On the mend

After a few days following the worst of the flu, Amelia's starting to feel a little better. Slowly getting back to her playful self.

Yep, definitely getting back to normal around here. I just don't know how she could've gotten sick.

Aaaaaaannnnd another little giggling video for you...

Here's another video, it's kind of long if you have a minute, of Amelia doing something that would only interest those who melt at her every move. We're trying to restrengthen and bulk up Amelia's quads back to what they were pre-flu. I think it's working...

first time home with the pukes

Amelia woke up this morning with her first flu. Few things are more heart wrenching than watching your child throw up for the first time. Amelia puked 3 times this morning. Not knowing what was happening to her, she just wanted to hold on to me and cry while her body was doing a very unfamiliar, uncontrollable thing. I tried to lean her over the sink, but the last thing she wanted was for me to hold her little body away from me. So I just let her puke over my shoulder, down the back of my shirt and partially into my hair. I cannot believe how little I cared about how gross that is and was more upset listening to her struggle. This will hopefully pass by the end of the day, but in the mean time I've been washing soiled clothes and blankies and have made my magical home made chicken noodle soup.

As many-a-sisters have told me before, she is generally happy when she's not puking and doesn't really understand what it means when she's sick. So, what she doesn't know can't harm her, and I put her right back to work. Hey, those floors aren't going to clean themselves! And she's the one who ruined those clothes, she should wash them and put them away! ...it's good for her.

I'M KIDDING!! These photos were taken on days she wasn't sick.
(well, the last two were, anyways)

We made it, Amelia!

Amelia celebrates her first birthday today. Of course, I can't believe she's one already, but at the same time, it has been a very long year! I'm thinking back to what I was doing this day last year, and man, that was an incredible day. Now I watch Amelia shove peanut butter toast in her mouth, take a giant swig of water from her sippy cup while she watches Jake Gyllenhaal on Sesame Street. She looks over at me and covers her mouth during a fake cough, and then keeps eye contact with me while she slowly drops a chunk of toast on the floor for her drooling buddy. I'm in awe of this little soul that's changed so much already. What will she be like next year? What will I be like next year?

Grant has taken a new job in Lynnwood, which is about an hour commute. We're sacrificing a lot for his new position, but are hoping it will be well worth it. Eventually we're going to need to sell our house and move up north. Big plans for this little family, and evidently, a lot can happen in a year.

Look at that mop on Amelia!

We celebrated Amelia's first birthday in Belfair last week. Very sweet little party, lots of balloons (Amelia's favorite), mom barbequed burgers and I made cupcakes. A great time was had by all! The next day we went for a hike on Mud Mountain with our good friends Rick and Raederle. I think Amelia seemed to enjoy it, she loves them.

I finally caved and let her have her birthday cupcake.

PRESENTS!!

Amelia loves to snuggle-snuggle. Especially super soft bunnies from Gramma Stella!

Raederle the comedian.

Nothin' like a little peek-a-boo to wrap up a great day.

Amelia's personality is in full-bloom

I am loving watching Amelia's little personality and expressions become more and more apparent. She lavishes herself in anything that resembles a beautiful necklace; her current favorite is Cash's purple leash. There are times she won't go anywhere without wrapping it around herself like a scarf. It's so funny when she stops whatever she's doing, as if she's just remembered she needed something in her bedroom, and then turns to crawl quickly down the hall, breathing heavy "sssh--sshhh-sshhh's" and slapping her hands and knees down the hardwood, with a quick turn toward me to make sure I know she's doing something very important, then back to the slapping. When we tell her, "No Amelia", she looks at us and shakes her head no back at us, as if to say, "right, what I'm doing is wrong." (and then continues going for the power outlet or near the edge of the deck). Yesterday she had mac and cheese for the first time, and could not get the noodles in her mouth fast enough. She ended up eating much more than a one year old should be able to eat. Today she fell from a large mat the height of about 1 1/2 feet flat onto the side of her face in gymnastics today, her feet dangling above her head for a second. Everyone saw and was ready for a horrible cry, but Amelia just slumped her legs over and got up to quickly crawl to the next mat. These are just a few items that are expressing her little character. And I am lovin' this girl.

Life after baby

The other day I was hanging out with Meg, (whose name Amelia can say now, by the way) before her first swim lesson. Thinking out loud I said, "I am so excited to see Amelia in her little swimsuit tonight!". Meg replied, "You always have something to look forward to with Amelia. I'm looking forward to baking butterscotch cookies and facebooking tonight". Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't love a night of cookies and spying on friends, but it's true: every week there is something new for us. Fun or difficult, our new lives as a family is certainly full of "spice" since Amelia's arrival. New pigtails, sunglasses, words, friends, toys, sleep patterns, car seat upgrade, everything, it's always new. Not to mention, anything that we used to do is a thousand times more fun (and difficult) with Amelia.

Needless to say, swim lessons were a blast. Grant came too, and if you think Amelia has a cute little set of thunder-thighs with tights on, wait till I get a pic of her in her swim suit ;)