Bird House

Makenna knows a few signs in ASL which has been a lot of fun b/c she can communicate with me more clearly than she otherwise would be able to.  One of her favorite (and first) signs is "bird."  Anytime she hears a bird or sees a bird, her thumb and pointer finger instantly tap together to sign, "bird."  Shane being the awesome dad that he is, decided they would have a Saturday project of building a bird feeder together, to hang outside our dining room window so she could see even more birds.  

Makenna had fun banging the hammer and helping (that term is loosely used here).  The project was a huge success!  We have lots of birds that come to our feeder...AND a squirrel.  Needless to say she has learned how to sign "squirrel."  BTW, squirrels eat a lot of bird food when given the chance.  He wipes us out of bird food in a day.   

Love those two together!  (And Shane said he didn't know what he would do with a little girl when I was pregnant with Makenna.  I'd say he's doing perfectly!)

              

Steamboat

I was FB messaging a friend who commented on the fact that I haven't posted in awhile.  For me when I'm good at writing in my personal journal, the blog ceases.  When I'm better about blogging, the journal stops.  So I guess the pendulum swings back again!

I love this first picture of Makenna!  I'm not a fan of dairy products (especially for my little girl) for a myriad of reasons, but I'm obviously not completely lactose free.  Needless to say, we all enjoyed some Gelato!

This post is all about our little family get-away to Steamboat Springs, CO at the beginning of June.  It was a wonderful little trip thanks to the generosity of my boss (who let us stay at his condo) and the fact that there were so many things to do right by us that were lots of fun.

Adventure #1 (as Shane called each of our activities that weekend): Hike Fish Creek Falls.
My new BFF loaned me her hiking pack so we could go on a hike with Makenna while up in Steamboat.  My SIL told us about Fish Creek Falls and how it was a great little hike.  It really was perfect.  Not far at all!  (We hiked the two different 1/4 mile trails to see it both from above as well as down below on the bridge.)  Makenna loved the hiking pack and it was fun to be out in nature as a family.  Plus Makenna looked adorable with her hat and the little canopy thing...

With all the water from our HUGE snowpack, the sound from the falls was almost deafening and you could feel the temp drop a good 10-15 degrees as you walked down by the water.  BRRRR!!!

Adventure #2: Rocket Fizz

They had hundreds of different flavors of soda.  Shane is a bit of a conosseiur of ginger beer so we left with 4 different types of those.  To be honest, Bundaberg is still my favorite.  The shop was full of funny little nic nacks (is that how you spell that?), and candies that seem delicious (like Grape Crush Licorice) but really are not, and those placards like the WWII "We Can Do It" one that everyone knows about.

Adventure #3: Steamboat Hot Springs Community Pool

I highly recommend this adventure!  It was a fun pool, nice and warm due to the hot springs, but it wasn't unbearable like Glenwood.  I'm not a fan of getting in a pool mostly b/c the water, to me, is freezing.  This pool was perfect!  Not hot, not cold.  Nice and warm!  Loved it!

Adventure #4: Alpine Slide

Everyone needs to do an alpine slide at least once in their life. We started Makenna off young...and had her go twice.  

The sign said kids needed to be at least 2 years old to go with a parent.  When we got up to the counter this is how it went down.

Shane: How much for her? (He looks down at Makenna in his arms.)

Cashier: How old is she?

Shane: Uh...2.

Cashier: Uh...(He can tell she is not 2). She'll be ok.

We have high standards in honesty when it comes to amusing our daughter...

We had to ride the lift up separately b/c only 2 people are allowed on the chair lift at a time.  I was about to let them know that our 15 month old barely weighs 20 lbs and wouldn't be an issue.  I caught myself though b/c then I'd have to truly admit her age.  I rode up with Makenna the first ride, and I was about as stiff as a mother can get.  I always get a little nervous on chair lifts given that I feel like I'll lose a glove, pole, or glasses.  Thankfully I didn't have those valuable appendages to lose, but I was even more nervous about losing that little girl of mine!  She is a chill baby and didn't wiggle much so we made it to the top just fine. PHEW!!!

Shane took her on the slide first and was hesitant to go fast at the start.  I rode in the track next to them and as Shane went faster and faster her smile got bigger and bigger.  By the end of the ride she was smiling from ear to ear and it was quickly decided that a second round was in order.  

Shane rode up with Makenna the second time, and I took her on the slide.  We pushed that lever to the track and went as fast as we could.  That baby was in heaven!  I'll admit it too...Alpine Slides are fun!

Adventure #5: Gelato

I am a sucker for gelato and we found a place to get it.  Makenna left her sunglasses on even inside the store and kept a straight face as everyone smiled and pointed at how cute she was wearing her neon glasses.  We tried to capture the blue steel baby but to no avail.  This pic is the best we got.  

As soon as we got the gelato is was a whole new expression.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it!

We had a grand ole' time in Steamboat, and it is on our list of places to go again!

What? A 1 year old!

Time flies.  

Our sweet little girl turned 1 on February 26th.  

It's been a great year!

So many smiles, giggles, hugs and kisses: Very few tears.

(I feel it needs to be noted that I chose the song for slideshow b/c before having a baby I felt like all I heard from parents were, "Just you wait," as they sighed at whatever bad behavior their kiddo was exhibiting.  Now having my own little one, I find myself thinking, this is WAY better than I imagined it to be! Yes there are times where Makenna isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and I have lost my perspective several times, but honestly, What's there to complain about?!) 

Ok, a few facts about Makenna at 1 year old!

She has big blue eyes that get compliments everyday
91 percentile for height: 30 3/4"
34 percentile for weight: 18 lbs. 15oz.
Has 3 teeth. (O,P and Q)
Crawls
Has had 3 haircuts.

She loves to wave bye-bye.

Signs "bird" "pig" and "dog"
Still wears size 2 diapers...when she is wearing one ;)

She loves to be held, and I love holding her.

She chooses what stuffed animal she wants to sleep with by snuggling with it.

She sings along with the hymns at church (and sometimes continues to sing when the hymn is over).

That girl can dance!  She wiggles her hips if she is sitting, pumps those legs if standing, and even shimmies her shoulder and throws her hands in the air from time to time!

She'll eat anything as long as she can pick it up and put it in her mouth.

She knows how to pull a "cheeser" complete with squinty eyes and head tilt into her raised shoulder.

She has the cutest chatty voice.

She usually wakes up happy and chats to herself until I come in.
She loves pushing her tractor and baby stroller around the house.
Has Shane and me wrapped around her finger!

The Joy of Snow

This little girl makes me smile.

Last year I found every excuse to get her in her pink snowsuit.

This year it's all about the bear suit.

Oh and she's a fan of the snow!

Christmas

Christmas was spent in Gilbert, Arizona at Kylie and Ryan's house with Shane's parents, his Aunt Joyce, and Uncles Tom and Brian.  Before we left, Shane's parents did Christmas at our house so the kiddos could get their gifts since Cody and Kara were going to Utah for Christmas.  (There are a lot of names in those two sentences.)  Point is, here are pictures from Christmas both at our house and in Arizona.

 Opening presents at our house

Christmas in AZ

 Headed to the lights at the Mesa Temple.  It was surprisingly chilly...hence the bear suit.

Yes, my SIL and I have a resemblance of one another. 

 This is how Colonel rides in the car.  He cracks me up!

Christmas Morning