tiny dancer

Katy was able to take dance the first go around from my cute friend Susie. She was so sweet and taught dance to a bunch of girls for free. How nice is that?!? Katy seemed to have a really good time. 

I told Katy that in our house you have to be involved in something that you use your body to do, and you get to choose. I asked her if she wanted to do dance again. She thought about this for a split second and informed me that she wanted to take karate. This surprised me a bit although she is a huge fan of Kung Fu Panda. As I looked into it, I realized that a lot of places wont let you start taking karate until you are 4 or 5. Because of this I informed her that it may be a good option to take dance again. 

Because Susie had moved, it just so happened to work out that we signed her up at a dance studio near our home. It's been fun watching her grow and improve. I always joke that if I could choose my talents one would be to have rhythm. No really! Have you seen me dance? It is not a pretty sight. I can tell that Katy has much more rhythm than I do and she did a stellar job!

And so it was, she danced.

Getting ready for the performance was another story. Katy has curly hair, but for some reason (probably because I washed it) her hair would not hold a curl. I got a curling iron and everything. I should have used sponge curlers. Also...make-up. How do you handle that? I'm not opposed to putting make-up on this girl, we have plenty of times with our makeovers. I just have a hard time when it begins to look a bit too much like toddlers and tiaras. Am I right? So we did a little mascara and a bit of lipgloss. She looked beautiful to me!

I was proud of her.

I asked her if she wanted to take dance again. She has informed me that although dance is pretty fun she will probably do karate this fall, or maybe even tumbling. She said she is good at both so will have to decide when it gets closer!

April according to my iPhone

4 X 12 April

April 2013.

I cannot begin to tell you how astonished I am that we have had the pleasure of knowing Will for a year...because the BIG highlight of this month was celebrating this little guys national holiday. What a fun time. He is really turning into a big personality, and it's fun to see that develop.

Might I also add that I am also super impressed that I got two snap shots of all of us together....even though Katy looks like she is being tortured in the second picture at Will's party! That is her new humor me for a picture face. Oh the joys of trying to work with that one! At least I'm not the only one that get's that.

So some highlights of our month were....Steve hooking us up with tickets for family night to the Jazz game (Will's first), celebrating Easter and the resurrection of our savior, going on my annual girls weekend trip with my mom and sisters, watching LDS conference, exploring Antelope Island (we have to go back there ASAP), and going to all of Katy's soccer games (she has improved so much from last year).

I'd also like to note the fact that Katy is just as hilarious as she has ever been. While Katy was listening to music on her iPod and singing Carly Ray Jepson at the top of her lungs, she stopped and looked at me. She said, very seriously, "Wow, mom, I'm pretty good at this stuff. You should probably sign me up for singing or something." I smile every time I think of that.

Monday Funday

Monday Funday: April 29th
Location: American Fork Canyon

We made our way up one of our favorite canyons with Aunt Katie for this adventure. Steve was pretty dead set on bringing up a toy so we settled on the side by side. I kept telling him that none of the trails would be open seeing that there was still plenty of snow I was sure of.

Turnes out I was right, but we still had fun eating our lunch at the reservoir and laughing at how hard the wind was blowing that day. We even got out the side by side to drive it around the parking lot. We had to since we brought it along.

Will was not amused but we sure were laughing at him and the faces he was making!

Welcome to Camp William

And so it was your birthday and we partied, of course! This year I went with a camping themed party for Will.....Welcome to Camp William!!! I am so laughing at myself now because the only picture I got of the ceiling was on my dang phone. I spent like 2 hours (how lame am I?) cutting out stars and hanging them from strings on our ceiling!

My sister was in town on Friday for one of my nephews doctor appointments so we had them over that night for dinner with my mom and other sister Katie. We got to hang out and have presents. Then on Saturday we threw a party and Steve's family came over. Not that we planned on having separate "parties" but it worked out because we don't have a ton of extra space in our house to gather.

Will just had the biggest smile on his face while we were singing to him. He even got a little shy, a rarity for this kid. 

I also made my famous dirt cake for party favors in mason jars for everyone to take home with them. Nice work on the pictures of the details right?

As a one year old there isn't much you need or even know you want so we went over to the store on his birthday and let him pick out his own present. We were thinking a big dump truck would be a big hit, but when we got there he promptly made Steve get the Sully stuffed animal from Monsters Inc. and give it to him. It's BIGGER than him. He was sold and so we bought it for him. He has slept with it every night since and insists on bringing it down the stairs every morning! All in all I would say this birthday was a success.

William Remix

I'm quite flabbergasted that it has been a year (dare I say over a year, playing catch up here) since this little nugget entered our world and changed it forever thereafter.

I'd like to say that I was more laid back this go around, being my second go around. I think we've been pretty relaxed about the whole situation, except for the fact that Will is 100% BOY...and his kidney complications (more on that in a minute). 

Before we had kids I wondered what life would be like having one. We both knew it was something that we wanted (of course), but it's really hard to picture yourself until you are doing it hands on everyday. We always joked that Steve was going to have a hard time with kids because of all the germs that they come with (he is mildly OCD about stuff like that). One day he excitedly came in to tell me that, "It doesn't bother me to pick up Chuck's poop anymore....I think I am ready to have kids!!!" So we did, and Katy blew our minds. She was an angel baby. And by that I mean she was the EASIEST kid I ever imagined I could have. 

So we were a family of 3 and life goes on. Everyday learning new things. Teaching Katy all we could. Learning as we go. Hoping with all our hearts that some of our "good" was rubbing off on her and the person she was becoming. My heart was so full of love for her most days I felt like it was going to just up and burst out of my chest!

How do you add to that? I mean how do you share that love with another? It wasn't until I had mister that I understood how that love could grow. And again, I'm awed how it all works...the bigger picture. Having kidos makes you realize how important the small things are. How important it is to celebrate the  fact that we are here living this life together, as one big happy family (most days *wink*)!

Being a mom to Will has taught me a few things: 

1- Boys are DIFFERENT than girls in every way. I know boys are more high energy but this kid is a TANK...and I mean that by his attitude not his stature. Poor kiddo only measured in the 13% for height and weight at his one year appointment......he is seriously moving at 110 miles an hour at all waking moments of every day. 

2- That pulling hair and pestering your sister is going to be one of your favorite things. I am hoping that your hugs are going to get you out of Katy laying the smack down in the future. It will be your only saving grace. 

3- You have me completely wrapped around your finger and it's been such a pleasure getting to know you and your personality this year. 

I absolutely cannot wait to see what this coming year has in store for us. Love you forever buddy! Happy Birthday!!!

Fresh faced at the hospital

one month

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three months

four months

five months

                 

six months

seven months

eight months

nine months

10 months

11 months

one year