My baby is 1!

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is a whole year old. I have kissed, fed, clothed, cleaned, and loved this little being for a whole year. My how she has changed in that year! Over a year ago now Shaun and I took that fateful drive to the hospital. 13 hours later I delivered a little baby girl with lots of dark hair. So much of that day is still vivid in my mind. The pain has faded, but the memory of seeing that dark hair for the first time will always stay fresh in my mind. What a surreal experience, your eyes are telling you everything that is going on, but your mind has a hard time grasping the fact that this being, this tiny human baby, is yours. In fact it took me about a month before I felt like Cecilia was my daughter and there was no giving her back. Naming her was a difficult experience for both of us. We went to the hospital with a long list of possibilities and hoped what everyone told us was true. When we saw her we would know what her name was. Well, that didn't happen for either of us. We looked at her and could say what names she wasn't, but when it came to what name she was... we just weren't sure. It is such a big decision, your name stays with you for the rest of your life! I think we were both overwhelmed with that realization and were kinda scared to move forward. I started to lean towards Cecilia, and Shaun wasn't against it, but neither of us got a lightning bolt YES. Neither of us consciously expected that, but I think we both were subconsciously. In fact we were still not sure when Shaun filled out the paperwork as we left the hospital. We looked at each other and said, do you have something else you feel better about? no? Ok, this is it then. That was another thing that took a while to sink in. Of course now Cecilia is the only name for her, it just fits. But for a long time we weren't sure. Good thing she grew into it.

How lucky are we to have this happy, healthy, beautiful child in our lives! Right from the beginning she was just the sweetest baby ever. She only fussed when she was hungry and never went through a colicky phase (until she got the cast on, but that doesn't count). In fact, most of the time she didn't cry when she was hungry either, she did this adorable hungry dance that will forever endure her to me. Even when she got the cast on, and was so over tired and frustrated. She still smiled and played. As you know naps have been a struggle since the cast, but even when she chooses not to take a nap, she just lays in her crib and talks, and sings. She never cries in there.

Cecilia has the most personality of any baby I know (although I'm totally biased). She is constantly smiling and interacting with others, even if it is just me whom she sees all day long. She loves people, especially kids. She would be happy if she were around others every waking moment. In fact the only time she cries or fusses is when she is left alone. We went to the grocery store a while ago and she was smiling at this couple and they said how cute she was (which is the number one comment I get from people, even when she was in the cast). I told them that she loves to flirt with people and the guy looks at me and says, "Your husband had better get a shotgun!" With this great sing song way of saying shotgun. It was really funny. And so true, Shaun had better watch out when she turns 16!

People aren't the only thing she loves. Nature also make her so happy. Walks were one of two saving graces when she was in the cast. I was in better shape during the winter than I am now. She used to get so excited when I would put her in the stroller because she knew what was coming. This is one kid who never fights to put her coat on because she knows it means we are leaving and that means adventure.

I can't wait to see what the coming year will bring. Hopefully no more cast! She should crawl, and walk this year. Probably talk some, I can't wait to hear what she has to say! I'll be interested to see if she continues to love people or if she becomes more shy. I can't wait to see how she grows in the coming year. It can't be as much as she has this past year, but significant none the less. I compiled pictures of Cecilia from her first year below. I tried to get them as close to a month apart as I could. My how she has grown!

Birth Day, April 8th 2009

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Happy Birthday little one!

Happy Birthday Cecilia!

Cecilia's birthday was last Thursday. I meant to post, but I was so busy getting ready for her party. I think she knew that it was her birthday too because she didn't take a nap the whole day. Cecilia and I spent some time out, she loves people so I knew that would be her choice. We went to Discovery Gateway, a children's museum. She loves to go there and watch all the kids run around and play. I think it is an artifact from the cast. She did really enjoy playing in the water exhibit though. There was a small slide that you could put a ball in and watch it slide down and fall into the pool. The first time I took her ball and put it down the slide she screamed (for joy) so loud that several parents looked our way. Which is saying something because it was really loud there, I guess it was spring break. We didn't do the traditional destroy the cake on her birthday but saved it for her party on Saturday.
Her party was a blast. We had it at Fairmont Pool. I wanted to do something she couldn't do in the cast and she loves swimming so it was perfect. There was lots of food, party favors, pool toys, and many friends and family members to share them with. Grandpa and Grandma Ritchie even flew in from AZ for it.

