Happy {first} Birthday Scarlett!

Is it seriously here already?! 

Happy Birthday to the sweetest baby girl! I cannot believe you are a big one year old.

Scarlett,

The last few days I have not thought about much else besides you, my experience bringing you into this world, what a sweet and darling baby you are, and motherhood. This year has truly flown by. I can honestly say that I wish it went slower. 

You were so eager to come into the world and made a grand entrance! Demanding to be seen only 54 minutes after Mama got to the hospital! On Mother's Day no less! Since that sweet and sacred moment, you have been nothing short of an angel baby. So happy and pleasant, our little light hearted, easy going girl. After I met you and spent a few minutes with you, I remember my heart feeling so full and I was SO happy. Those words don't really even begin to describe the joy I felt IMMEDIATELY when I first laid eyes on you! I loved cuddling your teeny tiny little body next to mine. 

Now you are such a fun big girl! I still feel that immense joy every time I see you learn something new. Every single time you start playing peek-a-boo all by yourself out of the blue I think its the cutest thing I ever saw. Every time! I love when you smile so big and look at me with your gorgeous big brown eyes and start clapping. Lately, you like to stand up all by yourself, without pulling up on anything, and start clapping because you know your Mama is going to be so proud of you :) And I always am and I always will clap for you. I will always be your biggest fan. Last night you took 2 steps for the first time without falling, and made it another very special Mother's Day! My absolute favorite thing that you do right now is when I'm holding you and if anyone else talks to you, even Daddy, you will put your head on my shoulder and nuzzle into me. I love that you know I'm your Mama.

You also happen to be sick on your first birthday. I hate that you are not feeling well, but I love giving you extra cuddles and hugs.

Thank you for making me a Mother for a second time and for letting me experience this joy again! Thank you for making me feel loved and wanted, and for needing me. Thank you for being so adorable, and having such a perfect round baby face. Thanks for having those squishy thighs and for letting me smother you in kisses. Thank you for letting me be your Mom and giving me the chance to be a part of your life forever. Thank you for teaching me about patience and love and for reminding me that Heavenly Father loves me. You are the greatest proof of that love. Scarlett, I hope you know I love you so much. So so so much. Forever and always!

Our little convos {Liv}

I was putting her to bed, which doesn't always go so well, so I usually tell her about something fun we will be doing the next day so she can go to bed excited and happy for a new day. I told her that we would be going to an Easter Egg Hunt. She got big excited eyes and said 

"and Santa will be there! And make everyone SO happy!"

I admit to falling in the grasp of road rage from time to time. When kids are in the car I usually just say "Are you kidding me?!" rather than some other choice words. Well now Liv is old enough to notice my tone of voice. It was concerning to her so she asked, 

"Something's kidding you Mama? What's kidding you?"

My response, "These people don't know how to drive and they're all playing jokes on me"

She does have a short fuse and gets frustrated somewhat easily (see above if you're confused about where that comes from). One of her shoes came off her heel while she was in her carseat. She was having some trouble getting it back on and started yelling at her shoe, 

"grrrr, you HUNK-A-JUNK!"

We have started having movie night every Friday night. Liv loves it because that is the only time she is allowed to drink "bubble drink" (soda). We usually have some popcorn and candy too. Well one time we did not have candy, but I figured the bubble drink was enough of a treat. The next day I listened in on a conversation Liv was having with herself, 

"What happened? We had movie night without some candy?!! (both hands go on cheeks) Ahhhhhhhh!"

We told Olivia that we are going to move to Indiana in a few months.

L: "Oh, that's amazing Mama. I sink(think) they have something there. Some toys."

She's started saying "cute" and "a little bit" all the time. She adds those into almost every sentence.

L: "But these puzzles are weally(really) cute. These ones are a little bit fun."

Brady had been eating frito's and burped.

L: Eww!

B: What's eww?

L: You eww, Daddy.

B: Haha, what? You can smell that burp?!

L: No, you tooted!

B: No, that was just a burp.

L: Well....you burp like a toot.

M: Guess what we have in the fridge!!! Can you guess? S-s-s-st-st-st... (I was trying to get her to guess strawberries)

L: (whispers) w-w-w-waffles

I was explaining that she needs some food that will help her grow up big and strong

M: Your body is saying "please give me something yummy and healthy to eat that will let me grow bigger and stronger"

L: No, my body doesn't have eyes and a mouth.

I pointed to her eyes and mouth, "there they are right there"

L: No Mama, thats a face not my body. My body doesn't have eyes and a mouth.

Tapas Dinner Party

Camilla and Lucas put on a gorgeous dinner party!

It was a tapas party which is brilliant because everyone brought a part of the meal, so we were all able to sample so many amazing dishes!

I loved everything about this. The decor, the setting at dusk, the lights, the friends, the drinks, the food, oh the food!

Glorious!

In the Air Force

This may come as a surprise/shock to some, but we joined the Air Force! 

Out of thousands that applied Brady was among under 200 people who were selected for the HPSP scholarship through the Air Force.

He will be a Commissioned Officer in the Air Force once he is done with school, and in the meantime they will be picking up the bill(s) for his tuition/books/flights/monthly payments throughout his 4 yrs of medical school.

I know many people have very strong feelings for and/or against joining the armed forces when you have a family, but I PROMISE you we thought this through! We have been researching every detail about what this contract means for over a year {we had that extra time ;)} and have gone through all the pros and cons. In the end we don't think this would be the right choice for everyone, but after prayerful consideration we do feel it is right for our family and our situation. I am proud to have a husband who is serving our country!

His commissioning ceremony was April 1st. He is now a 2nd Lt in the Air Force and will have a few opportunities to experience military medicine during clinical rotations, but his time in the Air Force won't really begin until he is a practicing Doc and will then serve as a military Dr for 4 yrs. We are excited about the opportunities we will have as a family and could only have through the Air Force.

 

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer

It was an extra hot one today.

I went for a short jog and couldn't stop thinking how it felt like I was inside an oven. The only thing that kept me moving was the promise of shade and an occasional cool breeze. Well those things, and music.

Of course Liv wanted to go outside, so I pushed her on the swing and held her up to the monkey bars. Finally I told her we needed to go inside. Besides being too hot, I needed to take a shower. If it didn't get done while Scarlett was napping, I knew it wasn't happening. Liv is such a good girl to play on her own while I shower. 

When I got out she kept asking me if Scarlett was awake yet. She absolutely could not wait for her baby sis to wake up so she could play with her.

Fortunately for Livy, Etta babe did wake up soon. And they played so sweetly in our little pool.

My heart could burst. They make me so happy!

Liv fixing baby's hair

Scarlett sees Grampy! She's crazy about her Grandparents.

My Dad was helping me with Scarlett when I took her out of the pool. He held her while I ran and got some clothes and a new diaper for her (hence his wet shirt). Times like this I wonder how I will manage without having my parents near by. And how my kids will manage without having them pop in so often. I have been so blessed to have all this time to be with them, and now that it is nearing an end I feel like I haven't really stopped to appreciate it enough.