12 Months Old!

I ALMOST forgot to take Mara's 12 month pictures yesterday! So, she was in her jammies and was almost ready for bed when I remembered! Oops. I haven't decided if I'll continue the monthly pictures or not, now that she's a year old. But, I have a feeling I might! It's hard to get her to sit still, but I love these pictures every month!!

Happy Birthday Maralyn Elizabeth!

Maralyn Elizabeth was born at 3:46am on April 29th, 2008. We arrived at the hospital around 10:30pm the night of the 28th. After I was comfortable, Jay and I tried to get a little rest. I had been up since 5am, and knew I wouldn't be getting much sleep once the baby arrived! We watched The Fresh Prince of BelAir and The Cosby Show reruns until it was time to deliver the baby!

I'll never forget the moment our doctor announced "It's a girl!" and how excited I felt. She was gorgeous, and very vocal right from the start! She weighed 8lbs 4oz, and was 19.5 inches long. She had a full head of dark hair...most of which she lost over the next couple months! Her hair has come back in pretty thick now (in the back anyway!), but it's much lighter in color. She has grown A LOT too. She's always been a pretty healthy-sized baby, and has gotten pretty tall recently also. Her 12 month appointment is next week, so we'll find out how much she has grown!

We are so lucky and so blessed...she is such a happy baby and you can't help but smile when she flashes you that toothy grin! The year has flown by, and before we know it, another year will have passed. We're trying to enjoy every minute!

More of the Birthday Party...

Mara's birthday party was Sunday, April 26th. It wasn't a big party, but she had a blast! She loved being the center of attention. Lately she's been kind of shy around people, but she grinned as soon as she saw the group gathered at our house to help her celebrate!

Jay made an awesome DVD of Mara's first year (photos and videos), so we watched that - it's crazy to see how much she has grown and changed, and how quickly! She is such a little PERSON now!

She was interested on and off with opening presents. She had a lot, so it took awhile! She got so many nice things - toys, books, clothing...what a spoiled little girl! She is loving all her new toys! I'm excited for her to wear some of her new summer clothing too!

She wasn't interested in the cake at all, but we weren't surprised. She got it all over herself and wasn't happy about that. We didn't make her suffer too long, and got her cleaned up. Maybe next year she'll actually want to eat it!

Overall, it was a great day! Mara was such a good girl, even when she was a little sleepy. She seemed to really enjoy herself, and knew that everyone was there for HER...so she took full advantage of everyone's attention!

I can't believe my baby turns ONE tomorrow! It really does seem like she was just born. The year has flown by, and I'm sure the next year will fly by too!

Mara's First Birthday Party

I have a bad headache tonight, so I'm turning off the computer and going to bed. Just wanted to share a few photos from Mara's birthday party...more to come, and some commentary to go along with them!! Enjoy for now!

We Survived the Birthday Party...

We had Mara's 1st Birthday Party yesterday. I can't believe she's almost ONE! She had a blast! Photos and details to come soon...

Let Me Outta Here!!!!

Today Mara discovered the front door. She looked up at the doorknob for awhile, and then started reaching for it. She's almost there! That's a little scary! We may need to do some child-proofing once she gets a little taller. Something tells me she may be the type of child to open the door and head out into the world on her own...

Looking at these pictures, it's so hard for me to believe that a year ago, she was still in my belly!! Things have changed SO MUCH in one year!!

Chompers

Mara got an early Birthday present in the mail today, and had fun opening it (and playing with the fun shiny paper!). Thanks Melanie! These toothy grins are the result of a game of 'peekaboo' that we played while she opened her present -- everytime I said it she'd grin like crazy! Look at all of those teeth! She looks like such a big girl. She did get her first teeth pretty early (4.5 months), but I still can't get over them!

Also, notice the hand on the hip in the second picture? Total attitude!!

Easter Basket

Since we were gone most of the day on Easter, and Jay was at work when we got up, we waited to give Mara her Easter Basket until Monday. She got a couple books (a fun one about pets that Jay got at work, and a Corduroy Easter story), lots of plastic eggs (she loves them!) and a Bunny Mr Potato Head. She had a great time throwing her eggs around, and reading her books, and seems pretty confused with the 'Spud Bunny' - but I'm sure it will grow on her eventually!