I made her cake, which I won't do again. She really didn't eat much but I had such a hard time giving her cake which is lots of sugar. So I made a carrot cake, the healthiest cake I could find. And I made the frosting with part powdered sugar and part powdered milk. The recipe made it sound like it would taste the same. It doesn't, don't try it. I won't ever make it again, it really tastes like powdered milk which if you remember back to the last time your mom tried to use up the food storage, it's gross. Although Cecilia didn't know the difference since this was her first cake. Next baby will get a store bought cake with regular fluffy cake and sugary frosting. All the mom's told me they really don't eat much, but I remembered a picture of myself with my first cake and it was everywhere so had a hard time believing not much goes in the mouth. But I was probably like Cecilia who just liked to play in it rather than eat it. I really wanted a picture of her like I have of me. It is one of my favorite pictures of myself. It took her a while to get into it, all the distracting kids had to go swimming before she would concentrate on the task at hand. But in the end I got some great pictures of a messy 1 year old. Everyone had a great time, especially the Birthday Girl so the party was a success. Here are some pics.

We made the cupcake toppers. They took longer than I expected, but would have been forever without my friends punches, thanks Steph!

It is hard to read from here, but the sign says Happy 1st Birthday Cecilia.

Part of the party favors. Who can resist brightly colored M&M's? They matched the colors of the party perfectly, bonus!



Here is the healthy birthday cake. It's not pretty on it's own, but the cute paper dolls help.



Our dainty little girl had to carefully check it out.

And taste it to make sure it was edible.


Yeah it is!


Now she is getting into it.


One of the few times she ate any.


The sweet thing is trying to share with a friend, although he doesn't want any :)


Squishing it in her fingers. This is where most of the mess came from and when she really started to get into it.

Done! she pushed the cake off the table. Then looks at me like, next! Now let's compare to my picture.

Women's Weekend

Well last weekend we had an unofficial women's weekend. Every year my mother, sisters, and sister in law, and I get together for a weekend away. No kids (except nursing babies) and no husbands. This has dated back to my time at Ricks (it was Ricks when I went there so I won't call it BYU-Idaho even though that totally dates me). They had a women's weekend when mothers are invited to come and check out the school. It is really an excuse for them to come stock the depleting pantries of their college kids and to check up on their behavior. Anyway one year I invited my sisters to come too (no sister in law in the picture yet), two of my sisters went to school there so they were excited to reminisce. They all enjoyed getting away so much that we just had to make it a tradition. Anyway the reason it was an unofficial one this year is because my sister in law just had a baby and couldn't make it, plus I have this baby in tow with her own schedule which made me unavailable, a lot. My sister really just wanted to come for a visit and she hadn't met Cecilia yet but it worked out my other two sisters could come too. I had a great time, although I have to admit I will enjoy it much more next year when Shaun can take Cecilia for real. There is a reason why we say "no kids."

On Friday I took Cecilia up to my parents house and we (well they) made aprons. Everyone loved to play with her, clap when she rolled over, laugh at her funny faces and screams, you get the picture. And she ate it up! So much so that after the weekend was over she wouldn't let me out of her sight and only wanted to play if I would play with her. That girl just loves attention, attention, and attention! That is why she is so happy at church. Anyway it was so nice to see my sisters and I did get to do some shopping on Saturday. I even bought more for me than for Cecilia, which never happens. And like I said, I can't wait for next year, free at last!

April Fools

Well mother nature played an April Fools joke on SLC today. We thought it was spring? APRIL FOOLS! It is still winter. Hence the 6 inches of snow on the ground. Today also marks ONE MONTH since Cecilia got her cast off (four and a half weeks to be precise). It is shocking, unbelievable, and just plain astonishing to me that it has been that long. I told myself to relax and enjoy it and I guess I did a little too much because the time has just flown by. To comprehend that she has been out of the cast 1/3 of the total time she was in it is impossible to me. Everyone kept telling me that soon it will seem like a distant memory, I didn't believe them, but I'm beginning to now.

So what accomplishments have we made this month? Well first Cecilia is sleeping in the crib for nights and naps. I never thought I would see the day. Once she stopped protesting it for nights it wasn't that difficult for naps, which really surprised me. But for which I am very grateful! Naps are the same as in the cast, only one nap which is usually in the morning, but at least she is taking one. She rolled over for the first time (again) last week. If it weren't for the frog legs she would have done it sooner. But after three months of being spread out, she is doing pretty good. I missed the "first" one so here is a video of Daddy and Cecilia showing me their "trick".



Cecilia is scooting around on the ground well. As mentioned, her legs have some to come yet in strength, but she scoots backwards using her arms and goes in circles on the hard wood. She also really enjoys bouncing in a jumper we borrowed from our neighbors. This has helped her leg strength immensely.

