large group at the DC Temple Visitor's Center when she was about 8. So precious. I am SO SO glad that she is my sister, even though I don't help her tie her shoes anymore.

 Thank you so much, Krista, for being born. Without you our family would not be as good as it is today. You have added such JOY to my life (how appropriate) through your companionship during our adventures. Not to mention the wisdom I've gained through you and from you.

 You let me drag you around the house during our photo shoot as kids. I am not a natural photographer, but thanks for letting me try. And remember when we made up a dance for Dan's Christmas present? You let me rope you in to doing truly humiliating (but super fun) things. 

what the heck!?! BWAHAHAHA!

And then you got too cool for me, but I still wrote to you when I was in AZ. I sent you poems and pictures and letters and missed you so much. Kind of how I miss you now that you live so far. You tolerated my obsessive need to teach you everything I've ever learned in life and forgave my faults. I've never stopped loving or missing you. You have taught me to have more faith, to let go of my need to control everything and everyone, to judge less and listen more, to relax and have fun, to be positive, and to try to make the world better and not accept that "all is well in Zion."

Thank you. I love you. And happy belated birthday!