Pictures from the Weekend

Grandpa David and Uncle Larry came to visit last weekend. We spent some time outside at my parents house, enjoying the weather. Mara also got to open some Easter and Birthday gifts! She had a great time entertaining everyone!

We spent Easter Sunday at my Aunt Jean's house. Mara had fun looking for eggs outside, but wasn't quite sure about them once she found them. She was used to plastic eggs, and these were real hard-boiled eggs. She had fun with Grandpa and Grandma too. It was a LONG day for her, and no naps...which made it a long day for ME! But, we survived.

Busy weekend!

We had a very busy weekend - with Jay's Dad and Uncle Larry coming to visit, and Easter festivities! It was exhausting! I haven't had a chance to blog and share photos, but they'll be coming soon! The next few weeks are also going to be pretty busy, but I'll do my best to keep up!

Mara and Grandpa

Mara has seen her Grandma and Grandpa quite a bit in the last few weeks. Besides a couple bridal showers for my sister, they came to our house last weekend to watch her so that Jay and I could go out (it has been a LONG time since we'd been out!) and they watched her at their house on Monday night when I got my car fixed.

Mara has a great time playing with them, and of course, doesn't even notice that I'm gone until I get back!

Mara had to show off her tractor shirt to Grandpa! I'm sure he was impressed. Too bad it wasn't a red tractor...those are his favorites. :)

Cutest Kid Ever? I Think So!

Jenna's Second Bridal Shower

Today was Jenna's second Bridal Shower. The big day is getting closer! The shower was at my Aunt Rose's house, so it was pretty close by for me and Mara. Mara showed all of our relatives how 'vocal' she can be. They didn't seem to mind too much, and I think she had fun :)

There were a lot of people at the shower. Jenna got lots of nice gifts, and we played some really hard games! (No prizes for me!) There was also lots of good food!

Mara was pretty exhausted by the end of the day. After we got home she ate, played a little, and went to sleep as soon as she got in her crib!! I'm now enjoying some nice quiet time! I can't believe it's already Sunday night!

A Little Kitty?

I wonder sometimes if Mara thinks that she's a cat. Not that she eats the cat food, but now she's started to take each piece out of the bowl and throw it on the floor. Picasso isn't quite sure what to think about this. He's kind of a messy eater himself, so we're used to pieces of cat food all around the floor by their dishes. I was surprised he sat this close to her...he must have been pretty hungry! ;) Usually he moves as soon as she comes near him!

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

I think for the most part, Jay and I are pretty laid back as parents. It helps that Mara has been a relatively 'easy' baby for us - always a great sleeper, usually pretty happy, and easy to entertain. But, like every parent, we get frustrated sometimes. At the time, it's hard to see past the frustration to realize that whatever I'm frustrated about isn't going to last forever.

Eating is a big issue for us. Mara has always been a determined eater. As in - determined to eat WHAT she wants, WHEN she wants it. And she wants it NOW! My breastfeeding plans didn't work like we had hoped, but she didn't have any issues with breastmilk in a bottle, or eventually formula. She loved cereal and baby food when we introduced that, which was great! She eats from a spoon really well. But now the issue is that she ONLY wants baby food. She doesn't want to venture out and try 'table food' - although we keep offering it to her. In the long run, I know this isn't a major issue at 11 months, but it's hard to not get frustrated about it sometimes when I offer her different things every day, and she turns them all down. She has no interest in feeding herself or picking food up. She's eating more and more, but we have to spoon-feed every bite to her.

Diaper changes are a bigger battle than ever now too. Most of the time she does ok on her changing table, and tolerates having her diaper and clothing changed. But get her out somewhere else, and she screams bloody murder, and rolls away or kicks and hits. Fun! Obviously normal behavior for her age, but it can get to you after awhile. The girl can scream like no other!!

And then there are the days when she decides she doesn't need to nap. Or that she wants to be clinging to me all day. Or when she's just really LOUD all day long.

But, I wouldn't trade any of it. In a few years, I'll miss the days when she wanted to be with me or have me hold her all day and read her books. When she starts eating on her own, I'm sure I'll barely remember the frustration of her not doing it. When she's out of diapers....naw, nevermind - I probably won't miss that!

Every day she changes more and more. Her personality is really starting to come through, and it's amazing to watch. (I think we will have quite an outspoken child on our hands!). I can handle the small frustrations -- I'm sure there will be many more to come! Luckily there will also be lots of wonderful moments that make it all worth it!