But mostly we have all just enjoyed "normal" life again. Being able to take her to the store and carry her, or put her in the cart (I was pretty excited the first time I did it). Cecilia is so happy to kick her legs and get on the floor and play. You know, normal life with a baby. It's been nice to have that challenge over with, and I hope we never have to do it again!!!

Temple Square

We had a great time being tourists in our own town yesterday. I think there is a term for that, Shaun? We went to Temple Square before church yesterday. I had the inspiration as I was praying for help to enjoy my new calling as primary teacher more. I can't resist going on a tangent here. In college I admired the Elementary education majors because anyone who could spend all day 5 days a week with 30 young children and try to teach them something while keeping them under control was someone to admire in a "you're crazy" kind of way. It was the last major I would have picked willingly. Physics, Math, yeah hard, but doable even English would have come in before EE and I hate English (as you can tell from my spelling and grammar on the blog). Well the more I think about it English would probably have to tie, and teaching English in Elementary! Oh the Scientist in me cringes at the thought. I would have dropped out of college after the first semester and taken a permanent job at Village Inn (my least favorite summer job). So it was a real test of my faith when I was called to teach the 4-5 year olds in primary. Let's just say I have a hard time getting anything spiritual out of just trying to keep them in their seats, let alone getting them to listen to the lesson. But it is only the third week and I'm sure as I get used to it I'll be able to glean good things from it. I have to admit they did get something out of my lesson on prayer two weeks ago because I just had to begin to tell them to fold their arms, close their eyes, and bow their heads for the prayer this week before they did it. OK moving on...
Temple Square was so beautiful. It was just what I needed to relax before church. The weather was just gorgeous and the flowers are just starting to bloom. It was so relaxing and Cecilia really enjoyed it. She was especially enthralled with the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It is so ornate and has a big statue of Joseph Smith that she couldn't get enough of. Here are some pics of our "trip."





She really does look like him, huh?

Dancin' Dancin' Dancin'!

Occasionally I watch this show on TLC called 19 kids and counting. It is about a family who have, as you can guess 19 kids. They take the scripture "multiply and replenish the earth" a little too literally in my opinion. They dress like FLDS polygamists even though they are southern baptists. They have good family values and believe in praying with your children and living within your means, among other things. I find it interesting how they handle that many children, something I could never do. Having a baby every 1.5 years is also something I could never do. Well it is unthinkable throwing up that much, but even if I didn't get major morning sickness there is just no way. Anyway I'm getting off topic. I watched a FAQs show where viewers chimed in and asked why they do/believe certain things. The one thing that stuck with me was they don't believe in dancing. I can't remember their exact reasoning, but I remember it primarily came from the dad, Jim Bob (yeah you get the Southern baptist thing now huh?). It was something about how you are supposed to control your appetites and passion and dancing makes you let go of that. Well they have some great values, but they got this one totally wrong. There are so many different types of dancing, and each of them can be appropriate at different times. I have thought about this so much recently while watching my adorable 11 month old daughter dancing to the music from her toys. I wish Jim Bob could come to my house and watch her bob her head and sway her body to "Pop Goes the Weasel" and tell me it is evil. She knows no evil. But she knows joy and this is a beautiful way to express it. Watch for yourself.

Miracle on Fisher Lane

Cecilia has been out of her cast for just over a week and a half. Our first miracle happened yesterday. For the first time in two months, Cecilia took TWO naps!!! My excitment was such that when I went in to get her up from the afternoon nap I overwhelmed her and she started to fuss. "Too much jumping and loudness after I just woke up mom." Another really exciting aspect of it, and miracle on it's own was, she put herself to sleep for the afternoon nap! BC (before cast) that was also not a problem. If she wasn't asleep after we finished nursing, I would put her down and less than 20 minutes later she would be asleep. But again those last 6 weeks in the cast, if she wasn't asleep when I put her down, and stayed asleep, then no nap. Sometimes even then she would wake up 10 minutes later and that was it. I was hoping and hoping that once she was out of the cast it would go back to the way it was. We had to make a few adjustments to make them happen (timing of the second nap and not too long of a morning nap). Plus this is only the second day it has worked. But that is two days more than we had in the cast. So I have hope. It is so ironic to me that she was awake so much in the cast and asleep more out of it. Life is way more exciting now. Before she got the cast I thought, well she sleeps so much that we will just sleep away the time she has to be in this thing. Boy was I wrong! She missed more sleep in it than her entire life combined up to that point, like 10 times over. I just hope and pray we can make up some now that she can wear herself out more. Keep your fingers crossed for us.