No longer a baby

My baby girl isn't a baby anymore. She had her one year check-up and shots, her new stats are:

16 lbs. 6 ounces and 28 inches
(that's were Austin was when he was about 4 months old LOL)

This puts her between percentile 10 and 25 for height

and below percentile 5 for weight.

She is a tiny thing. The doctor showed a little concern about her growth pattern and I have to take her in every month and get her weighed. Which amazes me because she is such a good eater! She LOVES food!

Other things she loves are:
-Stuffed Animals
-playing with Austin
-drinking out of a straw
-her bottle (I am going to have a hard time with this)
-baths
-walking (which is turning into running)
-chew on toothbrushes
-Likes to play fetch - this is pretty cute.
-Climbing stairs

Things she doesn't like:
-bows in her hair
-car seat
-being told "no"
-when you take ANYTHING away from her
-doesn't like to travel
-Doesn't like sleeping anywhere BUT her crib

She still doesn't talk and that worries me. She will say da da and ma ma once and a while but for the most part she is just quiet and content.
She likes sippy cups but prefers her bottle.
She is still in size 2 diapers.
Wears size 3 shoes now
Is in size 6-9 clothes (I still have a lot of 3-6 clothes she wears).
We finally took her out of her infant car carrier and bought her a car seat...she looks so small in it.
Still only has 2 teeth. Her upper two have been swollen for like 2 months but have yet to break the gums.
Well that's a little update on out little girl! She is such a blessing to us and we LOVE her to death!

Of course what's an update without some pictures, these are from the past month:

Enjoying her sippy

We are finally starting to put her in a high chair...it's a funny sight. You can't even see her feet because she is so tiny! But I think she likes it!

Climbing the stairs

loving grown up food!

She LOVES her mac n cheese!

I finished her 1-year portraits and I have more posted here on my photo blog if you want to see.

Mylee's 1st Birthday Bash

Here are some pictures from Mylee's birthday bash last Saturday...

I had so much fun planning Mylee's party, some say I was a little over the top but I don't care I wanted to go all out for my baby girl.

To see more picture of the birthday bash details check out this post on my photo blog.

Time to reflect...

As I sit here on my computer (at 3:45 a.m.) I am full of so much emotion!

Why you ask...well you see my baby girl just turned one!

It is truly a bitter-sweet moment for me. This year has gone by so fast. I no longer have a baby. My baby is stepping into her Toddler years and it is bringing me to tears. Mylee has been such a wonderful baby (even if she didn't sleep through the night until she was 10-months-old). I am very sad she isn’t my baby anymore but I am also very excited to see her discover new things and watch little personality grow.

When Austin was a baby I was full of so much love and I always wondered if I could possibly have any room left to love another child. Then the day came when Mylee was born, she looked up at me with those baby blue eyes and my heart magically grew. She has been such a blessing to me. I can't believe Heavenly Father has trusted me with such a sweet and precious spirit. She may only be one, and a tiny little thing, but she has an amazing presence. It's so hard to put into words, but all she does is give you that little innocent, two tooth grin and time just stops.

I've been told by many people that there is nothing like your first child...you have a special bond with the first child and no other child. I completely disagree! Yes I have a wonderful bond with Austin but I have a totally different bond with Mylee and neither is stronger than the other. I could never favor one over the other. My heart has magically grown to fit both of them in it! I can’t imagine a life without either one.

Who ever said, “being a mom is the greatest gift in the world" was right! Yes my photography means a lot to me and it's a passion of mine but I would give it up in a second if it came in the way of my children (which I have great admiration for a fellow photographer who did)! My kids have changed my life and made me more complete. I thank my father in heaven everyday for my little blessings. And how lucky am I to know that I get to spend eternity with the man I love and the kids I adore!

I think I am pretty lucky! :)

Little Miss Mylee I can't believe you are one! You are my little munchkin, I am so glad you picked us! You may be little but I can already tell you have greatness within you! You have a wonderful big brother who will protect you. A Daddy who is already wrapped around your finger. And a mommy who has been blessed by you!

Happy Birthday "My My" the world is a better place because of you!

We love you!

A Wonderful Opportunity

I had the most wonderful opportunity this past Saturday! My cousin asked me to be her escort while she went through the Rexburg temple. I have never felt more honored! Jessie is an amazing example of courage, I admire her greatly for the decisions she had made in her life. She has never had support from her family in her decisions with the church, and I can't imagine how hard that must be (I was brought up in a very LDS home and was always supported in all of my church decisions). Jessie is strong and I am so very proud of her. It was fun to watch her go through the temple. One of my favorite parts was watching Shawn her husband hold her hand and look at her with such love, I admit I cried, they are so good for each other. I am so happy that she has a wonderful guy to take care of her. I actually hooked them up (believe me I wouldn't have set them up on a date if I didn't think Shawn was a good guy - I think I may have been a little over protective of my cousin at times, I always wanted what was best for her and sometimes my big mouth let people know that). I only arranged the blind date and they did the rest! :) I always thought Jessie deserved the best and I am so happy that they have each other! I always considered Jessie to be one of my best friends I guess I lucked out having such a fun cousin my age to hang out with growing up - we have some good times together.

Jessie asked me to take pictures of them at the temple. I wish we had more than 5 minutes to take them because the Rexburg temple is gorgeous and Jessie looked so cute!

But here are a few:

Fun with the kids....

Here is some of the fun I have been having with the kids over the last month or so:

Austin had his first experience with the Ice Cream truck

Mylee was full of envy...

No worries she got her fare share,

but was mad when it was gone

So we gave her a cookies, it made her happy again!

Mylee finally got to meet her Aunt Chelsee

Austin being silly

When ever Austin eats Mylee whines for some food.

Here is Austin sharing his Mac n cheese.

I think secretly Austin loves having a sister...

I find him playing in her stuff all the time.

I just wish Mylee would keep her bows in like Austin does, LOL

And I wish she had his thick hair!

Mylee found Austin's left over fries

I found Austin passed out on the couch one day,

with a piece of pizza.

Some days they play great together!

Grandma Brendle with the kiddos.

E.I.S.F and Parade

Another Fair has come and gone. This was Mylee's first fair and parade - she LOVED the food and the animals. Austin in still afraid of the animals.